Influence of Genetic Variations in miRNA and Genes Encoding Proteins in the miRNA Synthesis Complex on Toxicity of the Treatment of Pediatric B-Cell ALL in the Brazilian Amazon.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer in the world. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in miRNA and genes encoding proteins of the miRNA synthesis complex (SC) may affect the processing of drugs used in the treatment of ALL, resulting in treatment-related toxicities (TRTs). We investigated the role of 25 SNVs in microRNA genes and genes encoding proteins of the miRNA SC, in 77 patients treated for ALL-B from the Brazilian Amazon. The 25 SNVs were investigated using the TaqMan® OpenArray™ Genotyping System. SNVs rs2292832 (MIR149), rs2043556 (MIR605), and rs10505168 (MIR2053) were associated with an increased risk of developing Neurological Toxicity, while rs2505901 (MIR938) was associated with protection from this toxicity. MIR2053 (rs10505168) and MIR323B (rs56103835) were associated with protection from gastrointestinal toxicity, while DROSHA (rs639174) increased the risk of development. The rs2043556 (MIR605) variant was related to protection from infectious toxicity. SNVs rs12904 (MIR200C), rs3746444 (MIR499A), and rs10739971 (MIRLET7A1) were associated with a lower risk for severe hematologic toxicity during ALL treatment. These findings reveal the potential for the use of these genetic variants to understand the development of toxicities related to the treatment of ALL in patients from the Brazilian Amazon region.

Association between SNPs in microRNAs and microRNAs-Machinery Genes with Susceptibility of Leprosy in the Amazon Population.

Leprosy is a chronic neurodermatological disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. Recent studies show that SNPs in genes related to miRNAs have been associated with several diseases in different populations. This study aimed to evaluate the association of twenty-five SNPs in genes encoding miRNAs related to biological processes and immune response with susceptibility to leprosy and its polar forms paucibacillary and multibacillary in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 114 leprosy patients and 71 household contacts were included in this study. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan Open Array Genotyping. Ancestry-informative markers were used to estimate individual proportions of case and control groups. The SNP rs2505901 (pre-miR938) was associated with protection against the development of paucibacillary leprosy, while the SNPs rs639174 (DROSHA), rs636832 (AGO1), and rs4143815 (miR570) were associated with protection against the development of multibacillary leprosy. In contrast, the SNPs rs10739971 (pri-let-7a1), rs12904 (miR200C), and rs2168518 (miR4513) are associated with the development of the paucibacillary leprosy. The rs10739971 (pri-let-7a1) polymorphism was associated with the development of leprosy, while rs2910164 (miR146A) and rs10035440 (DROSHA) was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing multibacillary leprosy.

Gastric Cancer Microbiome.

Identifying a microbiome pattern in gastric cancer (GC) is hugely debatable due to the variation resulting from the diversity of the studied populations, clinical scenarios, and metagenomic approach. H. pylori remains the main microorganism impacting gastric carcinogenesis and seems necessary for the initial steps of the process. Nevertheless, an additional non-H. pylori microbiome pattern is also described, mainly at the final steps of the carcinogenesis. Unfortunately, most of the presented results are not reproducible, and there are no consensual candidates to share the H. pylori protagonists. Limitations to reach a consistent interpretation of metagenomic data include contamination along every step of the process, which might cause relevant misinterpretations. In addition, the functional consequences of an altered microbiome might be addressed. Aiming to minimize methodological bias and limitations due to small sample size and the lack of standardization of bioinformatics assessment and interpretation, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of the publicly available metagenomic data from various conditions relevant to gastric carcinogenesis. Mainly, instead of just analyzing the results of each available publication, a new approach was launched, allowing the comprehensive analysis of the total sample amount, aiming to produce a reliable interpretation due to using a significant number of samples, from different origins, in a standard protocol. Among the main results, Helicobacter and Prevotella figured in the "top 6" genera of every group. Helicobacter was the first one in chronic gastritis (CG), gastric cancer (GC), and adjacent (ADJ) groups, while Prevotella was the leader among healthy control (HC) samples. Groups of bacteria are differently abundant in each clinical situation, and bacterial metabolic pathways also diverge along the carcinogenesis cascade. This information may support future microbiome interventions aiming to face the carcinogenesis process and/or reduce GC risk.

