BackgroundAlthough aging correlates with a worse prognosis for Covid-19, super elderly still unvaccinated individuals presenting mild or no symptoms have been reported worldwide. Most of the reported genetic variants responsible for increased disease susceptibility are associated with immune response, involving type I IFN immunity and modulation; HLA cluster genes; inflammasome activation; genes of interleukins; and chemokines receptors. On the other hand, little is known about the resistance mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we addressed polymorphisms in the MHC region associated with Covid-19 outcome in super elderly resilient patients as compared to younger patients with a severe outcome.MethodsSARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by RT-PCR test. Aiming to identify candidate genes associated with host resistance, we investigated 87 individuals older than 90 years who recovered from Covid-19 with mild symptoms or who remained asymptomatic following positive test for SARS-CoV-2 as compared to 55 individuals younger than 60 years who had a severe disease or died due to Covid-19, as well as to the general elderly population from the same city. Whole-exome sequencing and an in-depth analysis of the MHC region was performed. All samples were collected in early 2020 and before the local vaccination programs started.ResultsWe found that the resilient super elderly group displayed a higher frequency of some missense variants in the MUC22 gene (a member of the mucins’ family) as one of the strongest signals in the MHC region as compared to the severe Covid-19 group and the general elderly control population. For example, the missense variant rs62399430 at MUC22 is two times more frequent among the resilient super elderly (p = 0.00002, OR = 2.24).ConclusionSince the pro-inflammatory basal state in the elderly may enhance the susceptibility to severe Covid-19, we hypothesized that MUC22 might play an important protective role against severe Covid-19, by reducing overactive immune responses in the senior population.
COVID-19 brought scenes from sci-fi movies into real life. Infected individuals include asymptomatic cases to severe disease leading to death, suggesting the involvement of the genetic constitution of populations and pathogens contributing to differential individuals’ outcomes. To investigate shared immunogenic features between SARS-CoV-2 targets and other coronaviruses, we modeled their peptides in 3D structures of HLA-A*02:01 (pMHC), comparing their molecular surfaces These structures were also compared with a panel of epitopes from unrelated viruses, looking for potential triggers conferring cross-protection in uninfected individuals. As expected, SARS-CoV 1 and 2 peptides share molecular and physicochemical features, providing an explanation for the verified experimental immunogenicity among them. Surprisingly, even discordant sequences from human coronaviruses 229E, OC43 and epitopes from unrelated viruses involved in endemic human infections exhibit similar fingerprints of immunogenicity with SARS-CoV-2 peptides. The same approach indicates a conserved CD8+ T cell recognition between Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 sequences and altered peptides from Variants of Concern. Examination of structural data over epitope sequence analysis here could explain how previous infections may produce a heterologous immunity response in a global scale against emergent diseases such as Covid-19, mitigating its full lethal potential, and paves the way for the development of wide spectrum vaccine development.
Abstract. The Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) was used to make a preliminary evaluation of epiphytic moss response to atmospheric pollution in the urban area of Mexico City. Areal analysis indicates that there is a significant negative correlation (p < 0. Resumen. Se hace una evaluación preliminar de la respuesta de los musgos epífitos a la contaminación atmosférica usando el Indice de Pureza Atmosférica (IPA) en el área urbana de la Ciudad de México. El análisis por zonas indica que hay una relación inversa y significativa (p < 0.5) entre el IPA y SO 2 , NO 2 , NOx, Pb y la temperatura con valores de -0.45, -0.90, -0.80, -0.80, -0.90. También se encontró una relación directa y significativa (p < 0.05) entre el IPA y el O 3 , la precipitación pluvial y la humedad relativa con valores de 0.70, 0.80, 0.90. Los incrementos en los niveles de algunos contaminantes atmosféricos en la Ciudad de México han promovido la disminución gradual en la frecuencia de aparición y cobertura de musgos epífitos, aunque algunas variables ambientales pueden tener el efecto opuesto. IntroducciónLa sensibilidad de musgos a la contaminación atmosférica ha sido estudiada desde la década de los sesentas tratando de relacionarlos con los niveles de contaminación de las ciudades. Con este propósito se han utilizado tres métodos: 1) El mapeo de áreas contaminadas mediante el Indice de Pureza Atmosférica (IPA) el cual está basado en datos fitosociológicos de los musgos. En estudios de este tipo se alude a la ausencia de epífitas en el centro de las ciudades y su reaparición en la periferia de éstas, pero con vitalidad reducida. Fuera de estas zonas las epífitas son abundantes y están bien desarrolladas. A través de estos estudios también se han observado otros efectos de la contaminación atmosférica sobre las epífitas. Por ejemplo, LeBlanc y Rao (1970) encontraron una disminución de la fertilidad atribuible a la contaminación atmosférica; Kennedy et al. (1985), observaron la desaparición de musgos en áreas cercanas a fuentes de contaminación.
Este artículo de reflexión tiene como objetivo fundamental la contribución al ya dilatado y, siempre sustancial, debate referente al precedente constitucional, cuyo valor estriba en la consecución de un ordenamiento normativo signado por la función creadora del operador judicial. Surge entonces, como intención primera, el exhibir al precedente como fuente del Derecho y como tendencia antiformal que permite así mismo lograr la superación del sistema legalista, característico en los países de tradición jurídica continental europea. Por consiguiente se considera que la irrupción de la figura del precedente generó beneficios al Derecho colombiano, puesto que la igualdad y la coherencia son pilares esenciales en todo ordenamiento jurídico. Los conceptos emanados pretenden ser parte de la controversia jurídica nacional en torno al tema en cuestión, vista esta como único medio que le permite al estudioso de la ciencia jurídica, incrementar su cognición y ser partícipe propositivo del Derecho. AbstractThis article’s main purpose reflection contribution to the already lengthy and always substantive debate concerning the constitutional precedent , whose value lies in achieving a regulatory system marked by the creative function of the judicial operator. Then arises as a first intention, the previous display as a source of law and as antiformal trend likewise allows overcoming achieve characteristic in countries of European continental legal tradition legalistic system. Therefore it is considered that the emergence of the figure of the previous generated benefits to Colombian law, since equality and consistency are essential pillars in all laws. The concepts emanating intended to be part of the national legal controversy surrounding the issue at hand, view this as the only way that allows the student of legal science, increase cognition and be proactive part right.
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