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Cavalcanti-Dantas VDM, Fernandes B, Dantas PHLF, Uchoa GR, Mendes AF, Araújo Júnior WOD, Castellano LRC, Fernandes AIV, Goulart LR, Oliveira RADS, Assis PACD, Souza JRD, Morais CNLD. Differential epitope prediction across diverse circulating variants of SARS-COV-2 in Brazil. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 112:108139. [PMID: 38972100 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus, induces numerous immunological reactions linked to the severity of the clinical condition of those infected. The surface Spike protein (S protein) present in Sars-CoV-2 is responsible for the infection of host cells. This protein presents a high rate of mutations, which can increase virus transmissibility, infectivity, and immune evasion. Therefore, we propose to evaluate, using immunoinformatic techniques, the predicted epitopes for the S protein of seven variants of Sars-CoV-2. MHC class I and II epitopes were predicted and further assessed for their immunogenicity, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) inducing capacity, and antigenicity. For B cells, linear and structural epitopes were predicted. For class I MHC epitopes, 40 epitopes were found for the clades of Wuhan, Clade 2, Clade 3, and 20AEU.1, Gamma, and Delta, in addition to 38 epitopes for Alpha and 44 for Omicron. For MHC II, there were differentially predicted epitopes for all variants and eight equally predicted epitopes. These were evaluated for differences in the MHC II alleles to which they would bind. Regarding B cell epitopes, 16 were found in the Wuhan variant, 14 in 22AEU.1 and in Clade 3, 15 in Clade 2, 11 in Alpha and Delta, 13 in Gamma, and 9 in Omicron. When compared, there was a reduction in the number of predicted epitopes concerning the Spike protein, mainly in the Delta and Omicron variants. These findings corroborate the need for updates seen today in bivalent mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 to promote a targeted immune response to the main circulating variant, Omicron, leading to more robust protection against this virus and avoiding cases of reinfection. When analyzing the specific epitopes for the RBD region of the spike protein, the Omicron variant did not present a B lymphocyte epitope from position 390, whereas the epitope at position 493 for MHC was predicted only for the Alpha, Gamma, and Omicron variants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ana Isabel Vieira Fernandes
- Health Promotion Department of the Medical Sciences Center and Division for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Lauro Wanderley University Hospital, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
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Tanaka K, Meguro A, Hara Y, Endo L, Izawa A, Muraoka S, Kaneko A, Somekawa K, Hirata M, Otsu Y, Matsumoto H, Nagasawa R, Kubo S, Murohashi K, Aoki A, Fujii H, Watanabe K, Horita N, Kato H, Kobayashi N, Takeuchi I, Nakajima A, Inoko H, Mizuki N, Kaneko T. HLA-DQA1*01:03 and DQB1*06:01 are risk factors for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. HLA 2024; 104:e15609. [PMID: 39041300 DOI: 10.1111/tan.15609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 includes a wide range of manifestations, from mild symptoms to severe pneumonia. HLA system plays a pivotal role in immune responses to infectious diseases. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between HLA and COVID-19 severity in a Japanese population. The study included 209 Japanese COVID-19 patients aged ≥20 years. Saliva samples were collected and used to determine the HLA genotype by HLA imputation through genome-wide association analyses. The association between HLA genotype and COVID-19 severity was then evaluated. The allele frequency was compared between patients with respiratory failure (severe group: 91 cases) and those without respiratory failure (non-severe group: 118 cases), categorising the data into three time periods: pre-Omicron epidemic period, Omicron epidemic period, and total period of this study (from January 2021 to May 2023). In comparing the severe and non-severe groups, the frequencies of the HLA-DQA1*01:03 (35.1% vs. 10.5%, odds ratio [OR] = 4.57, corrected p [pc] = 0.041) and -DQB1*06:01 (32.4% vs. 7.9%, OR = 5.54, pc = 0.030) alleles were significantly higher in the severe group during the pre-Omicron epidemic period. During the Omicron epidemic period, HLA-DQB1*06 (32.4% vs. 7.9%, OR = 5.54, pc = 0.030) was significantly higher in the severe group. During total period of this study, HLA-DQA1*01:03 (30.2% vs. 14.4%, OR = 2.57, corrected pc = 0.0013) and -DQB1*06:01 (44.5% vs. 26.7%, OR = 2.20, pc = 0.013) alleles were significantly higher in the severe group. HLA-DQB1*06:01 and -DQA1*01:03 were in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other (r2 = 0.91) during total period of this study, indicating that these two alleles form a haplotype. The frequency of the HLA-DQA1*01:03-DQB1*06:01 in the severe group was significantly higher than in the non-severe group during pre-Omicron epidemic period (32.4% vs. 7.9%, OR = 5.59, pc = 0.00072), and total period of this study (28.6% vs. 13.1%, OR = 2.63, pc = 0.0013). During Omicron epidemic period, the haplotype did not demonstrate statistical significance, although the odds ratio indicated a value greater 1. Frequencies of the HLA-DQA1*01:03 and -DQB1*06:01 alleles were significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients, suggesting that these alleles are risk factors for severe COVID-19 pneumonia in the Japanese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsushi Tanaka
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Akira Meguro
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yu Hara
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Lisa Endo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ami Izawa
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Suguru Muraoka
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ayami Kaneko
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kohei Somekawa
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Momo Hirata
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yukiko Otsu
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hiromi Matsumoto
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ryo Nagasawa
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Sosuke Kubo
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kota Murohashi
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ayako Aoki
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Fujii
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Watanabe
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Horita
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hideaki Kato
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Kobayashi