The potential European genetic predisposition for non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury.

PURPOSE: Previous research has provided evidence of a hereditary predisposition for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between ancestral population genetics and risk of non-contact ACL injuries. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 177 individuals with a history of non-contact ACL injury and 556 non-injured control individuals for analysis of the genetic material through the use of a panel of 48 INDELs ancestry genetic markers from three ancestral origins. RESULTS: Among patients with non-contact ACL injury, 82% were male and 18% were female. In the control group, 78% were male, and 22% were female. The mean age of the non-contact ACL injury group was 31.7 years (± 10.2), and the control group was 33.8 years (± 13.2). The individual genetic contribution from INDELs of each ancestral origin varied considerably: ranging between 1.5-94.8% contribution for INDELs of African origin (mean of 21.4% of INDELs); between 2 and 96.1% contribution for INDELs of European origin (mean of 66.7% of INDELs); and between 1.3-96.4% contribution for INDELs of Amerindian origin (mean of 11.7% of INDELs). When comparing paired subjects from the non-contact ACL and control groups, the genetic analysis showed that the European ancestry score was higher in the non-contact ACL group than control group (0.70 ± 0.21 vs 0.63 ± 0.22 respectively, p < 0.001), whereas African ancestry scores (ACL group 0.18 ± 0.18 vs control group 0.24 ± 0.21, p < 0.001) and Amerindian ancestry scores (ACL group 0.11 ± 0.09 vs control group 0.12 ± 0.10, n.s.) were lower among the non-contact ACL group than in controls. CONCLUSION: European INDELs markers were found to represent a potential genetic predisposition for non-contact ACL injuries when compared to African and Amerindian INDELs. This study has the potential to correlate a measurable and distinct genetic marker with risk of a non-contact ACL injury. Thus, it increases knowledge base and volume of molecular and genetical factors associated with this pathology. Furthermore, this study provides guidance and evidence for the development of genetic risk-screening panels for non-contact ACL injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Diagnostic Study.

Traps and trumps from adjacent-to-tumor samples in gastric cancer research.

The search for cancer biomarkers is frequently based on comparisons between tumors and adjacent-to-tumor samples. However, even after histological confirmation of been free of cancer cells, these adjacent-to-tumor samples might harbor molecular alterations which are not sufficient to cause them to look like cancer, but can differentiate these cells from normal cells. When comparing them, potential biomarkers are missed, and mainly the opportunity of finding initial aberrations presents in both tumors and adjacent samples, but not in true normal samples from non-cancer patients, resulting in misinterpretations about the carcinogenic process. Nevertheless, collecting adjacent-to-tumor samples brings trumps to be explored. The addition of samples from non-cancer patients opens an opportunity to increase the finds of the molecular cascade of events in the carcinogenic process. Differences between normal samples and adjacent samples might represent the first steps of the carcinogenic process. Adding samples of non-cancer patients to the analysis of molecular alterations relevant to the carcinogenic process opens a new window of opportunities to the discovery of cancer biomarkers and molecular targets.

African ancestry is associated with facial melasma in women: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a chronic acquired focal hypermelanosis affecting photoexposed areas, especially for women during fertile age. Several factors contribute to its development: sun exposure, sex steroids, medicines, and family history. Melanic pigmentation pathway discloses several SNPs in different populations. Here, we evaluated the association between genetic ancestry and facial melasma. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving women with melasma and an age-matched control group from outpatients at FMB-Unesp, Botucatu-SP, Brazil was performed. DNA was extracted from oral mucosa swabs and ancestry determined by studying 61 INDELs. The genetic ancestry components were adjusted by other known risk factors by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We evaluated 119 women with facial melasma and 119 controls. Mean age was 39 ± 9 years. Mean age at beginning of disease was 27 ± 8 years. Pregnancy (40%), sun exposure (37%), and hormonal oral contraception (22%) were the most frequently reported melasma triggers. All subjects presented admixed ancestry, African and European genetic contributions were significantly different between cases and controls (respectively 10% vs 6%; 77% vs 82%; p < 0.05). African ancestry (OR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.07), first generation family history (OR = 3.04; 95% CI 1.56 to 5.94), low education level (OR = 4.04; 95% CI 1.56 to 5.94), and use of antidepressants by individuals with affected family members (OR = 6.15; 95% CI 1.13 to 33.37) were associated with melasma, independently of other known risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Facial melasma was independently associated with African ancestry in a highly admixed population.

