Improved Annotation of Asthma Gene Variants with Cell Type Deconvolution of Nasal and Lung Expression-Quantitative Trait Loci.

Asthma is a genetically complex inflammatory airway disease associated with over 200 Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, the functional effects of many asthma-associated SNPs in lung and airway epithelial samples are unknown. Here, we aimed to conduct expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis using a meta-analysis of nasal and lung samples.

Exploring the 'EarSwitch' concept: a novel ear based control method for assistive technology.

Background: Loss of communication with loved ones and carers is one of the most isolating and debilitating effects of many neurological disorders. Assistive technology (AT) supports individuals with communication, but the acceptability of AT solutions is highly variable. In this paper a novel ear based control method of AT, the concept of 'EarSwitch', is presented.

An integrated cell atlas of the lung in health and disease.

Single-cell technologies have transformed our understanding of human tissues. Yet, studies typically capture only a limited number of donors and disagree on cell type definitions. Integrating many single-cell datasets can address these limitations of individual studies and capture the variability present in the population.

Systemic alterations in neutrophils and their precursors in early-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Systemic inflammation is established as part of late-stage severe lung disease, but molecular, functional, and phenotypic changes in peripheral immune cells in early disease stages remain ill defined. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major respiratory disease characterized by small-airway inflammation, emphysema, and severe breathing difficulties. Using single-cell analyses we demonstrate that blood neutrophils are already increased in early-stage COPD, and changes in molecular and functional neutrophil states correlate with lung function decline.