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ichiro Takeuchi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakajima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Inoko
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Isehara, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Mizuki
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kaneko
- Department of Pulmonology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
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Hoseinnezhad T, Soltani N, Ziarati S, Behboudi E, Mousavi MJ. The role of HLA genetic variants in COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and mortality: A global review. J Clin Lab Anal 2024; 38:e25005. [PMID: 38251811 PMCID: PMC10829690 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.25005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, with variations in susceptibility, severity, and mortality rates across different regions. While many factors can contribute to the spread and impact of the disease, specifically human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic variants have emerged as potential contributors to COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS In this comprehensive narrative review, we conducted a thorough literature search to identify relevant studies investigating the association between HLA genetic variants and COVID-19 outcomes. Additionally, we analyzed allelic frequency data from diverse populations to assess differences in COVID-19 incidence and severity. RESULTS Our review provides insights into the immunological mechanisms involving HLA-mediated responses to COVID-19 and highlights potential research directions and therapeutic interventions. We found evidence suggesting that certain HLA alleles, such as HLA-A02, may confer a lower risk of COVID-19, while others, like HLA-C04, may increase the risk of severe symptoms and mortality. Furthermore, our analysis of allele frequency distributions revealed significant variations among different populations. CONCLUSION Considering host genetic variations, particularly HLA genetic variants, is crucial for understanding COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. These findings have implications for personalized treatment and interventions based on an individual's genetic profile. However, further research is needed to unravel the precise mechanisms underlying the observed associations and explore the potential for targeted therapies or preventive measures based on HLA genetic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taraneh Hoseinnezhad
- Student Research CommitteeBushehr University of Medical SciencesBushehrIran
- Department of Hematology, School of Para‐MedicineBushehr University of Medical SciencesBushehrIran
| | - Nasrin Soltani
- Student Research CommitteeBushehr University of Medical SciencesBushehrIran
- Department of Hematology, School of Para‐MedicineBushehr University of Medical SciencesBushehrIran
| | - Sarina Ziarati
- Student Research CommitteeBushehr University of Medical SciencesBushehrIran
| | - Emad Behboudi
- Department of Basic Medical SciencesKhoy University of Medical SciencesKhoyIran
| | - Mohammad Javad Mousavi
- Department of Hematology, School of Para‐MedicineBushehr University of Medical SciencesBushehrIran
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Talotta R. Molecular Mimicry and HLA Polymorphisms May Drive Autoimmunity in Recipients of the BNT-162b2 mRNA Vaccine: A Computational Analysis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1686. [PMID: 37512859 PMCID: PMC10384367 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After the start of the worldwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign, there were increased reports of autoimmune diseases occurring de novo after vaccination. This in silico analysis aimed to investigate the presence of protein epitopes encoded by the BNT-162b2 mRNA vaccine, one of the most widely administered COVID-19 vaccines, which could induce autoimmunity in predisposed individuals. METHODS The FASTA sequence of the protein encoded by the BNT-162b2 vaccine served as the key input to the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource. Linear peptides with 90% BLAST homology were selected, and T-cell, B-cell, and MHC-ligand assays without MHC restriction were searched and analyzed. HLA disease associations were screened on the HLA-SPREAD platform by selecting only positive markers. RESULTS By 7 May 2023, a total of 5693 epitopes corresponding to 21 viral but also human proteins were found. The latter included CHL1, ENTPD1, MEAF6, SLC35G2, and ZFHX2. Importantly, some autoepitopes may be presented by HLA alleles positively associated with various immunological diseases. CONCLUSIONS The protein product of the BNT-162b2 mRNA vaccine contains immunogenic epitopes that may trigger autoimmune phenomena in predisposed individuals through a molecular mimicry mechanism. Genotyping for HLA alleles may help identify individuals at risk. However, further wet-lab studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Talotta
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital "G. Martino", 98124 Messina, Italy
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The Search of Association of HLA Class I and Class II Alleles with COVID-19 Mortality in the Russian Cohort. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043068. [PMID: 36834479 PMCID: PMC9960097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
HLA genes play a pivotal role in the immune response via presenting the pathogen peptides on the cell surface in a host organism. Here, we studied the association of HLA allele variants of class I (loci A, B, C) and class II (loci DRB1, DQB1, DPB1) genes with the outcome of COVID-19 infection. We performed high-resolution sequencing of class HLA I and class II genes based on the sample population of 157 patients who died from COVID-19 and 76 patients who survived despite severe symptoms. The results were further compared with HLA genotype frequencies in the control population represented by 475 people from the Russian population. Although the obtained data revealed no significant differences between the samples at a locus level, they allowed one to uncover a set of notable alleles potentially contributing to the COVID-19 outcome. Our results did not only confirm the previously discovered fatal role of age or association of DRB1*01:01:01G and DRB1*01:02:01G alleles with severe symptoms and survival, but also allowed us to single out the DQB1*05:03:01G allele and B*14:02:01G~C*08:02:01G haplotype, which were associated with survival. Our findings showed that not only separate allele, but also their haplotype, could serve as potential markers of COVID-19 outcome and be used during triage for hospital admission.
