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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).

Wood density is an important plant trait. Data from 1.1 million forest inventory plots and 10,703 tree species show a latitudinal gradient in wood density, with temperature and soil moisture explaining variation at the global scale and disturbance also having a role at the local level.

Analysis of ground-sourced and satellite-derived models reveals a global forest carbon potential of 226 Gt outside agricultural and urban lands, with a difference of only 12% across these modelling approaches.

Alternative stable states in forests have implications for the biosphere. Here, the authors combine forest biodiversity observations and simulations revealing that leaf types across temperate regions of the NH follow a bimodal distribution suggesting signatures of alternative forest states.

Examining drivers of the latitudinal biodiversity gradient in a global database of local tree species richness, the authors show that co-limitation by multiple environmental and anthropogenic factors causes steeper increases in richness with latitude in tropical versus temperate and boreal zones.

Tin Aung, Chiea-Chuen Khor and colleagues report the results of a genome-wide association study of exfoliation syndrome. They replicate a known association at LOXL1 and identify a previously unreported association at CACNA1A.

Chiea Chuen Khor, Tin Aung, Francesca Pasutto, Janey Wiggs and colleagues report a global genome-wide association study of exfoliation syndrome and a fine-mapping analysis of a previously identified disease-associated locus, LOXL1. They identify a rare protective variant in LOXL1 exclusive to the Japanese population and five new common variant susceptibility loci.

Chiea Chuen Khor, Tin Aung and colleagues report the results of a large genome-wide association study of primary angle closure glaucoma. They identify five new susceptibility loci and provide insights into disease pathogenesis.

Robert Jenkins and colleagues report fine mapping of the glioma risk region at 8q24.21. They identify a new low-frequency variant in the region that is strongly associated with risk of oligodendroglial tumors and astrocytomas with IDH1 or IDH2 mutation.

Integrating inventory data with machine learning models reveals the global composition of tree types—needle-leaved evergreen individuals dominate, followed by broadleaved evergreen and deciduous trees—and climate change risks.

With a comprehensive analysis of sequencing data, DNA copy number, gene expression and DNA methylation in a large number of human glioblastomas, The Cancer Genome Atlas project initiative provides a broad overview of the genes and pathways that are altered in this cancer type.

The DNA repair enzymeO⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) antagonizes the effects of alkylating agents, and its expression is associated with resistance to cancer therapy based on these compounds. Weller et al. consider the prognostic and predictive value of MGMT gene silencing in gliomas and describe the assays that are commonly used to evaluate MGMT status, focusing particularly on MGMT promoter methylation, which is the key mechanism of MGMTgene silencing.

In ovarian cancer, metastatic phenotype may impact surgical outcomes. Here, the authors show miR-409-3p regulates FABP4 which can increase metastatic potential of ovarian cancer, and treatment with DOPC nanoliposomes containing either miR-409--3p mimic or FABP4 siRNA inhibits tumor progression in mice.

Nada Jabado and colleagues report identification of gain-of-function mutations in ACVR1, which encodes activin A receptor type I, in midline pediatric high-grade astrocytomas.

Margaret Wrensch and colleagues report a genome-wide association and replication study for high-grade glioma. They show that common variants in the CDKN2B and RTEL1 regions are associated with risk of this aggressive brain tumor.

Kyle Walsh and colleagues identify a variant near TERC associated with glioma susceptibility. They further show that glioma risk alleles near TERC and TERT are associated with longer mean telomere length in leukocytes, implicating telomerase activity in gliomagenesis.

Beatrice Melin, Richard Houlston, Melissa Bondy and colleagues report results of a large-scale genome-wide association study of glioma. They identify five new risk loci for glioblastoma and eight new risk loci for non-glioblastoma tumors, highlighting distinct genetic etiologies for these two glioma subtypes.

Herein, the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) provides recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of adult patients with diffuse gliomas. These evidence-based guidelines incorporate major changes in diagnostic algorithms based on the 2016 update of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System as well as on evidence from recent large clinical trials.