Association of IFNL3 and IFNL4 polymorphisms with hepatitis C virus infection in a population from southeastern Brazil.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease and associated complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Viral and host factors are known to be predictors for antiviral therapy. Host factors that are predictors of sustained viral response (SVR) were discovered by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), including single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or near the interferon lambda gene (rs8099917, rs12979860 and rs368234815). The aim of the present study was to verify the genotype frequencies of SNPs rs8099917, rs12979860 and rs368234815 and to evaluate the association between SNPs and the outcome of HCV infection, taking into account the population ancestry. In this study, there was an association of the three polymorphisms with both clinical outcome and response to treatment with PEG-IFN and RBV. The polymorphisms rs12979860 and rs368234815 were associated with increased sensitivity (97.7 %, 95 % CI 87.2-100, and 93.3 %, 95 % CI 81.3-98.3; respectively) and with a greater predictive value of a positive response to treatment. In multivariable analysis adjusted by gender, age and ancestry, the haplotype G/T/ΔG was related to non-response to treatment (OR = 21.09, 95 % CI 5.33-83.51; p < 0.001) and to a higher chance of developing chronic infection (OR = 5.46, 95 % CI 2.06-14.46; p = 0.001) when compared to the haplotype T/C/TT. These findings may help to adjust our treatment policies for HCV infection based on greater certainty in studies with populations with such genetic characteristics, as well as allowing us to get to know the genetic profile of our population for these polymorphisms.

Ancestry informative markers and selected single nucleotide polymorphisms in immunoregulatory genes on preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: A genetic predisposition to Preterm Labor (PTL) and Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) has been suggested; however the relevance of polymorphisms and ancestry to susceptibility to PTL and PPROM in different populations remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of maternal and fetal SNPs in the IL1B, IL6, IL6R, TNFA, TNFR, IL10, TLR2, TLR4, MMP9, TIMP1 and TIMP2 genes and the influence of ancestry background in the susceptibility to PTL or PPROM in Brazilian women. METHODS: Case-control study conducted at a tertiary hospital in São Paulo State, Brazil. We included women with PTL or PPROM and their babies (PTL: 136 women and 88 babies; PPROM: 65 women and 44 babies). Control group included 402 mother-babies pairs of term deliveries. Oral swabs were collected for identification of AIMs by fragment analysis and SNPs by Taqman® SNP Genotyping Assays and PCR. Linkage Disequilibrium and Hardy-Weinberg proportions were evaluated using Genepop 3.4. Haplotypes were inferred using the PHASE algorithm. Allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies were compared by Fisher's exact test or χ (2) and Odds Ratio. Logistic regression was performed. Clinical and sociodemographic data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney. RESULTS: PTL was associated with European ancestry and smoking while African ancestry was protective. The fetal alleles IL10-592C (rs800872) and IL10-819C (rs1800871) were also associated with PTL and the maternal haplotype TNFA-308G-238A was protective. Maternal presence of IL10-1082G (rs1800896) and TLR2A (rs4696480) alleles increased the risk for PPROM while TNFA-238A (rs361525) was protective. Family history of PTL/PPROM was higher in cases, and time to delivery was influenced by IL1B-31T (rs1143627) and TLR4-299G (rs4986790). CONCLUSION: There is an association between European ancestry and smoking and PTL in our Brazilian population sample. The presence of maternal or fetal alleles that modify the inflammatory response increase the susceptibility to PTL and PPROM. The family history of PTL/PPROM reinforces a role for genetic polymorphisms in susceptibility to these outcomes.

Frequency of TNFA, INFG, and IL10 Gene Polymorphisms and Their Association with Malaria Vivax and Genomic Ancestry.

Polymorphisms in cytokine genes can alter the production of these proteins and consequently affect the immune response. The trihybrid heterogeneity of the Brazilian population is characterized as a condition for the use of ancestry informative markers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of -1031T>C, -308G>A and -238G>A TNFA, +874 A>T IFNG and -819C>T, and -592C>A IL10 gene polymorphisms and their association with malaria vivax and genomic ancestry. Samples from 90 vivax malaria-infected individuals and 51 noninfected individuals from northern Brazil were evaluated. Genotyping was carried out by using ASO-PCR or PCR/RFLP. The genomic ancestry of the individuals was classified using 48 insertion/deletion polymorphism biallelic markers. There were no differences in the proportions of African, European, and Native American ancestry between men and women. No significant association was observed for the allele and genotype frequencies of the 6 SNPs between malaria-infected and noninfected individuals. However, there was a trend toward decreasing the frequency of individuals carrying the TNF-308A allele with the increasing proportion of European ancestry. No ethnic-specific SNPs were identified, and there was no allelic or genotype association with susceptibility or resistance to vivax malaria. Understanding the genomic mechanisms by which ancestry influences this association is critical and requires further study.

Humoral immune responses against the malaria vaccine candidate antigen Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 and IL-4 gene polymorphisms in individuals living in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have recently demonstrated that the immune responses against malaria is governed by different factors, including the genetic components of the host. The IL-4 gene appears to be a strong candidate factor because of its role in the regulation of the Th2 response. The present study investigated the role of IL-4 polymorphisms in the development of IgG antibodies against PvAMA-1 and the IL-4 levels in individuals infected with Plasmodium vivax in a malaria endemic area in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: The study sample included 83 patients who were diagnosed with P. vivax infection using thick smear and confirmed by nested-PCR. The IL-4 -590C>T and IL-4 -33C>T polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, and the intron 3 VNTR was genotyped by PCR. A standardised ELISA protocol was used to measure the total IgG against PvAMA-1. The cytokine/chemokine levels were measured using a Milliplex multiplex assay (Millipore). All of the subjects were genotyped with 48 ancestry informative markers to determine the proportions of African, European and Amerindian ancestry using STRUCTURE software. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients, 60 (73%) produced IgG antibodies against PvAMA-1. A significant decrease in the percentage of respondents was observed among the primo-infected individuals. No significant differences were observed in the frequencies of genotypes and haplotypes among individuals who were positive or negative for IgG antibodies against PvAMA-1. Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between the IL-4 polymorphisms, antibody levels, IL-4 levels, and parasitemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the polymorphisms identified in the IL-4 gene are not likely to play a role in the regulation of the antibody response against PvAMA-1 and IL-4 production in vivax malaria.

From haystack to high precision: advanced sequencing methods to unraveling circulating tumor DNA mutations.

Identifying mutations in cancer-associated genes to guide patient treatments is essential for precision medicine. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers valuable insights for early cancer detection, treatment assessment, and surveillance. However, a key issue in ctDNA analysis from the bloodstream is the choice of a technique with adequate sensitivity to identify low frequent molecular changes. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, evolving from parallel to long-read capabilities, enhances ctDNA mutation analysis. In the present review, we describe different NGS approaches for identifying ctDNA mutation, discussing challenges to standardized methodologies, cost, specificity, clinical context, and bioinformatics expertise for optimal NGS application.

Genomic investigation on genes related to mercury metabolism in Amazonian indigenous populations.