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Arab F, Mollazadeh S, Ghayourbabaei F, Moghbeli M, Saburi E. The role of HLA genotypes in understanding the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2023; 24:14. [PMID: 36718139 PMCID: PMC9878497 DOI: 10.1186/s43042-023-00392-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused human tragedy through the global spread of the viral pathogen SARS-CoV-2. Although the underlying factors for the severity of COVID-19 in different people are still unknown, several gene variants can be used as predictors of disease severity, particularly variations in viral receptor genes such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. The reaction of the immune system, as the most important defense strategy in the case of viruses, plays a decisive role. The innate immune system is important both as a primary line of defense and as a trigger of the acquired immune response. The HLA-mediated acquired immune response is linked to the acquired immune system. In various diseases, it has been shown that genetic alterations in components of the immune system can play a crucial role in how the body responds to pathogens, especially viruses. One of the most important host genetic factors is the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile, which includes HLA classes I and II and may be symbolic of the diversity of immune response and genetic predisposition in disease progression. COVID-19 will have direct contact with the acquired immune system as an intracellular pathogen after exposure to the proteasome and its components through class I HLA. Therefore, it is assumed that in different genotypes of the HLA-I class, an undesirable supply causes an insufficient activation of the immune system. Insufficient binding of antigen delivered by class I HLA to host lymphocytes results in uncertain identification and insufficient activation of the acquired immune system. The absence of secretion of immune cytokines such as interferons, which play an important role in controlling viral infection in the early stages, is a complication of this event. Understanding the allelic diversity of HLA in people infected with coronavirus compared with uninfected people of one race not only allows identification of people with HLA susceptible to COVID-19 but also provides better insight into the behavior of the virus, which helps to take effective preventive and curative measures earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Arab
- Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Samaneh Mollazadeh
- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Farnaz Ghayourbabaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ferdowsi, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Meysam Moghbeli
- Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ehsan Saburi
- Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Shen Y, Khatri B, Rananaware S, Li D, Ostrov DA, Jain PK, Lessard CJ, Nguyen CQ. Ancestral origins are associated with SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and protection in a Florida patient population. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0276700. [PMID: 36649279 PMCID: PMC9844918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The severity of COVID-19 is highly variable and related to known (e.g., age, obesity, immune deficiency) and unknown risk factors. The widespread clinical symptoms encompass a large group of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, raising a crucial question regarding genetic susceptibility, e.g., whether individual differences in immunity play a role in patient symptomatology and how much human leukocyte antigen (HLA) contributes to this. To reveal genetic determinants of susceptibility to COVID-19 severity in the population and further explore potential immune-related factors, we performed a genome-wide association study on 284 confirmed COVID-19 patients (cases) and 95 healthy individuals (controls). We compared cases and controls of European (EUR) ancestry and African American (AFR) ancestry separately. We identified two loci on chromosomes 5q32 and 11p12, which reach the significance threshold of suggestive association (p<1x10-5 threshold adjusted for multiple trait testing) and are associated with the COVID-19 susceptibility in the European ancestry (index rs17448496: odds ratio[OR] = 0.173; 95% confidence interval[CI], 0.08-0.36 for G allele; p = 5.15× 10-5 and index rs768632395: OR = 0.166; 95% CI, 0.07-0.35 for A allele; p = 4.25×10-6, respectively), which were associated with two genes, PPP2R2B at 5q32, and LRRC4C at 11p12, respectively. To explore the linkage between HLA and COVID-19 severity, we applied fine-mapping analysis to dissect the HLA association with mild and severe cases. Using In-silico binding predictions to map the binding of risk/protective HLA to the viral structural proteins, we found the differential presentation of viral peptides in both ancestries. Lastly, extrapolation of the identified HLA from the cohort to the worldwide population revealed notable correlations. The study uncovers possible differences in susceptibility to COVID-19 in different ancestral origins in the genetic background, which may provide new insights into the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Shen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Bhuwan Khatri
- Genes and Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Santosh Rananaware
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Danmeng Li
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - David A. Ostrov
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Piyush K. Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christopher J. Lessard
- Genes and Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Cuong Q. Nguyen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Center of Orphaned Autoimmune Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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Prasad N, Yadav B, Prakash S, Yadav D, Singh A, Gautam S, Bhadauria D, Kaul A, Patel MR, Behera MR, Kushwaha RS, Yachha M. Association of Human Leucocyte Antigen Polymorphism with Coronavirus Disease 19 in Renal Transplant Recipients. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1840. [PMID: 36366349 PMCID: PMC9697220 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) are highly polymorphic glycoproteins expressed at the surface of all nucleated cells. It is required for the SARS-CoV-2 peptide antigen presentation to immune cells for their effector response. However, polymorphism in HLA significantly impacts the binding of SARS-CoV-2 antigenic peptide to the HLA pocket and regulates immune activation. In this study, 514 renal transplant recipients (RTRs) were recruited from the outpatient department and categorized either into symptomatic (n = 173) or asymptomatic groups (n = 341) based on Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) symptoms. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific IgG antibody titer was measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immune-assay methods in 310 RTRs. The HLA details of 514 patients were retrieved from the electronic medical records and analyzed retrospectively. We found that HLA antigen allele A*24 was significantly associated with asymptomatic infection in 22.78%, HLA C*02 in 4.51%, DRB1*12 in 10.85%, and HLA DQA1*02 in 27.74% of RTRs. Whereas HLA A*29 in 3.46%, A*33 in 26.01%, B*13 in 10.40%, DRB1*10 in 4.62%, DRB1*15 in 39.30%, DRB1*30 in 1.15%, and DQA1*60 in 3.57% of RTRs were associated with symptomatic infection. HLA DRB1*13 and DRB1*15 were associated with moderate to severe degrees of COVID-19 disease. The seroconversion rate in asymptomatic patients was 118/137 (86.13%), had a median titer of 647.80 au/ml, compared to symptomatic patients 148/173 (85.54%) with a median titer of 400.00 au/ml, which was not significant between the two groups (P = 0.88 and 0.13). In conclusion, HLA alleles A*24, C*02, DRB1*12, and DQA1*02 were significantly associated with asymptomatic infection, and A*29, A*33, B*13, DRB1*10, DRB*15, and DRB1*30 were significantly associated with symptomatic infection. HLA DRB1*13 and DRB1*15 were associated with moderate to severe degrees of COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narayan Prasad
- Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India
