The association of ABO blood group with the asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple waves of infection worldwide. The large variations in case fatality rate among different geographical regions suggest that the human susceptibility against this virus varies substantially. Several studies from different parts of the world showed a significant association of ABO blood group and COVID-19 susceptibility. It was demonstrated that individuals with blood group O are at the lower risk of coronavirus infection. To establish the association of ABO blood group in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, we for the first time analysed SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies among 509 individuals, collected from three major districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India. Interestingly, we found neutralising antibodies in a significantly higher percentage of people with blood group AB (0.36) followed by B (0.31), A (0.22) and lowest in people with blood group O (0.11). We further estimated that people with blood group AB are at comparatively higher risk of infection than other blood groups. Thus, among the asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 recovered people blood group AB has highest, whilst individuals with blood group O has lowest risk of infection.

Re-testing reported significant SNPs related to suicide in a historical high -risk isolated population from north east India.

BACKGROUND: Genetic diathesis of suicide is supported by family and twin studies. Few candidate gene pathways are known, but does not explain fully the complexity of suicide genetic risk. Recent investigations opting for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) resulted in finding additional targets, but replication remained a challenge. In this respect small isolated population approach in several complex disease phenotypes is found encouraging. The present study is an attempt to re-test some of the reported significant SNPs for suicide among a small historical high- risk isolated population from Northeast India. METHODS: Two hundred ten cases (inclusive of depressed, suicide attempter and depressed + suicide attempter) and 249 controls were considered in the present study which were evaluated for the psychiatric parameters. Sixteen reported significant SNPs for suicide behaviour were re-tested using association approach under various genetic models. Networking by GeneMANIA tool was used for function prediction of the associated genes. RESULTS: Seven SNPs (of 6 genes) remained significant in different genetic models. On networking genes with significant SNPs IL7, RHEB, CTNN3, KCNIP4, ARFGEF3 are found in interaction with already known candidate gene pathways while SNP rs1109089 (RHEB) gained further support from earlier expression studies. NUGGC gene is in complete isolation. CONCLUSIONS: Small population approach in replicating significant SNPs is useful in complex phenotypes like suicide. This study explored the region-specific demographics of India by identifying vulnerable population for suicide via genetic association analysis in bringing into academic and administrative forum, the importance of suicide as a disease and its biological basis.

The influence of natural barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Maharashtra populations.

BACKGROUND: The geographical position of Maharashtra state makes it rather essential to study the dispersal of modern humans in South Asia. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the cultural, linguistic and geographical affinity of the populations living in Maharashtra state with other South Asian populations. The genetic origin of populations living in this state is poorly understood and hitherto been described at low molecular resolution level. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To address this issue, we have analyzed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 185 individuals and NRY (non-recombining region of Y chromosome) of 98 individuals belonging to two major tribal populations of Maharashtra, and compared their molecular variations with that of 54 South Asian contemporary populations of adjacent states. Inter and intra population comparisons reveal that the maternal gene pool of Maharashtra state populations is composed of mainly South Asian haplogroups with traces of east and west Eurasian haplogroups, while the paternal haplogroups comprise the South Asian as well as signature of near eastern specific haplogroup J2a. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis suggests that Indian populations, including Maharashtra state, are largely derived from Paleolithic ancient settlers; however, a more recent (∼10 Ky older) detectable paternal gene flow from west Asia is well reflected in the present study. These findings reveal movement of populations to Maharashtra through the western coast rather than mainland where Western Ghats-Vindhya Mountains and Narmada-Tapti rivers might have acted as a natural barrier. Comparing the Maharastrian populations with other South Asian populations reveals that they have a closer affinity with the South Indian than with the Central Indian populations.

Bioenergetics and permeability transition pore opening in heart subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria: effects of aging and lifelong calorie restriction.

Loss of cardiac mitochondrial function with age may cause increased cardiomyocyte death through mitochondria-mediated release of apoptogenic factors. We investigated ventricular subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM) mitochondrial bioenergetics and susceptibility towards Ca(2+)-induced permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening with aging and lifelong calorie restriction (CR). Cardiac mitochondria were isolated from 8-, 18-, 29- and 37-month-old male Fischer 344 x Brown Norway rats fed either ad libitum (AL) or 40% calorie restricted diets. With age, H(2)O(2) generation did not increase and oxygen consumption did not significantly decrease in either SSM or IFM. Strikingly, IFM displayed an increased susceptibility towards mPTP opening during senescence. In contrast, Ca(2+) retention capacity of SSM was not affected by age, but SSM tolerated much less Ca(2+) than IFM. Only modest age-dependent increases in cytosolic caspase activities and cytochrome c levels were observed and were not affected by CR. Levels of putative mPTP-modulating components: cyclophilin-D, the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), and the voltage-dependent ion channel (VDAC) were not affected by aging or CR. In summary, the age-related reduction of Ca(2+) retention capacity in IFM may explain the increased susceptibility to stress-induced cell death in the aged myocardium.