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Santiago et al. sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes sampled in Puerto Rico between March 2020 and September 2021. Phylogenetic analyses found multiple importations that increased infections and that variant turnover dynamics were similar to those seen in the USA.

Dengue is a major public health concern in the Americas, and the Caribbean can be a source for reintroduction and spread. Here, the authors use travel surveillance data and genomic epidemiology to reconstruct Dengue epidemic dynamics in the Caribbean from 2009-2022.

The neuraminidase-targeting monoclonal antibody FNI9 potently inhibits the enzymatic activity of influenza A and B viruses via receptor mimicry.

Sepsis induces a period of immunosuppression which can be problematic in the face of subsequent infectious challenge. Here the authors show the presence of PD-L1 expressing regulatory plasma cells that can inhibit T cells in a murine model and in patients with sepsis.

The advantage of living in cities compared with rural areas with respect to height and BMI in children and adolescents has generally become smaller globally from 1990 to 2020, except in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our annual survey highlights startups tackling intractable viruses with new vaccine design, engineering a reliable source of platelets, universalizing cell therapies, improving cancer screening, developing RNA-editing platforms and targeting protein–RNA interactions. Michael Eisenstein, Ken Garber, Caroline Seydel and Laura DeFrancesco report.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Here, the authors show that the time elapsed between Zika infection and subsequent dengue virus infection affects the magnitude and durability of the antibody and cell-mediated immune responses against dengue virus, but not viremia. This research in non-human primates has implications for co-endemic regions and vaccination.

Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.

Antibodies against dengue virus (DENV) can increase Zika virus (ZIKV) infectionin vitro, but their role in vivoremains largely unknown. Here, the authors show that pre-existing immunity from a 2.8 years earlier DENV infection does not affect ZIKV pathogenesis in macaques but instead shortens Zika viremia.

Genotype and exome sequencing of 150,000 participants and whole-genome sequencing of 9,950 selected individuals recruited into the Mexico City Prospective Study constitute a valuable, publicly available resource of non-European sequencing data.

Here, the authors report a live chimeric DENV2/4 EDII virus, encoding DENV2 and DENV4 neutralizing epitopes, that replicates efficiently in primates and simultaneously elicits neutralizing DENV2 and DENV4 type-specific antibodies, providing domain-specific diagnostic reagents and simplified vaccine strategies.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori, often found in the human stomach, can be classified into distinct subpopulations associated with the geographic origin of the host. Here, the authors provide insights into H. pylori population structure by collecting over 1,000 clinical strains from 50 countries and generating and analyzing high-quality bacterial genome sequences.

This report from the 1000 Genomes Project describes the genomes of 1,092 individuals from 14 human populations, providing a resource for common and low-frequency variant analysis in individuals from diverse populations; hundreds of rare non-coding variants at conserved sites, such as motif-disrupting changes in transcription-factor-binding sites, can be found in each individual.

The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate can be used as an alternative carbon source by T cells to maintain their function during severe respiratory viral infections, including infection with SARS-CoV-2.

A trans-ancestry meta-analysis of GWAS of glycemic traits in up to 281,416 individuals identifies 99 novel loci, of which one quarter was found due to the multi-ancestry approach, which also improves fine-mapping of credible variant sets.

The microbiota of cesarean-born infants can be partially restored to that of vaginally born infants immediately after birth.

Results for the final phase of the 1000 Genomes Project are presented including whole-genome sequencing, targeted exome sequencing, and genotyping on high-density SNP arrays for 2,504 individuals across 26 populations, providing a global reference data set to support biomedical genetics.

Viral infection of the respiratory system induces exuberant fibroblast activity, resulting in extensive remodelling of the extracellular matrix and cytokine release, which promote immune cell infiltration of the affected area at the expense of respiratory function.

About a quarter of the nitrogen added to the biosphere is exported from rivers to the ocean or inland basins, indicating substantial sinks for nitrogen must exist in the landscape. Data from nitrogen stable isotope tracer experiments across 72 streams suggests that the total uptake of nitrate is related to ecosystem photosynthesis, and that denitrification is related to ecosystem respiration. A stream network model demonstrates that excess nitrate in streams elicits a disproportionate increase in the fraction of nitrate that is exported to receiving waters and reduces the relative role of small versus large streams as nitrate sinks.

Dysregulated CD4 T cells have been implicated in autoimmune liver disease, but their phenotypes and origin are still unclear. Here the authors profile circulating, autoreactive CD4 T cells to find transcription signatures similar to tissue-activated, exhausted T cells, thereby hinting a tissue origin for these circulation CD4 T cells.