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da Silva Torres MK, Bichara CDA, de Almeida MDNDS, Vallinoto MC, Queiroz MAF, Vallinoto IMVC, dos Santos EJM, de Carvalho CAM, Vallinoto ACR. The Complexity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:789882. [PMID: 35222327 PMCID: PMC8870622 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.789882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to the death of millions of people worldwide and thousands more infected individuals developed sequelae due to the disease of the new coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19). The development of several studies has contributed to the knowledge about the evolution of SARS-CoV2 infection and the disease to more severe forms. Despite this information being debated in the scientific literature, many mechanisms still need to be better understood in order to control the spread of the virus and treat clinical cases of COVID-19. In this article, we carried out an extensive literature review in order to bring together, in a single article, the biological, social, genetic, diagnostic, therapeutic, immunization, and even socioeconomic aspects that impact the SAR-CoV-2 pandemic. This information gathered in this article will enable a broad and consistent reading of the main aspects related to the current pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Karoliny da Silva Torres
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Carlos David Araújo Bichara
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Maria de Nazaré do Socorro de Almeida
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Mariana Cayres Vallinoto
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- University Center of the State of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo José Melo dos Santos
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Complex Diseases, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Carlos R. Vallinoto
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
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Ertosun MG, Özkan Ö, Darbaş Ş, Özel D, BİLGE U, Sayin Ekinci N, Yilmaz VT, Uçar F, Koçak H, Özkan Ö. The relationship between COVID-19 and HLA in kidney transplant recipients, an evaluation of predictive and prognostic factors. Clin Transplant 2022; 36:e14525. [PMID: 34726292 PMCID: PMC8646315 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive and prognostic factors for COVID-19 infection and its relationship with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in kidney transplant recipients. MATERIAL AND METHOD Three hundred fifty kidney transplant recipients were included in the study. Recipients were divided into two groups: COVID-19(+) (n = 100) and control (n = 250). The relationships between HLA frequencies, COVID-19 infection, and prognostic factors (age, donor type, immunosuppression protocol, etc.) were then evaluated. Logistic regression analysis, heatmap, and decision tree methods were used to determine predictive and prognostic factors. The study was performed retrospectively. RESULTS Advanced age and deceased transplantation emerged as predictive of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while the presence of HLA-A*11, the HLA match ratio, and high-dose tacrolimus were identified as prognostic factors in kidney transplant recipients. HLA-A10, HLA-B*13, HLA-B22, and HLA-B*55 were shown to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection at univariate analysis, and HLA-B*57, HLA-DRB1*11, and HLA-DRB1*13 at logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION HLA-A10, HLA-B*13, HLA-B*55, HLA-B*57, HLA-DRB1*11, and HLA-DRB1*13 were identified for the first time in the literature associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Gökhan Ertosun
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic SurgeryAkdeniz University School of MedicineAntalyaTurkey
- Tissue Typing and Transplantation LaboratoryAkdeniz University HospitalAntalyaTurkey
| | - Özlenen Özkan
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic SurgeryAkdeniz University School of MedicineAntalyaTurkey
| | - Şule Darbaş
- Tissue Typing and Transplantation LaboratoryAkdeniz University HospitalAntalyaTurkey
| | - Deniz Özel
- Statistical ConsultingApplication and Research CenterAkdeniz UniversityAntalyaTurkey
| | - Uğur BİLGE
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical InformaticsFaculty of MedicineAkdeniz UniversityAntalyaTurkey
| | - Nurten Sayin Ekinci
- Tissue Typing and Transplantation LaboratoryAkdeniz University HospitalAntalyaTurkey
| | - Vural Taner Yilmaz
- Department of Internal Medicine Division of NephrologyAkdeniz University School of MedicineAntalyaTurkey
| | - Fahri Uçar
- Tissue Typing and Transplantation LaboratoryAkdeniz University HospitalAntalyaTurkey
- Department of Medical Biology and GeneticsAkdeniz University School of MedicineAntalyaTurkey
| | - Hüseyin Koçak
- Department of Internal Medicine Division of NephrologyAkdeniz University School of MedicineAntalyaTurkey
| | - Ömer Özkan
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic SurgeryAkdeniz University School of MedicineAntalyaTurkey
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11
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Deb P, Zannat K, Talukder S, Bhuiyan AH, Jilani MSA, Saif‐Ur‐Rahman KM. Association of
HLA
gene polymorphism with susceptibility, severity, and mortality of
COVID
‐19: A systematic review. HLA 2022; 99:281-312. [DOI: 10.1111/tan.14560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paroma Deb
- Department of Virology Dhaka Medical College Dhaka Bangladesh
| | | | - Shiny Talukder
- Rangamati General Hospital PCR Laboratory Rangamati Bangladesh
| | | | - Md. Shariful Alam Jilani
- Department of Microbiology Ibrahim Medical College Dhaka Bangladesh
- Department of Microbiology BIRDEM General Hospital Dhaka Bangladesh
| | - K. M. Saif‐Ur‐Rahman
- Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b Dhaka Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health and Health Systems Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Nagoya Japan
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12
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Geronikolou SA, Takan I, Pavlopoulou A, Mantzourani M, Chrousos GP. Thrombocytopenia in COVID‑19 and vaccine‑induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Int J Mol Med 2022; 49:35. [PMID: 35059730 PMCID: PMC8815408 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2022.5090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly heterogeneous symptomatology and unpredictable progress of COVID-19 triggered unprecedented intensive biomedical research and a number of clinical research projects. Although the pathophysiology of the disease is being progressively clarified, its complexity remains vast. Moreover, some extremely infrequent cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenia following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection have been observed. The present study aimed to map the signaling pathways of thrombocytopenia implicated in COVID-19, as well as in vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). The biomedical literature database, MEDLINE/PubMed, was thoroughly searched using artificial intelligence techniques for the semantic relations among the top 50 similar words (>0.9) implicated in COVID-19-mediated human infection or VITT. Additionally, STRING, a database of primary and predicted associations among genes and proteins (collected from diverse resources, such as documented pathway knowledge, high-throughput experimental studies, cross-species extrapolated information, automated text mining results, computationally predicted interactions, etc.), was employed, with the confidence threshold set at 0.7. In addition, two interactomes were constructed: i) A network including 119 and 56 nodes relevant to COVID-19 and thrombocytopenia, respectively; and ii) a second network containing 60 nodes relevant to VITT. Although thrombocytopenia is a dominant morbidity in both entities, three nodes were observed that corresponded to genes (AURKA, CD46 and CD19) expressed only in VITT, whilst ADAM10, CDC20, SHC1 and STXBP2 are silenced in VITT, but are commonly expressed in both COVID-19 and thrombocytopenia. The calculated average node degree was immense (11.9 in COVID-19 and 6.43 in VITT), illustrating the complexity of COVID-19 and VITT pathologies and confirming the importance of cytokines, as well as of pathways activated following hypoxic events. In addition, PYCARD, NLP3 and P2RX7 are key potential therapeutic targets for all three morbid entities, meriting further research. This interactome was based on wild-type genes, revealing the predisposition of the body to hypoxia-induced thrombosis, leading to the acute COVID-19 phenotype, the 'long-COVID syndrome', and/or VITT. Thus, common nodes appear to be key players in illness prevention, progression and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani A Geronikolou
