APOBEC3A deaminates CTG hairpin loops to promote fragility and instability of expanded CAG/CTG repeats.

CAG/CTG repeats are prone to expansion, causing several inherited human diseases. The initiating sources of DNA damage which lead to inaccurate repair of the repeat tract to cause expansions are not fully understood. Expansion-prone CAG/CTG repeats are actively transcribed and prone to forming stable R-loops with hairpin structures forming on the displaced single-stranded DNA (S-loops).

Complete Genome Sequence of Gordonia rubripertincta Bacteriophage Hexbug Suggests Potential for a New CT Subcluster.

Through the SEA-PHAGES program at Tufts University, a bacteriophage infecting Gordonia rubripertincta NRRL B-16540 was isolated and characterized. Hexbug is a lytic phage and is currently one of 44 phages belonging to cluster CT. The Hexbug genome shares >96% nucleotide identity with cluster CT phage Orla.

Persistent racial and ethnic disparities in flu vaccination coverage: Results from a population-based study.

Background: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual flu vaccination for all adults. We aimed to identify predictors of receiving a flu vaccination, with an emphasis on the impact of race and ethnicity.

Methods: We used data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey and included all individuals aged ≥18 years.

Are some individuals diagnosed with ADHD prone to alcohol abuse? Consideration of two possible mediating factors for this susceptibility.

Some studies conducted on ADHD have found a statistically significant relationship between those diagnosed with the disorder and a higher susceptibility to abuse alcohol. However, other studies have found no such correlation, or have found this to be true of only a nonstatistically significant subset of the population of individuals with ADHD. This research found an answer to what may be causing these discrepancies in findings.