Potential Antiviral Options against SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

As of June 2020, the number of people infected with severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to skyrocket, with more than 6.7 million cases worldwide. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) has highlighted the need for better control of SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, developing novel virus-specific vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 can be time-consuming and costly. Convalescent sera and safe-in-man broad-spectrum antivirals (BSAAs) are readily available treatment options. Here, we developed a neutralization assay using SARS-CoV-2 strain and Vero-E6 cells. We identified the most potent sera from recovered patients for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. We also screened 136 safe-in-man broad-spectrum antivirals against the SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero-E6 cells and identified nelfinavir, salinomycin, amodiaquine, obatoclax, emetine and homoharringtonine. We found that a combination of orally available virus-directed nelfinavir and host-directed amodiaquine exhibited the highest synergy. Finally, we developed a website to disseminate the knowledge on available and emerging treatments of COVID-19.

The HLA-G 14bp gene polymorphism and decidual HLA-G 14bp gene expression in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Trophoblast expression of the non-classical MHC, HLA-G, is considered essential for feto-maternal immune tolerance and successful placentation in pregnancy. The HLA-G 14bp polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of the HLA-G gene has been reported to be associated with development of pre-eclampsia (PE). In this study, maternal (peripheral blood, n=54) and fetal (cord blood, n=57) HLA-G 14bp genotypes have been determined by PCR in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies. In addition, HLA-G 14bp gene expression in decidua basalis (n=59) was analyzed by RT-PCR. The pre-eclamptic syndrome was neither associated with the HLA-G 14bp genotype (maternal or fetal), nor with altered decidual HLA-G 14bp gene expression. Furthermore, the HLA-G 14bp mRNA expressed in decidua basalis was of fetal origin and all potential transcripts, as predicted from the fetal HLA-G 14bp genotype, were expressed. In contrast to previous findings, we found no correlation between the HLA-G 14bp polymorphism and fetal growth. In conclusion, the fetal HLA-G 14bp genotype is reflected in the decidual HLA-G mRNA splice form profile, but does not appear to be associated with increased risk for development of PE.

Altered expression of PGK1 in a family with phosphoglycerate kinase deficiency.

The X-linked recessive disease phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) deficiency is caused by altered expression of the PGK1 enzyme, which causes muscle stiffness, hemolytic anemia, and mental retardation. In this study we characterized the PGK1 gene in a family of two brothers, two sisters, and their parents. A single mutation in exon 6, which was associated with the pattern of inheritance of PGK1 deficiency, was observed. This silent G213G; c.639C>T mutation was localized to the conserved exon-intron boundary. We have developed a method for quantification of PGK1 mRNA and demonstrated a marked reduction in PGK1 mRNA in both brothers with the disease. A smaller decrease in PGK1 expression was observed in one sister with symptoms of PGK deficiency and in her mother. Only the normal PGK1 allele was expressed in the two heterozygous women. Whereas most known PGK1 mutations cause amino acid alterations, our study indicates that inhibition of the transcription mechanism is the cause of PGK deficiency.

Antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms in patients with schizophrenia: associations with dopamine and serotonin receptor and transporter polymorphisms.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the influence of polymorphisms of the dopamine and serotonin system on the risk for extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) during treatment with antipsychotic drugs. METHODS: Of 119 subjects with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics, 63 had current or previous EPS (acute dystonia, parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesia), and 56 had no such symptoms. All subjects were genotyped for a total of eight dopamine and serotonin receptor and transporter polymorphisms: the Taq1A polymorphism of the dopamine D(2) receptor (DRD2) gene, the Msc1 polymorphism of the dopamine D(3) receptor (DRD3) gene, the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene, four polymorphisms (102T/C, His452Tyr, 516 C/T, and Thr25Asn) of the serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor (5HTR2A) gene, and the 5HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (5HTT) gene. RESULTS: The frequency of the A1 allele of the DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism was significantly higher in the EPS group than in the control group [16% vs. 7%, P = 0.040; odds ratio (OR) 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-5.7]. Also, the 9 repeat allele of the DAT1 VNTR polymorphism was significantly more common in the EPS group (42% vs. 28%, P = 0.030; OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.3). Being a carrier of both DRD2 Taq1A A1 and DAT1 VNTR 9 repeat alleles was also significantly associated with the occurrence of EPS (19% vs. 6%, P = 0.040; OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.05-15.2) No significant differences in allele frequencies were found for the other polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: Presence of the Taq1A A1 allele of the DRD2 and the 9 repeat allele of the DAT1 VNTR polymorphisms might be risk factors for EPS caused by antipsychotic drugs.

Two cysteine substitutions in the MC1R generate the blue variant of the Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) and prevent expression of the white winter coat.

We have characterized two mutations in the MC1R gene of the blue variant of the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) that both incorporate a novel cysteine residue into the receptor. A family study in farmed arctic foxes verified that the dominant expression of the blue color phenotype cosegregates completely with the allele harboring these two mutations. Additionally to the altered pigment synthesis, the blue fox allele suppresses the seasonal change in coat color found in the native arctic fox. Consequently, these findings suggest that the MC1R/agouti regulatory system is involved in the seasonal changes of coat color found in arctic fox.