Analysis of N6-Methyladenosine Modification Patterns and Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common mRNA modification. However, little is known about the relationship between m6A modification and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in PAAD.Methods: Based on 22 m6A regulators, m6A modification patterns of PAAD samples extracted from public databases were systematically evaluated and correlated with the tumor immune and prognosis characteristics. An integrated model called the “m6Ascore” was constructed, and its prognostic role was evaluated.Results: Three different m6Aclusters and gene clusters were successively identified; these clusters were characterized by differences in prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and pathway signatures. The m6Ascore was constructed to quantify the m6A modifications of individual patients. Subsequent analysis revealed that m6Ascore was an independent prognostic factor of PAAD and could be a potential indicator to predict the response to immunotherapy.Conclusion: This study comprehensively evaluated the features of m6A modification patterns in PAAD. m6A modification patterns play a non-negligible role in the TIME of PAAD. m6Ascore provides a more holistic understanding of m6A modification in PAAD, and will help clinicians predict the prognosis and response to immunotherapy.

DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF LICHEN IN SIMILIPAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE, ODISHA

Lichens are organized symbionts that have their importance due to a potential indicator of the forest ecosystem. The lichen diversity of Odisha is not well explored as compared to the other phytogeographical region of India. Though the earlier study reported the occurrence of 252 lichen species from different parts of the state, it was limited to the northeast part of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR). The objective of the present study was to survey some unexplored areas of SBR, which revealed the occurrence of 84 species of lichens belonging to 38 families and 18 genera. Most of the lichens were found growing as phorophytes on the matured bark of the trees. The western part of the SBR is rich in lichen diversity as compared to the eastern part. Species frequency was found to be highest in the southwest part of the SBR, while the density and abundance were more or less similar within all the study sites. The correlation between frequency and density was found to be significant and insignificant between frequency and abundance.

Diversity in the observed functionality of dams and reservoirs

Knowledge and modeling of the observed functionality of dams and reservoirs are desirable for better water resources management. In this study, we examine the functionality of dams and reservoirs over much of the globe through a hydroclimate assessment over 990 Global Runoff Data Center stations that have at least one dam/reservoir over the corresponding drainage areas and available streamflow records of at least 25 years. To quantify the potential capacity of human disturbance/alteration, annual cumulative maximum storage (CMS) of the dams are computed and then annual potential changes in the residence time of water (PRT; CMS divided by annual mean monthly flow) are assessed. In addition, the Man-Kendall tests for annual maximum, mean, and minimum monthly streamflow, and drainage area-averaged precipitation are conducted. Results show that the size of CMS and the main purpose have an explanatory power of the designed hydrologic response (i.e., flattening of the seasonality) while 6% of dam-affected stations experienced the opposite hydrologic response (intensifying of the seasonality) due to the overwhelming impact of anthropogenic climate change. This study finds that the magnitude of PRT is a potential indicator to identify a considerable impact of dams and reservoirs for the regional hydrologic regime. The findings of this study suggest diversity in the observed functionality of dams and reservoirs, which is still a challenge in global hydrological modeling.

Loss of smell/taste is a potential indicator of a mild case of COVID-19: a retrospective institutional study

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. The loss of smell is an atypical symptom and is usually associated with milder form of this disease compared to severe disease. The aim of this study was to compare the severity of disease in patients with and without loss of smell/taste.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was a retrospective study of 100 patients who were COVID RT-PCR positive, carried out in the COVID care center of a tertiary hospital during the period of 6 months from October 2020 to April 2021.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> 100 cases of RT-PCR positive patients were divided into two groups (50 cases each of patients with and without loss of smell/taste). The mean age was 55-65 years in both the groups. Throat pain/throat irritation and fever were the most common complaints in the patients of both groups, affecting all the 100 (100%) patients. It was followed by cough in 25 (50%) patients and diarrhea in 12 (24%) patients. 2 (4%) patients had breathlessness in group A. While in group B, 50 (100%) patients had cough and breathlessness. The average SpO₂ was &gt;95 in 45 (90%) patients in group A while in group B, &lt;90 in 30 (60%) patient and &gt;95 in 8 (16%) patients. The CT values of HRCT thorax were &lt;8 in 45 (90%) patients in group A while in group B, &gt;15 in 25 (50%) patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The treatment outcome was 100% patients being discharged in group A without any complication while in group B, 38 (76%) patients were discharged and 12 (24%) patients expired due to various COVID-19 related complications. From this we conclude that, loss of taste and loss of smell are prognostic indicators of mild type of COVID-19.</p>

