SARS-CoV-2: An immunogenetics call to arms

Increased prevalence of the COVID-19 associated Neanderthal mutations in the Central European Roma population

BACKGROUND

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and subsequent COVID-19 has spread world-wide and become pandemic with about 7 million deaths reported so far. Interethnic variability of the disease has been described, but a significant part of the differences remain unexplained and may be attributable to genetic factors.

AIM

To analyse genetic factors potentially influencing COVID-19 susceptibility and severity in European Roma minority.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Two genetic determinants, within OAS-1 (2-prime,5-prime-oligoadenylate synthetase 1, a key protein in the defence against viral infection; it activates RNases that degrade viral RNAs; rs4767027 has been analysed) and LZTFL1 (leucine zipper transcription factor-like 1, expressed in the lung respiratory epithelium; rs35044562 has been analysed) genes were screened in a population-sample of Czech Roma (N = 302) and majority population (N = 2,559).

RESULTS

For both polymorphisms, Roma subjects were more likely carriers of at least one risky allele for both rs4767027-C (p < 0.001) and rs35044562-G (p < 0.00001) polymorphism. There were only 5.3% Roma subjects without at least one risky allele in comparison with 10.1% in the majority population (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible that different genetic background plays an important role in increased prevalence of COVID-19 in the Roma minority.

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SARS-CoV-2: An immunogenetics call to arms

Susceptibility to viral infection, development of immunity, response to treatment and patient clinical outcomes are all under the control of heritable factors in the host. In the context of the current SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, this review considers existing immunogenetic knowledge of virus-immune system interactions. A major focus is to highlight areas in which work is required in order to improve understanding of antiviral immune responses and to move towards improved patient management.