- Clinical, Translational and Experimental Surgery Research Centre, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Işil Takan
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Marina Mantzourani
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Clinical, Translational and Experimental Surgery Research Centre, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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13
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Yadav B, Prasad N, Yadav D, Singh A, Gautam S, Kushwaha R, Patel M, Bhadauria D, Behera M, Yachha M, Kaul A. Human Leukocyte Antigen Association with anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibody seroconversion in renal allograft recipients - An observational study. INDIAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/ijot.ijot_28_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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14
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Abdelhafiz AS, Ali A, Fouda MA, Sayed DM, Kamel MM, Kamal LM, Khalil MA, Bakry RM. HLA-B*15 predicts survival in Egyptian patients with COVID-19. Hum Immunol 2022; 83:10-16. [PMID: 34607724 PMCID: PMC8485223 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Genetic differences among individuals could affect the clinical presentations and outcomes of COVID-19. Human Leukocyte Antigens are associated with COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and prognosis. This study aimed to identify HLA-B and -C genotypes among 69 Egyptian patients with COVID-19 and correlate them with disease outcomes and other clinical and laboratory data. HLA-B and -C typing was performed using Luminex-based HLA typing kits. Forty patients (58%) had severe COVID-19; 55% of these patients died, without reported mortality in the moderate group. The alleles associated with severe COVID-19 were HLA-B*41, -B*42, -C*16, and -C*17, whereas HLA-B*15, -C*7, and -C*12 were significantly associated with protection against mortality. Regression analysis showed that HLA-B*15 was the only allele associated with predicted protection against mortality, where the likelihood of survival increased with HLA-B*15 (P < 0.001). Patient survival was less likely to occur with higher total leukocytic count, ferritin, and creatinine levels. This study provides interesting insights into the association between HLA class I alleles and protection from or severity of COVID-19 through immune response modulation. This is the first study to investigate this relationship in Egyptian patients. More studies are needed to understand how HLA class I alleles interact and affect Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Samir Abdelhafiz
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Asmaa Ali
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Abbassia Chest Hospital, MOH, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Merhan A Fouda
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Douaa M Sayed
- Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Kamel
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Lamyaa Mohamed Kamal
- Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Elsahel Teaching Hospital, MOH, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Ali Khalil
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, Imbaba Fever Hospital, MOH, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rania M Bakry
- Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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15
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Douillard V, Castelli EC, Mack SJ, Hollenbach JA, Gourraud PA, Vince N, Limou S. Current HLA Investigations on SARS-CoV-2 and Perspectives. Front Genet 2021; 12:774922. [PMID: 34912378 PMCID: PMC8667766 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.774922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid, global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the current pandemic has triggered numerous efforts in clinical and research settings to better understand the host genetics' interactions and the severity of COVID-19. Due to the established major role played by MHC/HLA polymorphism in infectious disease course and susceptibility, immunologists and geneticists have teamed up to investigate its contribution to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 progression. A major goal of the Covid-19|HLA & Immunogenetics Consortium is to support and unify these efforts. Here, we present a review of HLA immunogenomics studies in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and reflect on the role of various HLA data, their limitation and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venceslas Douillard
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | | | - Steven J. Mack
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jill A. Hollenbach
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Pierre-Antoine Gourraud
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Nicolas Vince
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
| | - Sophie Limou
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Nantes, France
- Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Department of Computer Sciences and Mathematics in Biology, Nantes, France
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16
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Polyiam K, Phoolcharoen W, Butkhot N, Srisaowakarn C, Thitithanyanont A, Auewarakul P, Hoonsuwan T, Ruengjitchatchawalya M, Mekvichitsaeng P, Roshorm YM. Immunodominant linear B cell epitopes in the spike and membrane proteins of SARS-CoV-2 identified by immunoinformatics prediction and immunoassay. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20383. [PMID: 34650130 PMCID: PMC8516869 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99642-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 continues to infect an ever-expanding number of people, resulting in an increase in the number of deaths globally. With the emergence of new variants, there is a corresponding decrease in the currently available vaccine efficacy, highlighting the need for greater insights into the viral epitope profile for both vaccine design and assessment. In this study, three immunodominant linear B cell epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) were identified by immunoinformatics prediction, and confirmed by ELISA with sera from Macaca fascicularis vaccinated with a SARS-CoV-2 RBD subunit vaccine. Further immunoinformatics analyses of these three epitopes gave rise to a method of linear B cell epitope prediction and selection. B cell epitopes in the spike (S), membrane (M), and envelope (E) proteins were subsequently predicted and confirmed using convalescent sera from COVID-19 infected patients. Immunodominant epitopes were identified in three regions of the S2 domain, one region at the S1/S2 cleavage site and one region at the C-terminus of the M protein. Epitope mapping revealed that most of the amino acid changes found in variants of concern are located within B cell epitopes in the NTD, RBD, and S1/S2 cleavage site. This work provides insights into B cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 as well as immunoinformatics methods for B cell epitope prediction, which will improve and enhance SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development against emergent variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanokporn Polyiam
- Division of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Research Unit for Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals and Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Namphueng Butkhot
- Division of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chanya Srisaowakarn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Prasert Auewarakul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tawatchai Hoonsuwan
- B.F. Feed Company Limited, Prachachuen Road, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Marasri Ruengjitchatchawalya
- Division of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phenjun Mekvichitsaeng
- Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yaowaluck Maprang Roshorm
- Division of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand.