56 Awardee Talk: Genetic Improvement of Disease Resilience

Infectious disease represents one of the largest cost components to the swine industry, incurring veterinary costs, loss of pigs due to mortality, reduced performance, and reduced animal welfare. Strategies to reduce the incidence and impact of infectious disease include biosecurity, vaccination, veterinary treatment, and selection for genetic resistance. However, biosecurity protocols that keep most infectious pathogens out are not feasible at the commercial level in hog-dense regions, effective vaccines are only available and/or efficacious for some pathogens, and complete genetic resistance is also limited to only a few pathogens (e.g. F18 E.coli) or is only possible to achieve by gene editing (e.g. the PRRS-resistant pig created by editing the CD163 gene). Given these limitations, commercial pigs will continue to be exposed to and infected by pathogens for the foreseeable future. In such a scenario, the ability of an animal to clear the infection while maintaining performance is an important characteristic, which is referred to as disease resilience and is a useful target for inclusion in breeding programs. However, collection of data on disease resilience for genetic improvement requires animals to be exposed to disease, which is not possible in the nucleus herds of breeding programs that most selection is practiced in. To study the genetic basis of disease resilience and develop phenotypes, genetic tests, or indicator traits that could be used to select for disease resilience, a polymicrobial natural disease challenge model was established in grow-finish pigs at the Center de Développement du Porc du Québec, in collaboration with PigGen Canada. The purpose of this presentation is to present results on phenotypes that are relevant to disease resilience, including estimates of genetic parameters, and on potential indicator traits for disease resilience that could be collected in nucleus herds. Funding by Genome Canada, Genome Alberta, PigGen Canada, and USDA NIFA grant #2017-67007-26144.

311 Effects of Interactive Activity at the Feedbunk on Performance, Feed Efficiency and Feeding Patterns in Feedlot Cattle

The objective of this study was to determine if the magnitude of interactive feeding activity at the feedbunk affects feed efficiency and feeding behavior patterns in beef cattle. This study used data from 498 crossbred steers (3 trials) fed high-concentrate diets in pens with electronic feed bunks (GrowSafe Systems). Timestamp data for bunk visit (BV) events were used to develop an algorithm to quantify those BV events deemed to be replacement events; Defined as those that occur when an animal displaces and replaces another animal from the feedbunk within a specified period of time (replacement criterion). For this study, a replacement criterion of ≤ 18 s was used. A replacement activity index (RAI) was computed for each steer as the number of replacement events divided by total BV events. Within pen, steers were classified into 1 of 3 phenotypes based on ± 0.5 SD from mean RAI. Steers with high RAI (&gt; 0.5 SD from mean RAI) were hypothesized to be more interactive at the feedbunk, whereas steers with low RAI were less interactive at the feedbunk. A mixed model with RAI class as fixed effect, and trial and pen within trial as random effects was used for data analysis. The low RAI steers had 6% fewer BV events that were 12% longer (P &lt; 0.001) in duration than high RAI steers. Additionally, eating rate (g/min) was 14% slower (P &lt; 0.001) and time to approach the feedbunk following feed delivery 6 min longer (P &lt; 0.001) in low vs high RAI steers. The low-RAI steers had substantially less (P &lt; 0.01) feeding activity during peak feeding time than high RAI. Further research is warranted to evaluate interactive feeding activity at the feedbunk as a potential indicator of performance and feed efficiency in feedlot cattle.