COVID-19 one year into the pandemic: from genetics and genomics to therapy, vaccination, and policy

Novelli, Giuseppe; Biancolella, Michela; Mehrian‐Shai, Ruty; Colona, Vito Luigi; Grubaugh, Nathan D.; Vasiliou, Vasilis; Luzzatto, Lucio; Reichardt, Juergen K. V.

doi:10.1186/s40246-021-00326-3

Cited by 41 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 116 publications

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“…In 2020, the COVID-19 has been declared a Public Health Emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). To reduce the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, different countries have adopted restrictive anti-contagion measures (lockdown, continuous use of facial masks, social distancing, and reduction of social activities) [ 10 – 12 , 17 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study

Iannella

Magliulo

Lechien

et al. 2021

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol

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Purpose To compare and analyze the incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME), before and during the COVID-19-related pandemic period, to evaluate the effects of the social changes (lockdown, continuous use of facial masks, social distancing, reduction of social activities) in the OME incidence in children and adults. Methods The number of diagnosed OME in e five referral centers, between 1 March 2018 and 1 March 2021, has been reviewed and collected. To estimate the reduction of OME incidence in children and adults during the COVID-19 pandemic period the OME incidence in three period of time were evaluated and compared: group 1—patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2018 and 01/03/2019 (not pandemic period). Group 2—patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2019 and 1/03/2020 (not pandemic period). Group 3—patients with OME diagnosis achieved between 1/03/2020 and 1/03/2021 (COVID-19 pandemic period). Results In the non-pandemic periods (group 1 and 2), the incidence of OME in the five referral centers considered was similar, with 482 and 555 diagnosed cases, respectively. In contrast, the OME incidence in the same centers, during the pandemic period (group 3) was clearly reduced with a lower total number of 177 cases of OME estimated. Percentage variation in OME incidence between the first non-pandemic year considered (group 1) and the pandemic period (group 3) was—63, 3%, with an absolute value decrease value of—305 cases. Similarly, comparing the second non-pandemic year (group 2) and the pandemic year (group 3) the percentage variation of OME incidence was—68, 1% with an absolute value of—305 cases decreased. Conclusions Our findings showed a lower incidence of OME during the pandemic period compared with 2 previous non pandemic years. The drastic restrictive anti-contagion measures taken by the Italian government to contain the spread of COVID-19 could have had a positive impact on the lower OME incidence during the last pandemic year.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study

Iannella

Magliulo

Lechien

et al. 2021

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol

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“…In the past months, several publications have identified loci and genes associated with COVID-19 susceptibility for severe COVID-19 by using comprehensive GWAS studies or genome, exome or candidate gene analyses (5). However, most of these susceptibility alleles showed risk values too low (odds ratio <2) to be regarded as predictive genomic markers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, most of these susceptibility alleles showed risk values too low (odds ratio <2) to be regarded as predictive genomic markers. Some of the loci reported include ABO blood group (6, 7), ACE2 (8), TMPRSS2 (8), several HLA alleles (5,9), APOE (10), and IFITM3 (11). On the other hand, rare variants in genes encoding for members of the type I/III interferon (IFN) pathway showed a higher estimated risk to severe COVID-19 (12,13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Screening for TLR7 Variants in Young and Previously Healthy Men With Severe COVID-19

et al. 2021

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IntroductionLoss-of-function TLR7 variants have been recently reported in a small number of males to underlie strong predisposition to severe COVID-19. We aimed to determine the presence of these rare variants in young men with severe COVID-19.MethodsWe prospectively studied males between 18 and 50 years-old without predisposing comorbidities that required at least high-flow nasal oxygen to treat COVID-19. The coding region of TLR7 was sequenced to assess the presence of potentially deleterious variants.ResultsTLR7 missense variants were identified in two out of 14 patients (14.3%). Overall, the median age was 38 (IQR 30-45) years. Both variants were not previously reported in population control databases and were predicted to be damaging by in silico predictors. In a 30-year-old patient a maternally inherited variant [c.644A>G; p.(Asn215Ser)] was identified, co-segregating in his 27-year-old brother who also contracted severe COVID-19. A second variant [c.2797T>C; p.(Trp933Arg)] was found in a 28-year-old patient, co-segregating in his 24-year-old brother who developed mild COVID-19. Functional testing of this variant revealed decreased type I and II interferon responses in peripheral mononuclear blood cells upon stimulation with the TLR7 agonist imiquimod, confirming a loss-of-function effect.ConclusionsThis study supports a rationale for the genetic screening for TLR7 variants in young men with severe COVID-19 in the absence of other relevant risk factors. A diagnosis of TLR7 deficiency could not only inform on treatment options for the patient, but also enables pre-symptomatic testing of at-risk male relatives with the possibility of instituting early preventive and therapeutic interventions.

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“…In the pandemic era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), the scientific interdisciplinary discourse on various coping strategies has largely been conducted by policymakers and their advisors. This has resulted in many opinions and views that often differ from scientific facts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

School Teachers’ Self-Reported Fear and Risk Perception during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey in Germany

Weinert

Thronicke

Hinse

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases peaking and health systems reaching their limits in winter 2020/21, schools remained closed in many countries. To better understand teachers’ risk perception, we conducted a survey in Germany. Participants were recruited through various associations and invited to take part in a cross-sectional COVID-19-specific online survey. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Factors associated with teachers’ fears of contracting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were evaluated with an adjusted multivariable regression analysis. The median age of the 6753 participating teachers was 43 years, and 77% were female. Most teachers worked in high schools (29%) and elementary schools (26%). The majority of participants (73%) feared contracting SARS-CoV-2 at school, while 77% intended to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. Ninety-eight percent considered students to pose the greatest risk. Female and younger teachers were significantly more anxious to get infected and teachers who opposed the re-opening of schools had significantly higher odds of being more anxious (p < 0.001). To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to describe teachers’ risk perception of COVID-19 and their attitudes towards vaccinations in a nationwide survey. The anxiety correlates with the COVID-19 protection measures demanded and appears to be a driving factor rather than rational logic.

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COVID-19 one year into the pandemic: from genetics and genomics to therapy, vaccination, and policy

Cited by 41 publications

References 116 publications

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of otitis media with effusion in adults and children: a multicenter study

Genetic Screening for TLR7 Variants in Young and Previously Healthy Men With Severe COVID-19

School Teachers’ Self-Reported Fear and Risk Perception during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey in Germany

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