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An analysis of 24,202 critical cases of COVID-19 identifies potentially druggable targets in inflammatory signalling (JAK1), monocyte–macrophage activation and endothelial permeability (PDE4A), immunometabolism (SLC2A5 and AK5), and host factors required for viral entry and replication (TMPRSS2 and RAB2A).

Analysis of 2,170 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Spain provides insights into transmission patterns and the effects of lockdown on the emergence of new variants.

Genetic and Structural analysis of COVID patients cohort reveals a correlation between mitochondrial haplogroup and SARS-CoV-2 severity.

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.

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.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias identifies new loci and enables generation of a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality.

Polygenic risk scores for Alzheimer’s disease derived from individuals of European ancestry can show improved performance in multiancestry settings after incorporating genome-wide association summary statistics from diverse populations.

Known genetic loci account for only a fraction of the genetic contribution to Alzheimer’s disease. Here, the authors have performed a large genome-wide meta-analysis comprising 409,435 individuals to discover 6 new loci and demonstrate the efficacy of an Alzheimer’s disease polygenic risk score.

Analysis of the spread of the 20E (EU1) variant of SARS-CoV-2 through Europe suggests that international travel and insufficient containment, rather than increased transmissibility, led to a resurgence of infections.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylated transcripts have been poorly characterized, particularly in cancer. Here the authors identify a lineage-specific requirement of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation binding protein 4 (CPEB4) in malignant melanoma and show that it controls melanoma drivers MITF and RAB27A.

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.

We present genome-wide data from 64 subadults interred in Chichén Itzá around ad 500–900 that gives insight into burial rituals, and shows that their genomic legacy is still present and has adapted to immune challenges post-1492.

Long-term metastatic relapse is observed in patients with luminal breast cancer (BC). Here, the authors show that fatty acid amide hydrolase is a tumour suppressor for lung metastasis in mouse models of BC and a predictor of metastasis in patients with luminal BC.

Contrary to the view that urbanization is a major driver of the global rise in obesity, the global increase in body-mass index is shown to be mostly due to increases in the body-mass indexes of rural populations.

Here the authors report results from a randomized clinical trial testing a combination of ChAOx1/MVA.HTI vaccines and the TLR7 agonist vesatolimod in men living with HIV-1. While the treatment showed a good safety profile and induction of HTI-focused T-cell responses, viral rebound was similar in treatment arm and placebo arm.

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.

A comprehensive analysis of models of brain metastasis and multiple cohorts of patient samples identifies a targetable molecular mechanism underlying the resistance to whole-brain radiotherapy that can inform patient selection for personalized radiotherapy.

Indigenous populations, including in those in Mexico are underrepresented in genetic studies. Here, the authors perform a population genetics study of indigenous peoples in Mexico to explore demographic histories of the region in the context of geography and cultural influences.

Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are useful for potential therapeutics or to understand more about the immune response to this virus. Here the authors characterise a monoclonal antibody that has a broad range of reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 variants and measure how it binds to its specific target region of the receptor binding domain.

How traits specific to modern humans have evolved is difficult to study. Here, Gokhman et al. compare measured and reconstructed DNA methylation maps of present-day humans, archaic humans and chimpanzees and find that genes that affect vocal tract and facial anatomy show methylation changes between archaic and modern humans.

In this study, the authors report a mutation that increases the production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike and exposure of the RBD. In animal models, a Spike-based vaccine containing the mutation induces strong immunogenicity, provides protection from disease and results in faster tissue viral clearance.

This Registered Report presents evidence from 87 countries and regions showing that brief emotion-regulation interventions consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dry-season climate variability is a primary driver of tropical tree growth, according to observations from a pantropical tree-ring network.

Chemotherapy and trastuzumab is standard therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer, although aromatase inhibitors combined with anti-HER2 therapies is an option in patients with HER2 and hormone receptor-positive tumors. The activity observed with chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapies seems to be higher than with aromatase inhibitors and HER-2-based therapies. The authors highlight the data that have led to current treatment strategies and the importance of considering chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy for HER2 and hormone receptor-positive tumors.