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17
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Shukla N, Prasad A, Kanga U, Suravajhala R, Nigam VK, Kishor PBK, Polavarapu R, Chaubey G, Singh KK, Suravajhala P. SARS-CoV-2 transgressing LncRNAs uncovers the known unknowns. Physiol Genomics 2021; 53:433-440. [PMID: 34492207 PMCID: PMC8562947 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00075.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 harbors many known unknown regions in the form of hypothetical open reading frames (ORFs). Although the mechanisms underlying the disease pathogenesis are not clearly understood, molecules such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key regulatory role in the viral pathogenesis from endocytosis. We asked whether or not the lncRNAs in the host are associated with the viral proteins and argue that lncRNA-mRNAs molecules related to viral infection may regulate SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Toward the end of the perspective, we provide challenges and insights into investigating these transgression pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Shukla
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur, India
- Department of Chemistry, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, India
| | - Anchita Prasad
- Department of Bioengineering, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, India
| | - Uma Kanga
- Department of Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics, AIIMS, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Vinod Kumar Nigam
- Department of Bioengineering, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, India
| | - P B Kavi Kishor
- Department of Biotechnology, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology & Research (VFSTR), Guntur, India
| | | | - Gyaneshwer Chaubey
- Cytogenetics Lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Keshav K Singh
- Department of Genetics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Prashanth Suravajhala
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur, India
- Bioclues Organization, Hyderabad, India
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita University, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
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18
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Does immune recognition of SARS-CoV2 epitopes vary between different ethnic groups? Virus Res 2021; 305:198579. [PMID: 34560183 PMCID: PMC8453877 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV2 mediated Covid-19 pandemic has impacted humankind at an unprecedented scale. While substantial research efforts have focused towards understanding the mechanisms of viral infection and developing vaccines/ therapeutics, factors affecting the susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection and manifestation of Covid-19 remain less explored. Given that the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system is known to vary among ethnic populations, it is likely to affect the recognition of the virus, and in turn, the susceptibility to Covid-19. To understand this, we used bioinformatic tools to probe all SARS-CoV2 peptides which could elicit T-cell response in humans. We also tried to answer the intriguing question of whether these potential epitopes were equally immunogenic across ethnicities, by studying the distribution of HLA alleles among different populations and their share of cognate epitopes. Results indicate that the immune recognition potential of SARS-CoV2 epitopes tend to vary between different ethnic groups. While the South Asians are likely to recognize higher number of CD8-specific epitopes, Europeans are likely to identify higher number of CD4-specific epitopes. We also hypothesize and provide clues that the newer mutations in SARS-CoV2 are unlikely to alter the T-cell mediated immunogenic responses among the studied ethnic populations. The work presented herein is expected to bolster our understanding of the pandemic, by providing insights into differential immunological response of ethnic populations to the virus as well as by gaging the possible effects of mutations in SARS-CoV2 on efficacy of potential epitope-based vaccines through evaluating ∼40,000 viral genomes.