Latin America and the Caribbean remain largely underrepresented in psychiatric genetics research. This Review highlights the need for more research in these populations to advance genetic insights and ensure equitable precision medicine access.

Estimates from the Global Dietary Database indicated that 2.2 million new type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cardiovascular disease cases were attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages worldwide in 2020, with the highest burdens in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 2023 monkeypox outbreak was caused by a subclade IIb monkeypox virus (MPXV). Here, using advanced sequencing techniques, the authors identify variations on low-complexity regions of the MPXV genome and describe their potential as evolutionary drivers.

Distinct brain regions differentially and rapidly tailor the leukocyte landscape during psychological stress, calibrating the ability of the immune system to respond to physical threats.

Recent estimates of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake are generally unavailable. Here the authors show a global SSBs intake of 2.7 servings/week in 2018 in adults (range: 0.7 South Asia, 7.8 Latin America/Caribbean); intakes were higher among males, younger, more educated, and urban adults.

Multi-omics analysis of influenza A virus cellular restriction in human macrophage-like cells reveals a mechanism for viral evasion of autophagy.

Dengue is a major public health threat in the Americas including the French Caribbean Islands, in which an epidemic has been ongoing since August 2023. Here, the authors investigate the genetic composition of the strain responsible for the epidemic and find evidence that it is resistant to the main dengue antiviral in current development.

Here, the authors perform large trans-ancestry fine-mapping analyses identifying large numbers of association signals and putative target genes for colorectal cancer risk, advancing our understanding of the genetic and biological basis of this cancer.

Influenza A virus forms cytosolic inclusions containing viral ribonucleoproteins. Here, the authors show that viral inclusions form juxtaposed the endoplasmic reticulum and have liquid properties, likely constituting sites of assembly of epidemic and pandemic influenza genomes.

A dataset of coding variation, derived from exome sequencing of nearly one million individuals from a range of ancestries, provides insight into rare variants and could accelerate the discovery of disease-associated genes and advance precision medicine efforts.

Wastewater surveillance has the potential to be used for early detection of new SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Here, the authors present Crykey, a computational method for detecting cryptic SARS-CoV-2 mutations in wastewater that co-occur on the same sequencing read, potentially representing new lineages.

This study presents a global analysis of the sensitivity of inundated areas and population exposure to varying flood event magnitudes globally for 1.2 million river reaches. The authors show that topography and drainage areas correlate with flood sensitivities as well as with societal behavior.

Trans-ancestry meta-analysis of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from 1,046,070 individuals identifies 264 associated loci, providing a resource of molecular targets for translational research of chronic kidney disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a strong ethnic and gender bias. In a transancestral genetic association study, Langefeldet al. identify 24 novel regions associated with risk to lupus and propose a cumulative hits hypothesis for loci conferring risk to SLE.

Modeling analysis from the Global Dietary Database estimated that 70% of new global cases of type 2 diabetes are attributable to suboptimal intake of 11 dietary factors, with substantial differences in dietary risks across world regions and nations.

Unprecedented weather events are increasingly impacting societies worldwide. This Perspective explores methods to anticipate such hazards, and it highlights the role of transformative, incremental, and reactive adaptation strategies to achieve enhanced resilience.

Structural insights into the poly-ADP-ribosyltransferase tankyrase reveal its filamentous architecture and illustrate how assembly controls catalytic and non-catalytic functions.

Lipid nanoparticles can be optimized for the efficient delivery of therapeutic mRNAs to the lung via nebulization, as shown for the delivery of a therapeutic antibody in mice challenged with a lethal dose of the H1N1 influenza A virus.

Genomic studies often lack representation from diverse populations, limiting equitable insights. Here, the authors show that the BIG Initiative captures extensive genetic diversity and reveals ancestry-linked health disparities in a community-based Mid-South cohort.

Here, the authors use metabolomics and sequencing to assess changes in chemicals and microbial communities, including fungi and microeukaryotes, across an urbanization gradient in South America.

Fishing has had a profound impact on global reef shark populations, and the absence or presence of sharks is strongly correlated with national socio-economic conditions and reef governance.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed gene variants associated with breast cancer, but their association with breast cancer development in Latinas is not clear. Here, the authors carry out a GWAS of breast cancer in Latinas and identify a significant protective variant of Indigenous American origin in the 6q25 region.

A multi-ancestry genome-wide association study meta-analysis, combined with transcriptome- and methylome-wide association analyses, identifies risk loci associated with colorectal cancer. Credible effector genes and their target tissues are also highlighted, showing that over a third probably act outside the colonic mucosa.