1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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2. |
- Berry, Joe Scott, et al.
(author)
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Examining the biological pathways underlying clinical heterogeneity in Sjogren's syndrome : proteomic and network analysis
- 2024
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In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 83:1, s. 88-95
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Stratification approaches are vital to address clinical heterogeneity in Sjogren's syndrome (SS). We previously described that the Newcastle Sjogren's Stratification Tool (NSST) identified four distinct clinical subtypes of SS. We performed proteomic and network analysis to analyse the underlying pathobiology and highlight potential therapeutic targets for different SS subtypes.Method: We profiled serum proteins using O-link technology of 180 SS subjects. We used 5 O-link proteomics panels which included a total of 454 unique proteins. Network reconstruction was performed using the ARACNE algorithm, with differential expression estimates overlaid on these networks to reveal the key subnetworks of differential expression. Furthermore, data from a phase III trial of tocilizumab in SS were reanalysed by stratifying patients at baseline using NSST.Results: Our analysis highlights differential expression of chemokines, cytokines and the major autoantigen TRIM21 between the SS subtypes. Furthermore, we observe differential expression of several transcription factors associated with energy metabolism and redox balance namely APE1/Ref-1, FOXO1, TIGAR and BACH1. The differentially expressed proteins were inter-related in our network analysis, supporting the concept that distinct molecular networks underlie the clinical subtypes of SS. Stratification of patients at baseline using NSST revealed improvement of fatigue score only in the subtype expressing the highest levels of serum IL-6.Conclusions: Our data provide clues to the pathways contributing to the glandular and non-glandular manifestations of SS and to potential therapeutic targets for different SS subtypes. In addition, our analysis highlights the need for further exploration of altered metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of SS subtypes.
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3. |
- Docherty, Anna R, et al.
(author)
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GWAS Meta-Analysis of Suicide Attempt: Identification of 12 Genome-Wide Significant Loci and Implication of Genetic Risks for Specific Health Factors.
- 2023
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In: The American journal of psychiatry. - : American Psychiatric Association Publishing. - 1535-7228 .- 0002-953X. ; 180:10, s. 723-738
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Suicidal behavior is heritable and is a major cause of death worldwide. Two large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) recently discovered and cross-validated genome-wide significant (GWS) loci for suicide attempt (SA). The present study leveraged the genetic cohorts from both studies to conduct the largest GWAS meta-analysis of SA to date. Multi-ancestry and admixture-specific meta-analyses were conducted within groups of significant African, East Asian, and European ancestry admixtures.This study comprised 22 cohorts, including 43,871 SA cases and 915,025 ancestry-matched controls. Analytical methods across multi-ancestry and individual ancestry admixtures included inverse variance-weighted fixed-effects meta-analyses, followed by gene, gene-set, tissue-set, and drug-target enrichment, as well as summary-data-based Mendelian randomization with brain expression quantitative trait loci data, phenome-wide genetic correlation, and genetic causal proportion analyses.Multi-ancestry and European ancestry admixture GWAS meta-analyses identified 12 risk loci at p values <5×10-8. These loci were mostly intergenic and implicated DRD2, SLC6A9, FURIN, NLGN1, SOX5, PDE4B, and CACNG2. The multi-ancestry SNP-based heritability estimate of SA was 5.7% on the liability scale (SE=0.003, p=5.7×10-80). Significant brain tissue gene expression and drug set enrichment were observed. There was shared genetic variation of SA with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, smoking, and risk tolerance after conditioning SA on both major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Genetic causal proportion analyses implicated shared genetic risk for specific health factors.This multi-ancestry analysis of suicide attempt identified several loci contributing to risk and establishes significant shared genetic covariation with clinical phenotypes. These findings provide insight into genetic factors associated with suicide attempt across ancestry admixture populations, in veteran and civilian populations, and in attempt versus death.
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4. |
- Abbafati, Cristiana, et al.
(author)
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- 2020
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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5. |
- Bueno, Natália, S., et al.
(author)
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Promoting Reproducibility and Replicability in Political Science
- 2024
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In: Research & Politics. - Essen, Germany : Institute for Replication (I4R). - 2053-1680 .- 2053-1680. ; 11:1
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This article reviews and summarizes current reproduction and replication practices in political science. We first provide definitions for reproducibility and replicability. We then review data availability policies for 28 leading political science journals and present the results from a survey of editors about their willingness to publish comments and replications. We discuss new initiatives that seek to promote and generate highquality reproductions and replications. Finally, we make the case for standards and practices that may help increase data availability, reproducibility, and replicability in political science.
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6. |
- Danko, David, et al.
(author)
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A global metagenomic map of urban microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance
- 2021
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In: Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 0092-8674 .- 1097-4172. ; 184:13, s. 3376-3393
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a global atlas of 4,728 metagenomic samples from mass-transit systems in 60 cities over 3 years, representing the first systematic, worldwide catalog of the urban microbial ecosystem. This atlas provides an annotated, geospatial profile of microbial strains, functional characteristics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) markers, and genetic elements, including 10,928 viruses, 1,302 bacteria, 2 archaea, and 838,532 CRISPR arrays not found in reference databases. We identified 4,246 known species of urban microorganisms and a consistent set of 31 species found in 97% of samples that were distinct from human commensal organisms. Profiles of AMR genes varied widely in type and density across cities. Cities showed distinct microbial taxonomic signatures that were driven by climate and geographic differences. These results constitute a high-resolution global metagenomic atlas that enables discovery of organisms and genes, highlights potential public health and forensic applications, and provides a culture-independent view of AMR burden in cities.