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19
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Torres-Ruiz J, Pérez-Fragoso A, Maravillas-Montero JL, Llorente L, Mejía-Domínguez NR, Páez-Franco JC, Romero-Ramírez S, Sosa-Hernández VA, Cervantes-Díaz R, Absalón-Aguilar A, Nuñez-Aguirre M, Juárez-Vega G, Meza-Sánchez D, Kleinberg-Bid A, Hernández-Gilsoul T, Ponce-de-León A, Gómez-Martín D. Redefining COVID-19 Severity and Prognosis: The Role of Clinical and Immunobiotypes. Front Immunol 2021; 12:689966. [PMID: 34566957 PMCID: PMC8456081 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.689966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most of the explanatory and prognostic models of COVID-19 lack of a comprehensive assessment of the wide COVID-19 spectrum of abnormalities. The aim of this study was to unveil novel biological features to explain COVID-19 severity and prognosis (death and disease progression). Methods A predictive model for COVID-19 severity in 121 patients was constructed by ordinal logistic regression calculating odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for a set of clinical, immunological, metabolomic, and other biological traits. The accuracy and calibration of the model was tested with the area under the curve (AUC), Somer's D, and calibration plot. Hazard ratios with 95% CI for adverse outcomes were calculated with a Cox proportional-hazards model. Results The explanatory variables for COVID-19 severity were the body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin, albumin, 3-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, CD8+ effector memory T cells, Th1 cells, low-density granulocytes, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, plasma TRIM63, and circulating neutrophil extracellular traps. The model showed an outstanding performance with an optimism-adjusted AUC of 0.999, and Somer's D of 0.999. The predictive variables for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 were severe and critical disease diagnosis, BMI, lactate dehydrogenase, Troponin I, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, serum levels of IP-10, malic acid, 3, 4 di-hydroxybutanoic acid, citric acid, myoinositol, and cystine. Conclusions Herein, we unveil novel immunological and metabolomic features associated with COVID-19 severity and prognosis. Our models encompass the interplay among innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation-induced muscle atrophy and hypoxia as the main drivers of COVID-19 severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiram Torres-Ruiz
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
- Emergency Medicine Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Pérez-Fragoso
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Luis Maravillas-Montero
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis Llorente
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Nancy R. Mejía-Domínguez
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Carlos Páez-Franco
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sandra Romero-Ramírez
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Victor Andrés Sosa-Hernández
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Cervantes-Díaz
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Abdiel Absalón-Aguilar
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Miroslava Nuñez-Aguirre
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guillermo Juárez-Vega
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David Meza-Sánchez
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ari Kleinberg-Bid
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Thierry Hernández-Gilsoul
- Emergency Medicine Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Ponce-de-León
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana Gómez-Martín
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México e Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
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20
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Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is growing evidence that host genetics play an important role in COVID-19 severity. Based on current knowledge about the human protein machinery for SARS-CoV-2 entry, the host innate immune response, and virus-host interactions, the potential effects of human genetic polymorphisms, which may contribute to clinical differences in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, may help to determine the individual risk for COVID-19 infection and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris R Delanghe
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Marijn M Speeckaert
- Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
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21
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Saulle I, Vicentini C, Clerici M, Biasin M. Antigen presentation in SARS-CoV-2 infection: the role of class I HLA and ERAP polymorphisms. Hum Immunol 2021; 82:551-560. [PMID: 34116863 PMCID: PMC8108382 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Given the highly polymorphic nature of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules, it is not surprising that they function as key regulators of the host immune response to almost all invading pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent responsible for the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Several correlations have already been established between the expression of a specific HLA allele/haplotype and susceptibility/progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection and new ones are continuously emerging. Protective and harmful HLA variants have been described in both mild and severe forms of the disease, but considering the huge amount of existing variants, the data gathered in such a brief span of time are to some extent confusing and contradictory. The aim of this mini-review is to provide a snap-shot of the main findings so far collected on the HLA-SARS-CoV-2 interaction, so as to partially untangle this intricate yarn. As key factors in the generation of antigenic peptides to be presented by HLA molecules, ERAP1 and ERAP2 role in SARS-CoV-2 infection will be revised as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences- L. Sacco, University of Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Vicentini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences- L. Sacco, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Milan, Italy; SM Nascente Scientific Institute, IRCCS, Don C Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences- L. Sacco, University of Milan, Italy
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22
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De Marco R, Faria TC, Mine KL, Cristelli M, Medina‐Pestana JO, Tedesco‐Silva H, Gerbase‐DeLima M. HLA-A homozygosis is associated with susceptibility to COVID-19. HLA 2021; 98:122-131. [PMID: 34165257 PMCID: PMC8446943 DOI: 10.1111/tan.14349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this single center retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between HLA and ABO polymorphisms and COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in kidney transplant recipients. It included 720 recipients who had COVID-19 and 1680 controls composed by recipients in follow-up who did not contact the transplantation center for COVID-19 symptoms, up to the moment of their inclusion in the study. HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 allele groups and ABO frequencies were compared between recipients with COVID-19 (all cases, or separately mild/moderate and severe disease) and controls. The HLA association study was conducted in two case-control series and only associations that showed a p-value <0.05 in both series were considered. No HLA association regarding COVID-19 occurrence or severity met this criterion. Homozygosity at HLA-A locus was associated with COVID-19 susceptibility (odds ratio 1.4) but not severity. Blood groups A and O were associated with susceptibility and resistance to COVID-19, respectively. COVID-19 severity was associated only with older age and cardiac disease, in a multivariate analysis. We conclude that an influence of HLA on COVID-19 susceptibility is supported by the association with homozygosity at HLA-A locus but that there is no evidence for a role of any particular HLA-A, -B, or -DRB1 polymorphism. Thus, we suggest that what matters is the overall capability of an individual's HLA molecules to present SARS-CoV-2 peptides to T cells, a factor that might have a great influence on the breadth of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato De Marco
- Instituto de ImunogenéticaAssociação Fundo de Incentivo à PesquisaSão PauloBrazil
| | - Tathyane C. Faria
- Instituto de ImunogenéticaAssociação Fundo de Incentivo à PesquisaSão PauloBrazil
| | - Karina L. Mine
- Instituto de ImunogenéticaAssociação Fundo de Incentivo à PesquisaSão PauloBrazil
| | - Marina Cristelli
- Nephrology DivisionHospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | | | - Hélio Tedesco‐Silva
- Nephrology DivisionHospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Maria Gerbase‐DeLima
- Instituto de ImunogenéticaAssociação Fundo de Incentivo à PesquisaSão PauloBrazil
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23
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Abstract
The immune system is capable of adequately controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection in 81% of patients, whose disease is asymptomatic or who experience moderate symptoms. However, 19% of infected patients develop severe disease which can become critical or fatal. This review article intends to provide an overview of the epidemiological antecedents of β-coronaviruses, describe the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and summarize the rational immunological underpinnings known at present which allow for a better understanding of the immunopathology of COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is capable of profoundly altering the behavior of molecular and cellular components of the immune system. The initial decisions of the innate immune system are responsible for a proper or improper response of the adaptive immune system and, along with comorbidities, are directly associated with disease progression.
