A novel HLA-C*04 variant, HLA-C*04:01:01:174, identified in a healthy individual from Greece.

HLA-C*04:01:01:174 differs from the HLA-C*04:01:01:06 allele by one nucleotide substitution in the intron 5.

Discovery of the novel HLA-A*01:01:01:112 allele in a Greek volunteer bone marrow donor.

HLA-A*01:01:01:112 differs from the HLA-A*01:01:01:01 allele by one nucleotide substitution in the 5'UTR.

Identification of the novel HLA-A*01:426 allele in a Greek bone marrow donor.

Characterization of the novel HLA-A*01:426 allele in a 21-year-old Greek male bone marrow donor.

Identification of the novel HLA-DPB1*02:01:68 allele in a Greek individual.

Characterization of the novel HLA-DPB1*02:01:68 allele in a 27-year-old Greek hematopoietic stem cell transplant candidate.

HLA-B*51:380, a novel HLA-B allele with one exonic mutation identified in a Greek individual.

Characterization of the novel HLA-B*51:380 allele in a Greek individual using next-generation sequencing.

Demographic, Clinical and Immunogenetic Profiles of a Greek Cohort of COVID-19 Patients.

The present cross-sectional study consists of a comprehensive analysis of epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in relation to their immunogenetic profiles. We studied 125 COVID-19 patients comprising different stages of disease severity; non-hospitalized (mild n = 69) and hospitalized (n = 56). Analysis of disease characteristics revealed no major differences between males and females of each group of patients while hospitalized patients were older and presented with comorbidities. A positive allele association was observed for HLA-DRB1*01 in total COVID-19 patients versus healthy controls. Subgrouping of COVID-19 patients in mild and hospitalized further identified a statistically significant increase in HLA-DRB1*01 in mild COVID-19 patients versus controls. The frequency of A*11, A*23, and DRB1*09 alleles was higher, while the frequency of C*12 was lower, in hospitalized patients versus healthy controls albeit with uncorrected statistical significance. The identification of specific allele associations may provide useful future markers for disease susceptibility in order to allow successful clinical management of COVID-19 patients.

Shared epitope and polymorphism of MICA and NKG2D encoding genes in Greek and Polish patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The present study aimed to analyse and compare the distribution of MICA (rs1051792) and NKG2D/KLRK1 (rs1154831, rs1049174, rs2255336) polymorphisms in 61 Greek and 100 Polish patients with rheumatoid arthritis in relation to the presence of the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope and clinical parameters. Genotyping of selected polymorphism was performed using real-time PCR. HLA-DRB1 shared epitope alleles segregated differently in Greek and Polish patients but in both populations were detected in over 60% of cases. The rs1051792-A variant was more common among SE-positive Polish patients (p = 0.003) while the rs1049174-G allele was more frequently observed in Greeks than in Poles (p < 0.001). Moreover, among Greek patients, the rs1051792-GG homozygotes more frequently presented with anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF), while carriers of the rs1049174-G variant and rs1154831-CC homozygotes were characterized by lower disease activity scores (p < 0.05 in all cases). These results imply that, in addition to the HLA-DRB1 SE alleles, MICA and NKG2D polymorphisms may also play a role in rheumatoid arthritis.

Evaluation of an alternative method for wastewater treatment containing pesticides using solar photocatalytic oxidation and constructed wetlands.

The present study proposes an integrated system based on the synergetic action of solar photocatalytic oxidation with surface flow constructed wetlands for the purification of wastewater contaminated with pesticides. Experiments were conducted at pilot scale using simulated wastewater containing the herbicide clopyralid. Three photocatalytic methods under solar light were investigated: the photo-Fenton and the ferrioxalate reagent as well as the combination of photo-Fenton with TiO2 P25, which all led to similar mineralization rates. The subsequent treatment in constructed wetlands resulted in further decrease of DOC and inorganic ions concentrations, especially of NO3-. Clopyralid was absent in the outlet of the wetlands, while the concentration of the detected intermediates was remarkably low. These findings are in good agreement with the results of phytotoxicity of the wastewater, after treatment with the ferrioxalate/wetlands process, which was significantly reduced. Thus, this integrated system based on solar photocatalysis and constructed wetlands has the potential to effectively detoxify wastewater containing pesticides, producing a purified effluent which could be exploited for reuse applications.