Studies have identified elevated levels of mercury in Amazonian Indigenous individuals, highlighting them as one of the most exposed to risks. In the unique context of the Brazilian Indigenous population, it is crucial to identify genetic variants with clinical significance to better understand vulnerability to mercury and its adverse effects. Currently, there is a lack of research on the broader genomic profile of Indigenous people, particularly those from the Amazon region, concerning mercury contamination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the genomic profile related to the processes of mercury absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in 64 Indigenous individuals from the Brazilian Amazon. We aimed to determine whether these individuals exhibit a higher susceptibility to mercury exposure. Our study identified three high-impact variants (GSTA1 rs1051775, GSTM1 rs1183423000, and rs1241704212), with the latter two showing a higher frequency in the study population compared to global populations. Additionally, we discovered seven new variants with modifier impact and a genomic profile different from the worldwide populations. These genetic variants may predispose the study population to more harmful mercury exposure compared to global populations. As the first study to analyze broader genomics of mercury metabolism pathways in Brazilian Amazonian Amerindians, we emphasize that our research aims to contribute to public policies by utilizing genomic investigation as a method to identify populations with a heightened susceptibility to mercury exposure.

Genomic Variants and Worldwide Epidemiology of Breast Cancer: A Genome-Wide Association Studies Correlation Analysis.

Breast cancer (BCa) is the most common cancer and leading cause of cancer death among women globally. This can be explained by the genetic factor of this disease. This article aims to correlate the epidemiological data, worldwide incidence, and mortality of BCa with the Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the susceptibility and severity in different populations. Two hundred and forty genetic variants associated with BCa susceptibility/severity were selected from the literature through Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). The allele frequencies were obtained from the 1000 Genomes Project, and the epidemiological data were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO). The BCa incidence, mortality rates, and allele frequencies of the variants were evaluated using Pearson's correlation. Our study demonstrated that 11 SNPs (rs3817578, rs4843437, rs3754934, rs61764370, rs780092, rs2290203, rs10411161, rs6001930, rs16886165, rs8051542 and rs4973768) were significantly correlated with the epidemiological data in different ethnic groups. Seven polymorphisms (rs3817578, rs3754934, rs780092, rs2290203, rs10411161, rs6001930 and rs16886165) were inversely correlated with the incidence rate and four polymorphisms (rs4843437, rs61764370, rs8051542 and rs4973768) were directly correlated with the incidence rate. African and South-East Asian populations have a lower risk of developing BCa when evaluated in terms of genetic factors since they possess variants characterized as protective, as their higher incidence is associated with a lower frequency of BCa cases. The genetic variants investigated here are likely to predispose individuals to BCa. The genetic study described here is promising for implementing personalized strategies to screen for breast cancer in diverse populations.

Molecular Profile of Important Genes for Radiogenomics in the Amazon Indigenous Population.

Radiotherapy is focused on the tumor but also reaches healthy tissues, causing toxicities that are possibly related to genomic factors. In this context, radiogenomics can help reduce the toxicity, increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy, and personalize treatment. It is important to consider the genomic profiles of populations not yet studied in radiogenomics, such as the indigenous Amazonian population. Thus, our objective was to analyze important genes for radiogenomics, such as ATM, TGFB1, RAD51, AREG, XRCC4, CDK1, MEG3, PRKCE, TANC1, and KDR, in indigenous people and draw a radiogenomic profile of this population. The NextSeq 500® platform was used for sequencing reactions; for differences in the allelic frequency between populations, Fisher's Exact Test was used. We identified 39 variants, 2 of which were high impact: 1 in KDR (rs41452948) and another in XRCC4 (rs1805377). We found four modifying variants not yet described in the literature in PRKCE. We did not find any variants in TANC1-an important gene for personalized medicine in radiotherapy-that were associated with toxicities in previous cohorts, configuring a protective factor for indigenous people. We identified four SNVs (rs664143, rs1801516, rs1870377, rs1800470) that were associated with toxicity in previous studies. Knowing the radiogenomic profile of indigenous people can help personalize their radiotherapy.

Effect of American genomic ancestry on severe toxicities in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the Amazon region.

