Methods: One hundred and three total pharmacogenetics papers involving the CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 genes were analyzed for their country of origin, racial, and ethnic categories used, and allele frequency data. Correspondence between the major continental racial categories promulgated by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and those reported by the pharmacogenetics papers was evaluated.
Results: The racial and ethnic categories used in the papers we analyzed were highly heterogeneous. In total, we found 66 different racial and ethnic categories used which fall under the NIH race category "White", 47 different racial and ethnic categories for "Asian", and 62 different categories for "Black". The number of categories used varied widely based on country of origin: Japan used the highest number of different categories for "White" with 17, Malaysia used the highest number for "Asian" with 24, and the US used the highest number for "Black" with 28. Significant variation in allele frequency between different ethnic subgroups was identified within 3 major continental racial categories.
Conclusion: Our analysis showed that racial and ethnic classification is highly inconsistent across different papers as well as between different countries. Evidence-based consensus is necessary for optimal use of self-identified race as well as geographical ancestry in pharmacogenetics. Common taxonomy of geographical ancestry which reflects specifics of particular countries and is accepted by the entire scientific community can facilitate reproducible pharmacogenetic research and clinical implementation of its results.
NEW INFORMATION: The genus Serendib Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 is reviewed. A new species, S.hispida sp. n. (male and female), representing the first record of genus Serendib from Malaysia, is described. Descriptions and illustrations of the females of S.volans (Malaysia) and S.suthepica (China) are also provided. The latter represents the first record of the genus in China.
NEW INFORMATION: The genus Aetius O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 is reported for the first time in China (Yunnan Province) and includes three species: one new species and two newly-recorded species. One new species is described, based on both sexes: A.maculatus sp. n. Additionally, A.bicuspidatus Yamasaki, 2020 and A.nocturnus Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001, are newly recorded from China, with photographs of habitus and genitalia being provided.
DATA DESCRIPTION: We conducted cross-sectional online surveys in six countries from March 2020 to April 2021. By the end of June 2021, there will be six waves of surveys for the United States and China, and four waves for the rest of countries. There are common sets of questions for all countries, however, some questions were adapted to reflect local situations and some questions were designed intentionally for specific countries to capture different COVID-19 mitigation actions. Participants were asked about their adherence towards countermeasures, risk perceptions, and acceptance of a hypothetical vaccine for COVID-19.