Category Archives: Transhuman News

The largest genome sample ever analyzed for a human epidemic reveals that the West Africa epidemic unfolded with small, overlapping outbreaks as the virus spread over short distances and that urban settings amplified the spread.

Meanwhile, another study harnessed different advanced scientific tools in the blood of a single sick patient to detail gene-level response during infection.

In a massive international collaboration, 93 scientists from 53 institutions in 16 countries contributed to the analysis of 1,610 Ebola virus genomes from the outbreak, composing 5% of all known cases. The team published its findings on Apr 12 in Nature.

Alongside the genome analysis, the researchers looked at 25 factors that could have contributed to the spread and duration of West Africa's outbreak.

Surprisingly few infected travelers sparked new outbreaks, and the ones that did mainly spread the disease short distances, sparing other countries in the regionGuinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, and northern Guineafrom severe impact.

Gytis Dudas, PhD, with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said in a press release from the institution, "We calculated that 3.6% of cases traveled, basically meaning that if you were able to focus on those mobile cases and reduce their mobility, you might have had a disproportionate effect on the epidemic."

Border closures appeared to have some impact on virus spread, but by the time the three hardest-hit countries closed their borders, travelers had already seeded outbreaks in each country. Dudas said in the later stages of the outbreak, a particularly mobile chain of infected people moved between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Variables that didn't seem to have significant impacts on speeding or slowing the outbreak, in contrast, included shared languages, economic output, and climate.

The researchers said the information will help predict the future of Ebola outbreaks and help guide the response. They added that real-time sequencing and rapid data sharing doesn't replace boots-on-the-ground case finding and contact tracing, but in setting such as West Africa where resources are limited, such measures can help speed the response by telling responders where to place contact tracers, treatment beds, quarantine, and other infection control measures.

An unprecedented genetic analysis of blood samples taken daily after an Ebola patient was hospitalized revealed changes in antiviral and immune response at key points in disease progression, researchers reported Apr 12 in Science Translational Medicine.

The patient was admitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center isolation unit on day 7 of infection for a 26-day hospitalization.

He or she received supportive care, but no experimental treatments. The researchers' study goal was to explore how gene expression changes, including those linked to blood clotting problems and organ dysfunction, correlated with the patient's clinical condition.

A marked decline in antiviral responses correlated with virus clearance from white blood cells, and host responses shifted rapidly from gene activation in cell damage and inflammation toward those that promote cellular and organ repair. The shift came before the first signs of clinical improvement.

The investigators said that although the findings involve only a single patient, they might offer a clinical marker to tailor treatment or help guide the development of new treatments.

See also:

Apr 12 Nature study

Apr 12 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center press release

Apr 12 Sci Transl Med case report

Apr 12 NIH press release

Read this article:
Huge genome study dissects Ebola outbreak's spread - CIDRAP

Science Daily

Sandy the dingo wins world's most interesting genome competition Science Daily This is Sandy Maliki, a pure desert dingo and winner of the World's Most Interesting Genome competition. The UNSW-led proposal to have Sandy's DNA decoded beat four other finalists for the Pacific Biosciences SMRT Grant, which provides cutting-edge ...

Continued here:
Sandy the dingo wins world's most interesting genome competition - Science Daily

For the first time in history, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests to be sold directly to consumers. Specifically, the FDA has authorized Silicon Valley-based genetic testing firm 23AndMe to market their Personal Genome Service Genetic Health Risk (GHR) tests for 10 diseases or conditions namely: Alpha-1 antitypsin deficiency, Celiac disease, factor XI deficiency, Gaucher disease type 1, G6PD, Parkinsons disease, early-onset primary dystonia, late-onset Alzheimers, hereditary hemochromatosis and hereditary thrombophilia.

To arrive at their decision, the FDA said they reviewed studies that showed how the procedures used by 23AndMe were able to correctly and consistently identify gene variants associated with the 10 conditions. They also looked into other peer-reviewed references that confirmed the links and therefore provided further support to backup 23AndMes data.

After being granted FDA approval on April 6, the company says the tests will be available to the public in April.

In anticipation of the debates and discussions that the FDAs decision might evoke, the agency made it clear that the disease risk tests are simply meant to provide genetic risk information but no more than that. This means that since there are several other factors that can raise or reduce a persons chances of becoming sick like lifestyle, diet and a persons environment the tests can only provide information on ones predisposition to develop a condition. Basically, the suggestion here is that the tests cannot be used to determine a persons overall health risks.

The information obtained from the DTC tests, however, can be used by individuals to reassess and possibly do some lifestyle adjustments, or maybe initiate consultations with a medical professional, especially if the information received is unfavorable.

Just imagine, through these $199.00 DTC tests, a person only has to do a simple saliva swab, send it to 23AndMe, then wait for around 6 8 weeks for an email from the company that will pretty much let him/her know if he/she has gene mutations that make him/her more susceptible to developing certain diseases.

Even in clinics and hospitals, lab test results cannot be taken at face value. Theres always a need for doctors to correlate the findings with their clinical assessment of the patient in order to come up with the correct diagnosis or a reasonable prognosis.

Interpretation of genetic information remains relatively difficult because the link between specific genes and certain medical conditions isnt always in black and white. If doctors find it difficult at times that they have to consult other experts to make an accurate assessment, what can be expected from people who have no medical background?

In the case of these DTC tests, if a person receives bad news about his/her disease risk, it might cause unnecessary stress and anxiety because the person will rely solely on that information, without the guidance of a medical practitioner who can put things in perspective.

Back in 2013, the FDA refused to authorize the DTC tests, citing a false positive result could lead to unnecessary treatments. Four years later, however, the tests were made possible via a new permit type from the FDA, including what the agency called special controls to assure the accuracy of tests.

Whether or not the public can handle the genetic data info properly remains to be seen.But for those who can, this may indeed prove helpful in the long run, especially if it manages to make people shift to healthier lifestyle choices because of the test results.

As 23andMe CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki said in a statement: This is an important moment for people who want to know their genetic health risks and be more proactive about their health. The FDA has embraced innovation and has empowered individuals by authorizing direct access to this information.

View original post here:
FDA DNA-Test Clearance Opens Genome Floodgates - Wall Street Pit