Publications by authors named "Georgia MacDonald"

Introduction: The GENCOV study sought to evaluate serological differences between individuals with differing COVID-19 severity and outcomes. We assessed the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response of GENCOV participants cross-sectionally 1-, 6-, and 12-months following COVID-19 diagnosis to identify patient factors associated with more robust and durable humoral immune responses.

Materials And Methods: COVID-19 patients and a control cohort of vaccinated infection-naïve participants were recruited at hospital sites across the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.

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Article Synopsis
  • Novel genome sequencing (GS) presents new chances to share results with healthy people, leading to a need for effective genetic counseling methods.
  • A study with 466 participants used a genomic counseling model (GCM) that included a digital platform and webinars, showing that knowledge about genetics improved and decisional conflict (uncertainty in decision-making) decreased after the counseling.
  • Most participants (86%) wanted to learn all GS findings after the counseling, indicating that the GCM effectively informed the general public and helped them feel more confident in decisions about genetic information.
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Rapid advancements of genome sequencing (GS) technologies have enhanced our understanding of the relationship between genes and human disease. To incorporate genomic information into the practice of medicine, new processes for the analysis, reporting, and communication of GS data are needed. Blood samples were collected from adults with a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) diagnosis (target N = 1500).

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Genome sequencing holds the promise for great public health benefits. It is currently being used in the context of rare disease diagnosis and novel gene identification, but also has the potential to identify genetic disease risk factors in healthy individuals. Genome sequencing technologies are currently being used to identify genetic factors that may influence variability in symptom severity and immune response among patients infected by SARS-CoV-2.

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