Multi-locus genetic risk score predicts risk for Crohn's disease in Slovenian population

AIM: To develop a risk model for Crohn's disease (CD) based on homogeneous population.METHODS: In our study were included 160 CD patients and 209 healthy individuals from Slovenia. The association study was performed for 112 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We generated genetic risk scores (GRS) based on the number of risk alleles using weighted additive model. Discriminatory accuracy was measured by area under ROC curve (AUC). For risk evaluation, we divided individuals according to positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR) of a test, with LR &gt; 5 for high risk group and LR &lt;0.20 for low risk group.RESULTS: The highest accuracy, AUC of 0.78 was achieved with GRS combining 33 SNPs with optimal sensitivity and specificity of 75.0% and 72.7%, respectively. Individuals with the highest risk (GRS &gt; 5.54) showed significantly increased odds of developing CD (OR = 26.65, 95% CI: 11.25-63.15) compared to the individuals with the lowest risk (GRS &lt;4.57) which is a considerably greater risk captured than in one SNP with the highest effect size (OR = 3.24). When more than 33 SNPs were included in GRS, discriminatory ability was not improved significantly; AUC of all 74 SNPs was 0.76.CONCLUSION: The authors proved the possibility of building accurate genetic risk score based on 33 risk variants on Slovenian CD patients which may serve as a screening tool in the targeted population.</p

New molecular methods to assess biodiversity. Potentials and pitfalls of DNA metabarcoding: a workshop report

This report presents the outcome of the joint work of PhD students and senior researchers working with DNA-based biodiversity assessment approaches with the goal to facilitate others the access to definitions and explanations about novel DNA-based methods. The work was performed during a PhD course (SLU PNS0169) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala, Sweden. The course was co-organized by the EU COST research network DNAqua-Net and the SLU Research Schools Focus on Soils and Water (FoSW) and Ecology - basics and applications. DNAqua-Net (COST Action CA15219, 2016-2020) is a network connecting researchers, water managers, politicians and other stakeholders with the aim to develop new genetic tools for bioassessment of aquatic ecosystems in Europe and beyond. The PhD course offered a comprehensive overview of the paradigm shift from traditional morphology-based species identification to novel identification approaches based on molecular markers. We covered the use of molecular tools in both basic research and applied use with a focus on aquatic ecosystem assessment, from species collection to the use of diversity in environmental legislation. The focus of the course was on DNA (meta)barcoding and aquatic organisms. The knowledge gained was shared with the general public by creating Wikipedia pages and through this collaborative Open Access publication, co-authored by all course participants

E-tandem Critical Thinking Project: using e-tandem activities to develop critical thinking skills in communities of dispersed learners of English as a first and second language

The stories in this book were written by the students from OS Dragutina Tadijanovica, Vukovar and OS Miroslava Krleze, Zagreb, primary schools located in Croatia. The stories are the students’ modern day adaptation of the fairytale Little Red Riding Hood. The creation of the stories form part of their activity work during the project 'E-tandem Critical Thinking Project: Using e-tandem inter-school activities to develop critical thinking skills in primary and high school learners of English as a first and second language' that is financially supported be the U.S. Embassy in Croatia (https://hr.usembassy.gov/). The project is lead by the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb