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Hot Topics of the Day|PHGKB
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03/28/2021

Hot Topics of the Day are picked by experts to capture the latest information and publications on public health genomics and precision health for various diseases and health topics. Sources include published scientific literature, reviews, blogs and popular press articles.

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Evaluating Polygenic Risk Scores for Breast Cancer in Women of African Ancestry.
Du Zhaohui et al. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2021 3

We assembled genotype data for women of African ancestry, including 9,241 cases and 10,193 controls. We evaluated associations of 179- and 313-variant PRSs with overall and subtype-specific BC risk. The PRSs stratify BC risk in women of African ancestry, with attenuated performance compared to that reported in European, Asian and Latina populations. Future work is needed to improve BC risk stratification for women of African ancestry.

Do Breast Cancer Risk Scores Work for You?
Houlahan Kathleen E et al. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2021 3

In theory, predicting risk from PRS is a minimally invasive strategy for prioritizing high risk individuals towards early screening and intervention. In practice, the actualization of PRS is currently limited and heavily biased towards one population: individuals of European descent.

Prospective evaluation of a breast-cancer risk model integrating classical risk factors and polygenic risk in 15 cohorts from six countries.
Hurson Amber N et al. International journal of epidemiology 2021 3

Fifteen prospective cohorts from six countries with 239?340 women (7646 incident breast-cancer cases) of European ancestry aged 19–75?years were included. Integrating a 313-variant PRS with classical risk factors can improve the identification of European-ancestry women at elevated risk who could benefit from targeted risk-reducing strategies under current clinical guidelines.

Covid-19: Lateral flow tests are better at identifying people with symptoms, finds Cochrane review
BMJ News, March 25, 2021

The latest report updates previous reviews2 and includes evidence from 64 studies up to November 2020. Most were conducted in Europe and the United States and assessed the accuracy of lateral flow tests in detecting current SARS-CoV-2 infection when compared with the standard laboratory genome testing.

Covid-19: variants and vaccination
BMJ Editorial, March 23, 2021

Current vaccines are based on a version of the spike glycoprotein from the start of the outbreak, however, and central questions remain around the ability of an old version of the spike glycoprotein to generate protective antibodies against newer emerging variants.

Emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 E484K variant of interest in Arizona
PD Skidmore et al, MEDRXIV, March 28, 2021

In contrast to other instances when the E484K mutation was acquired independently in the parental lineage, genomic surveillance indicates that the B.1.243.1 variant of interest is in the process of being established in Arizona and beginning to cross state borders to New Mexico and Texas.

How unequal vaccine distribution promotes the evolution of vaccine escape
P Gerrish et al, MEDRXIV, March 28, 2021

Here, we explicitly show why vaccine equity is necessary. We begin by drawing an analogy to studies showing how disparities in drug concentration within a single host can promote the evolution of drug resistance, and we then proceed to mathematical modeling and simulation of vaccine escape evolution in structured host populations.

Monozygotic twins discordant for severe clinical recurrence of COVID-19 show drastically distinct T cell responses to SARS-Cov-2
MV Castro et al, MEDRXIV, March 28, 2021

Genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in renal dialysis units - a high risk community-hospital interface
YM Woo et al, MEDRXIV, March 26, 2021

Emergence of N antigen SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants escaping detection of antigenic tests
C Del Vecchio et al, MEDRXIV< March 26, 2021


Disclaimer: Articles listed in Hot Topics of the Day are selected by Public Health Genomics Branch to provide current awareness of the scientific literature and news. Inclusion in the update does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the Clips, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.
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