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Kim GJ, Elnaggar JH, Varnado M, Feehan AK, Tauzier D, Rose R, Lamers SL, Sevalia M, Nicholas N, Gravois E, Fort D, Crabtree JS, Miele L. A bioinformatic analysis of T-cell epitope diversity in SARS-CoV-2 variants: association with COVID-19 clinical severity in the United States population. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1357731. [PMID: 38784379 PMCID: PMC11112498 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1357731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-term immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires the identification of T-cell epitopes affecting host immunogenicity. In this computational study, we explored the CD8+ epitope diversity estimated in 27 of the most common HLA-A and HLA-B alleles, representing most of the United States population. Analysis of 16 SARS-CoV-2 variants [B.1, Alpha (B.1.1.7), five Delta (AY.100, AY.25, AY.3, AY.3.1, AY.44), and nine Omicron (BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.4, BA.5, BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, XBB.1.5)] in analyzed MHC class I alleles revealed that SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ epitope conservation was estimated at 87.6%-96.5% in spike (S), 92.5%-99.6% in membrane (M), and 94.6%-99% in nucleocapsid (N). As the virus mutated, an increasing proportion of S epitopes experienced reduced predicted binding affinity: 70% of Omicron BQ.1-XBB.1.5 S epitopes experienced decreased predicted binding, as compared with ~3% and ~15% in the earlier strains Delta AY.100-AY.44 and Omicron BA.1-BA.5, respectively. Additionally, we identified several novel candidate HLA alleles that may be more susceptible to severe disease, notably HLA-A*32:01, HLA-A*26:01, and HLA-B*53:01, and relatively protected from disease, such as HLA-A*31:01, HLA-B*40:01, HLA-B*44:03, and HLA-B*57:01. Our findings support the hypothesis that viral genetic variation affecting CD8 T-cell epitope immunogenicity contributes to determining the clinical severity of acute COVID-19. Achieving long-term COVID-19 immunity will require an understanding of the relationship between T cells, SARS-CoV-2 variants, and host MHC class I genetics. This project is one of the first to explore the SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ epitope diversity that putatively impacts much of the United States population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace J. Kim
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Jacob H. Elnaggar
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Lousiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Mallory Varnado
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Amy K. Feehan
- Research and Development, Oschner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Darlene Tauzier
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Rebecca Rose
- Research and Development, BioInfoExperts, LLC, Thibodaux, LA, United States
| | - Susanna L. Lamers
- Research and Development, BioInfoExperts, LLC, Thibodaux, LA, United States
| | - Maya Sevalia
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Najah Nicholas
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Gravois
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Daniel Fort
- Research and Development, Oschner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Judy S. Crabtree
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Naidoo L, Arumugam T, Ramsuran V. Narrative Review Explaining the Role of HLA-A, -B, and -C Molecules in COVID-19 Disease in and around Africa. Infect Dis Rep 2024; 16:380-406. [PMID: 38667755 PMCID: PMC11049896 DOI: 10.3390/idr16020029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has left a devasting effect on various regions globally. Africa has exceptionally high rates of other infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and malaria, and was not impacted by COVID-19 to the extent of other continents Globally, COVID-19 has caused approximately 7 million deaths and 700 million infections thus far. COVID-19 disease severity and susceptibility vary among individuals and populations, which could be attributed to various factors, including the viral strain, host genetics, environment, lifespan, and co-existing conditions. Host genetics play a substantial part in COVID-19 disease severity among individuals. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) was previously been shown to be very important across host immune responses against viruses. HLA has been a widely studied gene region for various disease associations that have been identified. HLA proteins present peptides to the cytotoxic lymphocytes, which causes an immune response to kill infected cells. The HLA molecule serves as the central region for infectious disease association; therefore, we expect HLA disease association with COVID-19. Therefore, in this narrative review, we look at the HLA gene region, particularly, HLA class I, to understand its role in COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Naidoo
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa; (L.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Thilona Arumugam
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa; (L.N.); (T.A.)
| | - Veron Ramsuran
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa; (L.N.); (T.A.)
