Multiple allelic associations from genes involved in energy metabolism were identified in celiac disease.

Energy metabolism is a critical factor that influences disease pathogenesis. Recent high-throughput genomic studies have enabled us to look into disease biology with greater details. Celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease where ~60 non-HLA genes were identified which in conjunction with HLA genes explain ~55% of the disease heritability.

Contributions of human ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in determining host-pathogen interaction of COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is at present an emerging global public health crisis. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and trans-membrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) are the two major host factors that contribute to the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from animal to human is considered a rare event that necessarily requires strong evolutionary adaptations.

Assessment of risk conferred by coding and regulatory variations of and in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in human.

At present, more than 200 countries and territories are directly affected by the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Incidence and case fatality rate are significantly higher among elderly individuals (age>60 years), type 2 diabetes and hypertension patients. Cellular receptor ACE2, serine protease and exopeptidase (also known as DPP4) are the three membrane bound proteins potentially implicated in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Association study identified biologically relevant receptor genes with synergistic functions in celiac disease.

Receptors are essential mediators of cellular physiology, which facilitate molecular and cellular cross-talk with the environment. Nearly 20% of the all known celiac disease (CD) genes are receptors by function. We hypothesized that novel biologically relevant susceptibility receptor genes act in synergy in CD pathogenesis.