Publications by authors named "D M Leighton"
Toxin-antidote elements (TAs) are selfish DNA sequences that bias their transmission to the next generation. TAs typically consist of two linked genes: a toxin and an antidote. The toxin kills progeny that do not inherit the TA, while the antidote counteracts the toxin in progeny that inherit the TA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMotor neuron disease is a rapidly progressing neurological condition. People with life-limiting conditions generally prefer to die at home and avoid hospital admissions, with Specialist Palliative Care Team involvement often pivotal. Our aim was to investigate the role of advance care planning, Specialist Palliative Care Team input and other relevant variables on place of death and unscheduled hospital admissions in a Scottish population of people with motor neuron disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany genes have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including never in mitosis A (NIMA)-related kinase 1 (NEK1), a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in several cellular functions, such as DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation. Whole-exome sequencing studies have shown that NEK1 mutations are associated with an increased risk for ALS, where a significant enrichment of NEK1 loss-of-function (LOF) variants were found in individuals with ALS compared to controls. In particular, the p.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study analyzed data from the CARE-MND database and the Scottish Regenerative Neurology Tissue Bank to explore the genetic factors and traits associated with motor neuron disease (MND) in a cohort of affected individuals.
- - Among 339 participants, 13% had identifiable genetic variants linked to MND, with 8.8% having a known C9orf72 repeat expansion, which was linked to poorer cognitive scores.
- - The findings highlight the importance of early genetic testing for cognitive impairment in MND patients, particularly in Scotland, where certain genetic variants are more prevalent, potentially influencing future treatment strategies.
Background: The Omicron variant has challenged the control of the COVID-19 pandemic due to its immuno-evasive properties. The administration of a booster dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine showed positive effects in the immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2, effect that is even enhanced after the administration of a second booster.
Methods: During a phase-3 clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of a second booster of CoronaVac®, an inactivated vaccine administered 6 months after the first booster, in the neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 (n = 87).