BACKGROUND: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a neoplasm of the hematopoietic system characterized by a clonal expansion of abnormal lymphocyte precursor cells. ALL is the most common form of cancer in children, but despite advances in treatment, it can still be fatal. Ethnic differences influence survival rates, and genomic ancestry plays an important role, especially in mixed-race populations such as Latin America. This study aims to analyze the influence of genomic ancestry on toxicity in children with ALL in the Amazon region. METHODS: The study included 171 patients (protocol number 119,649/2012-Ethics Committee) with ALL treated at a pediatric treatment center in Belém do Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon. The patients were submitted to the BFM protocol of induction therapy for ALL. Toxicity was assessed based on laboratory tests and adverse events, classified according to the CTC-NCI guide. Genomic ancestry was determined using autosomal informative markers. RESULTS: The majority of children (94.74%) developed some type of toxicity during treatment, 87.04% of which were severe. Infectious toxicity was the most common, present in 84.8% of cases, 77.24% of which were severe. Amerindian ancestry showed an association with the risk of severe general toxicity and severe infectious toxicity, with a contribution of 35.0% demonstrating a significant increase in risk. In addition, post-induction refractoriness and relapse were also associated with an increased risk of death. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the influence of Amerindian genomic ancestry on response to therapy and toxicity in children with ALL in the Amazon region. Understanding these associations can contribute to personalizing treatment and improving clinical outcomes.

Correlation between Genomic Variants and Worldwide COVID-19 Epidemiology.

COVID-19 is a systemic disease caused by the etiologic agent SARS-CoV-2, first reported in Hubei Province in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has evolved over time with distinct transmissibility subvariants from ancestral lineages. The clinical manifestations of the disease vary according to their severity and can range from asymptomatic to severe. Due to the rapid evolution to a pandemic, epidemiological studies have become essential to understand and effectively combat COVID-19, as the incidence and mortality of this disease vary between territories and populations. This study correlated epidemiological data on the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 with frequencies of important SNPs in GWAS studies associated with the susceptibility and mortality of this disease in different populations. Our results indicated significant correlations for 11 genetic variants (rs117169628, rs2547438, rs2271616, rs12610495, rs12046291, rs35705950, rs2176724, rs10774671, rs1073165, rs4804803 and rs7528026). Of these 11 variants, 7 (rs12046291, rs117169628, rs1073165, rs2547438, rs2271616, rs12610495 and rs35705950) were positively correlated with the incidence rate, these variants were more frequent in EUR populations, suggesting that this population is more susceptible to COVID-19. The rs2176724 variant was inversely related to incidence rates; therefore, the higher the frequency of the allele is, the lower the incidence rate. This variant was more frequent in the AFR population, which suggests a protective factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population. The variants rs10774671, rs4804803, and rs7528026 showed a significant relationship with mortality rates. SNPs rs10774671 and rs4804803 were inversely related to mortality rates and are more frequently present in the AFR population. The rs7528026 variant, which is more frequent in the AMR population, was positively related to mortality rates. The study has the potential to identify and correlate the genetic profile with epidemiological data, identify populations that are more susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19, and relate them to incidence and mortality.

ncRNAs: an unexplored cellular defense mechanism in leprosy.

Leprosy is an infectious disease primarily caused by the obligate intracellular parasite Mycobacterium leprae. Although it has been considered eradicated in many countries, leprosy continues to be a health issue in developing nations. Besides the social stigma associated with it, individuals affected by leprosy may experience nerve damage leading to physical disabilities if the disease is not properly treated or early diagnosed. Leprosy is recognized as a complex disease wherein socioenvironmental factors, immune response, and host genetics interact to contribute to its development. Recently, a new field of study called epigenetics has emerged, revealing that the immune response and other mechanisms related to infectious diseases can be influenced by noncoding RNAs. This review aims to summarize the significant advancements concerning non-coding RNAs in leprosy, discussing the key perspectives on this novel approach to comprehending the pathophysiology of the disease and identifying molecular markers. In our view, investigations on non-coding RNAs in leprosy hold promise and warrant increased attention from researches in this field.

Insertion-deletion polymorphisms--utilization on forensic analysis.