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24
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Fricke-Galindo I, Falfán-Valencia R. Genetics Insight for COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity: A Review. Front Immunol 2021; 12:622176. [PMID: 33868239 PMCID: PMC8047200 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.622176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) presents a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from an asymptomatic to a severe clinical course. The host genetic background influence on the susceptibility and outcome of multiples infectious diseases has been previously reported. Herein, we aimed to describe relevant identified genetic variants and those potentially related to the inter-individual variability of COVID-19 susceptibility and/or severity considering the physiopathological pathway of the disease The HLA-A*25:01, -B*15:27, -B*46:01, -C*01:02, and -C*07:29 alleles have been associated with COVID-19 susceptibility; while HLA-A*02:02, -B*15:03, and -C*12:03 have been identified as low-risk alleles. Variants in cytokine genes such as IL1B, IL1R1, IL1RN, IL6, IL17A, FCGR2A, and TNF could be related to disease susceptibility and cytokine storm, and/or COVID-19 complications (e.g., venous thrombosis). Several variants in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 affecting the expression of the receptors related to COVID-19 have been associated with the disease susceptibility and risk factors. Finally, two GWAS have identified the loci 3p21.31 (LZTFL1, SLC6A20, CCR9, FYCO1, CXCR6, and XCR1) and 9q34.2 (ABO) with COVID-19 severity. Heterogeneous results in the association of genetic variants with COVID-19 susceptibility and severity were observed. The mechanism of identified risk-genes and studies in different populations are still warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramcés Falfán-Valencia
- HLA Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, Mexico
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25
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Hussain M, Shabbir S, Amanullah A, Raza F, Imdad MJ, Zahid S. Immunoinformatic analysis of structural and epitope variations in the spike and Orf8 proteins of SARS-CoV-2/B.1.1.7. J Med Virol 2021; 93:4461-4468. [PMID: 33704818 PMCID: PMC8206967 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A newly emerged strain of SARS‐CoV‐2 of B.1.1.7 lineage has caused a significant surge in the SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in the UK. In this study, changes in the epitopes of spike and orf8 proteins in SARS‐CoV‐2 of B.1.1.7 lineage were investigated. Genomic alignment of the SARS‐CoV‐2/B.1.1.7 with SARS‐CoV‐2/Wuhan showed the presence of several mutations in orf1a/b, spike, orf8, and N proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2/B.1.1.7. Molecular models of spike and orf8 proteins were constructed by homology modeling. Superimposition between the spike proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2/Wuhan and SARS‐CoV‐2/B.1.1.7 showed noticeable variations in the spatial orientation in Val70‐Asn74 and Thr250‐Ser255 regions. This may have also resulted in the extension of the epitopic region at Ser244‐Gly249 in the SARS‐CoV‐2/B.1.1.7 spike protein. Superimposition of the SARS‐CoV‐2/B.1.1.7 spike protein over Fab‐spike protein complexes of SARS‐CoV‐2/Wuhan also showed subtle variations in the antibody binding affinity targeting the N‐terminal domain of the spike protein. Epitopic variations were also observed between the corresponding orf8 regions of SARS‐CoV‐2/Wuhan and SARS‐CoV‐2/B.1.1.7. Moreover, the presence of a stop codon at position 27 in orf8 connotes the emergence of two frames (orf8a and orf8b) in SARS‐CoV‐2, which further hampers its extracellular secretion, and in turn, immunogenicity. The findings of the present study could further be used to develop targeted immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mushtaq Hussain
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine Research Group, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow College of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sanya Shabbir
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine Research Group, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow College of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.,Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Anusha Amanullah
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine Research Group, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow College of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Fozia Raza
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine Research Group, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow College of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad J Imdad
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine Research Group, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow College of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.,Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sahar Zahid
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine Research Group, Dow Research Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Dow College of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
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26
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Pojero F, Candore G, Caruso C, Di Bona D, Groneberg DA, Ligotti ME, Accardi G, Aiello A. The Role of Immunogenetics in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2636. [PMID: 33807915 PMCID: PMC7961811 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is induced by SARS-CoV-2 and may arise as a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from an asymptomatic condition to a life-threatening disease associated with cytokine storm, multiorgan and respiratory failure. The molecular mechanism behind such variability is still under investigation. Several pieces of experimental evidence suggest that genetic variants influencing the onset, maintenance and resolution of the immune response may be fundamental in predicting the evolution of the disease. The identification of genetic variants behind immune system reactivity and function in COVID-19 may help in the elaboration of personalized therapeutic strategies. In the frenetic look for universally shared treatment plans, those genetic variants that are common to other diseases/models may also help in addressing future research in terms of drug repurposing. In this paper, we discuss the most recent updates about the role of immunogenetics in determining the susceptibility to and the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We propose a narrative review of available data, speculating about lessons that we have learnt from other viral infections and immunosenescence, and discussing what kind of aspects of research should be deepened in order to improve our knowledge of how host genetic variability impacts the outcome for COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Pojero
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (F.P.); (G.C.); (M.E.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Giuseppina Candore
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (F.P.); (G.C.); (M.E.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Calogero Caruso
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (F.P.); (G.C.); (M.E.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Danilo Di Bona
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - David A. Groneberg
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany;
| | - Mattia E. Ligotti
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (F.P.); (G.C.); (M.E.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Giulia Accardi
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (F.P.); (G.C.); (M.E.L.); (G.A.)
| | - Anna Aiello
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (F.P.); (G.C.); (M.E.L.); (G.A.)
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