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
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Vică ML, Dobreanu M, Curocichin G, Matei HV, Bâlici Ș, Vușcan ME, Chiorean AD, Nicula GZ, Pavel Mironescu DC, Leucuța DC, Teodoru CA, Siserman CV. The Influence of HLA Polymorphisms on the Severity of COVID-19 in the Romanian Population. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1326. [PMID: 38279325 PMCID: PMC10816224 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021326] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate whether specific HLA alleles found in patients from Romania and the Republic of Moldova were associated with the severity of COVID-19 infection and its associated mortality. We analyzed the HLA alleles at the -A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 loci in a cohort of 130 individuals with severe and extremely severe forms of COVID-19, including 44 individuals who died. We compared these findings to a control group consisting of individuals who had either not been diagnosed with COVID-19 or had experienced mild forms of the disease. Using multivariate logistic regression models, we discovered that the B*27 and B*50 alleles were associated with an increased susceptibility to developing a severe form of COVID-19. The A*33 and C*15 alleles showed potential for offering protection against the disease. Furthermore, we identified two protective alleles (A*03 and DQB1*02) against the development of extremely severe forms of COVID-19. By utilizing score statistics, we established a statistically significant association between haplotypes and disease severity (p = 0.021). In summary, this study provides evidence that HLA genotype plays a role in influencing the clinical outcome of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Laura Vică
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
- Legal Medicine Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Minodora Dobreanu
- Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Ghenadie Curocichin
- Department of Family Medicine, “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, MD-2004 Chișinău, Moldova;
| | - Horea Vladi Matei
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
- Legal Medicine Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Ștefana Bâlici
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
| | - Mihaela Elvira Vușcan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
- Legal Medicine Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Alin Dan Chiorean
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
- Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gheorghe Zsolt Nicula
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
| | - Daniela Cristina Pavel Mironescu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.L.V.); (Ș.B.); (M.E.V.); (A.D.C.); (G.Z.N.); (D.C.P.M.)
- Legal Medicine Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Daniel Corneliu Leucuța
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Cosmin Adrian Teodoru
- Clinical Surgical Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 550169 Sibiu, Romania;
| | - Costel Vasile Siserman
- Legal Medicine Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Legal Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Sharma N, Sharma G, Toor D. Plausible Influence of HLA Class I and Class II Diversity on SARS-CoV-2 Vulnerability. Crit Rev Immunol 2024; 44:31-40. [PMID: 37947070 DOI: 10.1615/critrevimmunol.2023049920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which adversely affected almost all aspects of human life and resulted in the loss of millions of lives, while affecting nearly 0.67 billion people worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 still poses a challenge to the healthcare system as there are more than 200,000 active cases of COVID-19 around the globe. Epidemiological data suggests that the magnitude of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 was low in a few geographical regions and was unpredictably higher in a few regions. The genetic diversity of different geographical regions might explain the sporadic prevalence of the disease. In this context, human leukocyte antigens (HLA) represent the most polymorphic gene-dense region of the human genome and serve as an excellent mini-genome model for evaluating population genetic diversity in the context of susceptibility and progression of various diseases. In this review, we highlight the plausible influence of HLA in susceptibility, severity, immune response, and designing of epitope-based vaccines for COVID-19. Further, there is a need for extensive investigations for illustration and clarification of the functional impact of HLA class I and II alleles in the pathogenesis and progression of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sharma
- Department of Biosciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Gaurav Sharma
- Department of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Devinder Toor
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida, 201313, Uttar Pradesh, India
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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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Tripathy AS, Wagh P, Vishwakarma S, Akolkar K, Tripathy S, Jali P, Kakrani AL, Barthwal M, Gurav Y, Kadgi N, Nakate L, Abraham P. Association of human leukocyte antigen class I and class II alleles and haplotypes in COVID-19 infection in a western Indian population. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 113:105468. [PMID: 37331496 PMCID: PMC10273771 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Priyanka Wagh
- ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | | | | | - Srikanth Tripathy
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, India
| | - Priyanka Jali
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, India
| | - Arjun Lal Kakrani
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, India
| | | | - Yogesh Gurav
- ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Nalini Kadgi
- BJMC and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Leena Nakate
- BJMC and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Priya Abraham
- ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Bnina AB, El Bahri Y, Cheybi A, Lazrek NB, Chouchane S, Omezzine A, Naija W, Bouatay A. Association between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) DQB1*06 and HLA DQB1*03 and adverse outcomes in a group of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Tunisia: a cross-sectional study. Pan Afr Med J 2023; 45:109. [PMID: 37719057 PMCID: PMC10504440 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2023.45.109.39956] [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: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system is a highly polymorphic genetic system associated with the prognosis of several infectious diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of HLA polymorphism with the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Tunisian critically ill patients. Methods this retrospective cross-sectional study included 42 consecutive patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) for COVID-19 in March 2021. Genotyping of HLA loci was performed by LABType™ sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) typing kits (One lambda Inc, USA). Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®) version 23.0. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Multivariable regression analysis was performed for the association between HLA polymorphism with adverse outcomes with adjustment for potential confounders such as age, sex, co-morbidities and blood type. Results patients included in our study had a mean age of 64.5 ± 11.5 (34-83) years and were mainly men (64.3%; (n=27)). The most common cardiovascular risk factors were obesity (61.9%; (n=26)) and hypertension (26.2%; (n=11)). Thirty-two patients died (76.2%). Eleven patients (26.2%) required intubation during hospitalization. We found that HLA DQB1*06 allele was significantly associated with protection against mortality aOR: 0.066, 95% CI 0.005-0.821; p = 0.035. HLA DQB1*03 allele was significantly associated with protection against intubation aOR: 0.151, 95% CI 0.023-0.976; p = 0.047. Conclusion it was found that there are 2 protective HLA alleles against COVID-19 severity and mortality in critically ill patients. This could allow focusing on people genetically predisposed to develop severe forms of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amène Ben Bnina
- Hematology Laboratory, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Yasmine El Bahri
- Hematology Laboratory, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Amény Cheybi
- Hematology Laboratory, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Nada Ben Lazrek
- Hematology Laboratory, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Syrine Chouchane
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Asma Omezzine
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Walid Naija
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Amina Bouatay
- Hematology Laboratory, Sahloul Teaching Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
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Zsichla L, Müller V. Risk Factors of Severe COVID-19: A Review of Host, Viral and Environmental Factors. Viruses 2023; 15:175. [PMID: 36680215 PMCID: PMC9863423 DOI: 10.3390/v15010175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical course and outcome of COVID-19 are highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic infections to severe disease and death. Understanding the risk factors of severe COVID-19 is relevant both in the clinical setting and at the epidemiological level. Here, we provide an overview of host, viral and environmental factors that have been shown or (in some cases) hypothesized to be associated with severe clinical outcomes. The factors considered in detail include the age and frailty, genetic polymorphisms, biological sex (and pregnancy), co- and superinfections, non-communicable comorbidities, immunological history, microbiota, and lifestyle of the patient; viral genetic variation and infecting dose; socioeconomic factors; and air pollution. For each category, we compile (sometimes conflicting) evidence for the association of the factor with COVID-19 outcomes (including the strength of the effect) and outline possible action mechanisms. We also discuss the complex interactions between the various risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levente Zsichla
- Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Health Security, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktor Müller
- Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Health Security, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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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
- grid.411583.a0000 0001 2198 6209Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Samaneh Mollazadeh
- grid.464653.60000 0004 0459 3173Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Farnaz Ghayourbabaei
- grid.411301.60000 0001 0666 1211Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ferdowsi, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Meysam Moghbeli
- grid.411583.a0000 0001 2198 6209Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ehsan Saburi
- grid.411583.a0000 0001 2198 6209Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Dobrijević Z, Gligorijević N, Šunderić M, Penezić A, Miljuš G, Tomić S, Nedić O. The association of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) alleles with COVID-19 severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol 2022; 33:e2378. [PMID: 35818892 PMCID: PMC9349710 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Due to their pivotal role in orchestrating the immune response, HLA loci were recognized as candidates for genetic association studies related to the severity of COVID-19. Since the findings on the effects of HLA alleles on the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection remain inconclusive, we aimed to elucidate the potential involvement of genetic variability within HLA loci in the molecular genetics of COVID-19 by classifying the articles according to different disease severity/outcomes and by conducting a systematic review with meta-analysis. Potentially eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science literature databases. A total of 28 studies with 13,073 participants were included in qualitative synthesis, while the results of 19 studies with 10,551 SARS-CoV-2-positive participants were pooled in the meta-analysis. According to the results of quantitative data synthesis, association with COVID-19 severity or with the lethal outcome was determined for the following alleles and allele families: HLA-A*01, HLA-A*03, HLA-A*11, HLA-A*23, HLA-A*31, HLA-A*68, HLA-A*68:02, HLA-B*07:02, HLA-B*14, HLA-B*15, HLA-B*40:02, HLA-B*51:01, HLA-B*53, HLA-B*54, HLA-B*54:01, HLA-C*04, HLA-C*04:01, HLA-C*06, HLA-C*07:02, HLA-DRB1*11, HLA-DRB1*15, HLA-DQB1*03 and HLA-DQB1*06 (assuming either allelic or dominant genetic model). We conclude that alleles of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 loci may represent potential biomarkers of COVID-19 severity and/or mortality, which needs to be confirmed in a larger set of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zorana Dobrijević