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7. |
- Gaziano, Liam, et al.
(author)
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Actionable druggable genome-wide Mendelian randomization identifies repurposing opportunities for COVID-19
- 2021
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In: Nature Medicine. - : Springer Nature. - 1078-8956 .- 1546-170X. ; 27:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large-scale Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses using gene expression and soluble protein data for 1,263 actionable druggable genes, which encode protein targets for approved drugs or drugs in clinical development, identify IFNAR2 and ACE2 as the most promising therapeutic targets for early management of COVID-19. Drug repurposing provides a rapid approach to meet the urgent need for therapeutics to address COVID-19. To identify therapeutic targets relevant to COVID-19, we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses, deriving genetic instruments based on transcriptomic and proteomic data for 1,263 actionable proteins that are targeted by approved drugs or in clinical phase of drug development. Using summary statistics from the Host Genetics Initiative and the Million Veteran Program, we studied 7,554 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and >1 million controls. We found significant Mendelian randomization results for three proteins (ACE2, P = 1.6 x 10(-6); IFNAR2, P = 9.8 x 10(-11) and IL-10RB, P = 2.3 x 10(-14)) using cis-expression quantitative trait loci genetic instruments that also had strong evidence for colocalization with COVID-19 hospitalization. To disentangle the shared expression quantitative trait loci signal for IL10RB and IFNAR2, we conducted phenome-wide association scans and pathway enrichment analysis, which suggested that IFNAR2 is more likely to play a role in COVID-19 hospitalization. Our findings prioritize trials of drugs targeting IFNAR2 and ACE2 for early management of COVID-19.
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8. |
- Hao, Meng-Shu, et al.
(author)
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Structural and biochemical analysis of family 92 carbohydrate-binding modules uncovers multivalent binding to β-glucans
- 2024
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 15:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are non-catalytic proteins found appended to carbohydrate-active enzymes. Soil and marine bacteria secrete such enzymes to scavenge nutrition, and they often use CBMs to improve reaction rates and retention of released sugars. Here we present a structural and functional analysis of the recently established CBM family 92. All proteins analysed bind preferentially to β−1,6-glucans. This contrasts with the diversity of predicted substrates among the enzymes attached to CBM92 domains. We present crystal structures for two proteins, and confirm by mutagenesis that tryptophan residues permit ligand binding at three distinct functional binding sites on each protein. Multivalent CBM families are uncommon, so the establishment and structural characterisation of CBM92 enriches the classification database and will facilitate functional prediction in future projects. We propose that CBM92 proteins may cross-link polysaccharides in nature, and might have use in novel strategies for enzyme immobilisation.
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9. |
- Hao, Meng-Shu, et al.
(author)
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Structural and biochemical analysis of family 92 carbohydrate-binding modules uncovers multivalent binding to β-glucans
- 2024
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723 .- 2041-1723. ; 15:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are non-catalytic proteins found appended to carbohydrate-active enzymes. Soil and marine bacteria secrete such enzymes to scavenge nutrition, and they often use CBMs to improve reaction rates and retention of released sugars. Here we present a structural and functional analysis of the recently established CBM family 92. All proteins analysed bind preferentially to β−1,6-glucans. This contrasts with the diversity of predicted substrates among the enzymes attached to CBM92 domains. We present crystal structures for two proteins, and confirm by mutagenesis that tryptophan residues permit ligand binding at three distinct functional binding sites on each protein. Multivalent CBM families are uncommon, so the establishment and structural characterisation of CBM92 enriches the classification database and will facilitate functional prediction in future projects. We propose that CBM92 proteins may cross-link polysaccharides in nature, and might have use in novel strategies for enzyme immobilisation.
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10. |
- Inabnet, William B., 3rd, et al.
(author)
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Correlating the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology with Histology and Extent of Surgery : A Review of 21,746 Patients from Four Endocrine Surgery Registries Across Two Continents
- 2020
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In: World Journal of Surgery. - : Springer. - 0364-2313 .- 1432-2323. ; 44:2, s. 426-435
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The Bethesda system for cytopathology (TBSRTC) is a 6-tier diagnostic framework developed to standardize thyroid cytopathology reporting. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of malignancy (ROM) for each Bethesda category.METHODS: Thyroidectomy-related data from 314 facilities in 22 countries were entered into the following outcome registries: CESQIP (North America), Eurocrine (Europe), SQRTPA (Sweden) and UKRETS (UK). Demographic, cytological, pathologic and extent of surgery data were mapped into one dataset and analyzed.RESULTS: Out of 41,294 thyroidectomy patient entries from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2017, 21,746 patients underwent both thyroid FNA and surgery. A comparison of cytology and surgical pathology data demonstrated a ROM for Bethesda categories 1 to 6 of 19.2%, 12.7%, 31.9%, 31.4%, 77.8% and 96.0%, respectively. Male patients had a higher rate of malignancy for every Bethesda category. Secondary analysis demonstrated a high ROM in male patients with Bethesda 3 category aged 31-35 years (52.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 37.9-66.2%), aged 36-40 years (55.9%, 95% CI 39.2-72.6%) and aged 41-45 years (46.9%, 95% CI 33-60.9%). Patients with Bethesda 5 and 6 scores were more likely to undergo total thyroidectomy (65.9% and 84.6%); for patients with Bethesda scores 2 and 3, a higher percentage of females underwent total thyroidectomy compared to males in spite of a higher ROM for males.CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that Bethesda categories 1-4 are associated with a higher ROM compared to the first edition of TBSRTC, especially in male patients, and validate findings from the second edition of TBSRTC.
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