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Hot Topics of the Day|PHGKB
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06/09/2021

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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The pandemic has a new problem named ‘delta’
Editorial board, The Washington Post, June 8, 2021

THE NEXT big challenge of the pandemic is called “delta.” On May 31, the World Health Organization created new names for the coronavirus variants. The one that was first detected in Britain was called alpha. The one first detected in India is now delta, and it already has a foothold in the United States and more than 60 other countries. Like other variants, this one looks more dangerous than the original virus, and may be more resistant to vaccines, too.

Impact of vaccination on new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United Kingdom
E Pritchard et al, Nature Medicine, June 9, 2021

Using 1,945,071 real-time PCR results from nose and throat swabs taken from 383,812 participants between 1 December 2020 and 8 May 2021, we found that vaccination with the ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 vaccines already reduced SARS-CoV-2 infections =21?d after the first dose (61% (95% confidence interval (CI)?=?54–68%) versus 66% (95% CI?=?60–71%), respectively), with greater reductions observed after a second dose (79% (95% CI?=?65–88%) versus 80% (95% CI?=?73–85%), respectively). The largest reductions were observed for symptomatic infections and/or infections with a higher viral burden.

Immunogenicity of Ad26.COV2.S vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants in humans
G Alter et al, Nature, June 9, 2021

We report humoral and cellular immune responses from 20 Ad26.COV2.S vaccinated individuals from the COV1001 phase 1/2 clinical trial2 against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain WA1/2020 as well as against the B.1.1.7, CAL.20C, P.1., and B.1.351 variants of concern. We show that neutralizing antibody responses induced by Ad26.COV2.S were reduced against the B.1.351 and P.1 variants, but functional non-neutralizing antibody responses and T cell responses were largely preserved against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination induces functionally diverse antibodies to NTD, RBD and S2
F Amanat et al, Cell, June 7, 2021

We profiled vaccine-induced polyclonal antibodies as well as plasmablast derived mAbs from individuals who received SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine. Polyclonal antibody responses in vaccinees were robust and comparable to or exceeded those seen after natural infection. However, the ratio of binding to neutralizing antibodies after vaccination was greater than that after natural infection and, at the monoclonal level, we found that the majority of vaccine-induced antibodies did not have neutralizing activity.

A ‘landmark’ trial to test mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 in Africa can’t get the coveted shots
J Cohen, Science, June 7, 2021

Delta variant accounts for 6 percent of new U.S. coronavirus infections
L Bernstein, Washington Post, June 8, 2021

Variation in the risk of colorectal cancer in families with Lynch syndrome: a retrospective cohort study
The International Mismatch Repair Consortium, The Lancet Oncology, June 7, 2021

Familial risk factors result in a wide within-gene variation in the risk of colorectal cancer for men and women from each continent who all carried pathogenic variants in the same gene or the MSH2 c.942+3A>T variant. The variation was especially prominent for MLH1 and MSH2 variant carriers, depending on gene, sex and continent, with 7–56% of carriers having a colorectal cancer penetrance of less than 20%, 9–44% having a penetrance of more than 80%, and only 10–19% having a penetrance of 40–60%.

New publications in health economics and genomics 8th June 2021
J Buchanan, Health Economics and Genomics, June 2021

Five publications from the past week: Genomic sequencing for the diagnosis of childhood mitochondrial disorders; A Systematic Review of Discrete Choice Experiments and Conjoint Analysis on Genetic Testing; Rapid precision care incorporating rWGS in 5 California children’s hospitals; Understanding decisions to participate in genomic medicine in children’s cancer care; Diagnostic Yield and Cost-Effectiveness of “Dynamic” Exome Analysis in Epilepsy with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Intrinsic Biologic Differences Unlikely to Be Driving Prostate Cancer Disparities
ASCO Daily News, June 8, 2021

Although there were intrinsic biologic differences in gene alterations between men of European ancestry and men of African ancestry with advanced prostate cancer, a new study presented at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that there were largely similar rates of alterations in genes with therapy implications. Outcomes could become more equivalent with equitable treatment delivery.

Concordance of DNA Repair Gene Mutations in Paired Primary Prostate Cancer Samples and Metastatic Tissue or Cell-Free DNA.
Schweizer Michael T et al. JAMA oncology 2021 6

In this genetic association study, which included primary samples with paired cell-free circulating tumor DNA and/or metastatic tissue from 51 men from 3 cohorts, gene alterations in DNA repair genes detected in cell-free circulating tumor DNA or metastatic tissue were concordant with primary prostate cancer when clonal hematopoiesis was excluded

Association of Polygenic Liability for Autism With Face-Sensitive Cortical Responses From Infancy.
Gui Anna et al. JAMA pediatrics 2021 6

The N170 precursor (N290) to faces vs nonfaces is also altered prior to symptom emergence in infants subsequently diagnosed with autism.3 These early differences in brain processing represent a plausible developmental mechanism linking genetic liability and behavioral autism symptoms. We investigated whether N290 latency to faces vs nonfaces is associated with autism polygenic scores and cross-disorder polygenic scores in infants with and without a family history of autism.


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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