- Department for MetabolismUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
| | - Nikola Gligorijević
- Department for MetabolismUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
| | - Miloš Šunderić
- Department for MetabolismUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
| | - Ana Penezić
- Department for MetabolismUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
| | - Goran Miljuš
- Department for MetabolismUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
| | - Sergej Tomić
- Department for Immunology and ImmunoparasitologyUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
| | - Olgica Nedić
- Department for MetabolismUniversity of Belgrade—Institute for the Application of Nuclear EnergyBelgradeSerbia
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11
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Augusto DG, Hollenbach JA. HLA variation and antigen presentation in COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Curr Opin Immunol 2022; 76:102178. [PMID: 35462277 PMCID: PMC8947957 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2022.102178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The extraordinary variation of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules is critical for diversifying antigen presentation to T cells. Coupled with the rise of novel strains and rapidly evolving immune evasion by SARS-CoV-2 proteins, HLA-mediated immunity in COVID-19 is critically important but far from being fully understood. A growing number of studies have found the association of HLA variants with different COVID-19 outcomes and that HLA genotypes associate with differential immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. Prediction studies have shown that mutations in multiple viral strains, most concentrated in the Spike protein, affect the affinity between these mutant peptides and HLA molecules. Understanding the impact of this variation on T-cell responses is critical for comprehending the immunogenic mechanisms in both natural immunity and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danillo G Augusto
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco,
CA, USA,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Universidade Federal do
Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jill A Hollenbach
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco,
CA, USA,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of
California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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12
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Awad N, Mohamed RH, Ghoneim NI, Elmehrath AO, El-Badri N. Immunoinformatics approach of epitope prediction for SARS-CoV-2. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2022; 20:60. [PMID: 35441904 PMCID: PMC9019534 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-022-00344-1] [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: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused lethal infections worldwide during an unprecedented pandemic. Identification of the candidate viral epitopes is the first step in the design of vaccines against the viral infection. Several immunoinformatic approaches were employed to identify the SARS-CoV-2 epitopes that bind specifically with the major histocompatibility molecules class I (MHC-I). We utilized immunoinformatic tools to analyze the whole viral protein sequences, to identify the SARS-CoV-2 epitopes responsible for binding to the most frequent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in the Egyptian population. These alleles were also found with high frequency in other populations worldwide. RESULTS Molecular docking approach showed that using the co-crystallized MHC-I and T cell receptor (TCR) instead of using MHC-I structure only, significantly enhanced docking scores and stabilized the conformation, as well as the binding affinity of the identified SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. Our approach directly predicts 7 potential vaccine subunits from the available SARS-CoV-2 spike and ORF1ab protein sequence. This prediction has been confirmed by published experimentally validated and in silico predicted spike epitope. On the other hand, we predicted novel epitopes (RDLPQGFSA and FCLEASFNY) showing high docking scores and antigenicity response with both MHC-I and TCR. Moreover, antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, and physicochemical properties of the predicted SARS-CoV-2 epitopes were evaluated via state-of-the-art bioinformatic approaches, showing high efficacy of the proposed epitopes as a vaccine candidate. CONCLUSION Our predicted SARS-CoV-2 epitopes can facilitate vaccine development to enhance the immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 and provide supportive data for further experimental validation. Our proposed molecular docking approach of exploiting both MHC and TCR structures can be used to identify potential epitopes for most microbial pathogens, provided the crystal structure of MHC co-crystallized with TCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nourelislam Awad
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.,Center of Informatics Sciences, Nile University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Rania Hassan Mohamed
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nehal I Ghoneim
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed O Elmehrath
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.,Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nagwa El-Badri
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.
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