Insertion-deletion (INDEL) markers are very frequent in the human genome and present several advantages for population and forensic studies, such as low mutation rates, easy interpretation, small amplicons, easy genotyping, and the possibility of using multiplex PCR. The great adaptability of INDELs for amplification of low copy number or degraded DNA allows its using as an interesting platform of genetic identity by DNA in forensic cases. In the present study, we tested the ability of 48 diallelic INDEL markers on genotyping forensic samples collected from different biological samples related to criminal cases. Moreover, we evaluated the lowest DNA concentration with which there was amplification of all markers from each one of three indel-plex panels. When comparing the performances obtained by the indel-plex panels described in this study with results obtained using Identifiler® kit (Applied Biosystems) related to forensic samples, as well as to control samples with different concentrations of DNA, we observed superior efficiency on samples with low copy number or in the presence of inhibitors.

Anticipating the Next Chess Move: Blocking SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Simultaneously Disarming Viral Escape Mechanisms.

The COVID-19 pandemic initiated a race to determine the best measures to control the disease and to save as many people as possible. Efforts to implement social distancing, the use of masks, and massive vaccination programs turned out to be essential in reducing the devastating effects of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the high mutation rates of SARS-CoV-2 challenge the vaccination strategy and maintain the threat of new outbreaks due to the risk of infection surges and even lethal variations able to resist the effects of vaccines and upset the balance. Most of the new therapies tested against SARS-CoV-2 came from already available formulations developed to treat other diseases, so they were not specifically developed for SARS-CoV-2. In parallel, the knowledge produced regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in this disease was vast due to massive efforts worldwide. Taking advantage of such a vast molecular understanding of virus genomes and disease mechanisms, a targeted molecular therapy based on siRNA specifically developed to reach exclusive SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences was tested in a non-transformed human cell model. Since coronavirus can escape from siRNA by producing siRNA inhibitors, a complex strategy to simultaneously strike both the viral infectious mechanism and the capability of evading siRNA therapy was developed. The combined administration of the chosen produced siRNA proved to be highly effective in successfully reducing viral load and keeping virus replication under control, even after many days of treatment, unlike the combinations of siRNAs lacking this anti-anti-siRNA capability. Additionally, the developed therapy did not harm the normal cells, which was demonstrated because, instead of testing the siRNA in nonhuman cells or in transformed human cells, a non-transformed human thyroid cell was specifically chosen for the experiment. The proposed siRNA combination could reduce the viral load and allow the cellular recovery, presenting a potential innovation for consideration as an additional strategy to counter or cope COVID-19.

Characterization of DNA Polymerase Genes in Amazonian Amerindian Populations.

Due to their continuing geographic isolation, the Amerindian populations of the Brazilian Amazon present a different genetic profile when compared to other continental populations. Few studies have investigated genetic variants present in these populations, especially in the context of next-generation sequencing. Knowledge of the molecular profile of a population is one of the bases for inferences about human evolutionary history, in addition, it has the ability to assist in the validation of molecular biomarkers of susceptibility to complex and rare diseases, and in the improvement of specific precision medicine protocols applied to these populations and to populations with high Amerindian ancestry, such as Brazilians. DNA polymerases play essential roles in DNA replication, repair, recombination, or damage repair, and their influence on various clinical phenotypes has been demonstrated in the specialized literature. Thus, the aim of this study is to characterize the molecular profile of POLA1, POLE, POLG, POLQ, and REV3L genes in Amerindian populations from the Brazilian Amazon, comparing these findings with genomic data from five continental populations described in the gnomAD database, and with data from the Brazilian population described in ABraOM. We performed the whole exome sequencing (WES) of 63 Indigenous individuals. Our study described for the first time the allele frequency of 45 variants already described in the other continental populations, but never before described in the investigated Amerindian populations. Our results also describe eight unique variants of the investigated Amerindians populations, with predictions of moderate, modifier and high clinical impact. Our findings demonstrate the unique genetic profile of the Indigenous population of the Brazilian Amazon, reinforcing the need for further studies on these populations, and may contribute to the creation of public policies that optimize not only the quality of life of this population, but also of the Brazilian population.