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Updated: Nov 15, 2025

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
Published on: August 20, 2019
Extreme phenotypes approach to investigate host genetics and COVID-19 outcomes
Michel Satya Naslavsky1, Mateus Vidigal1, Larissa do Rêgo Barros Matos1
1Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Centro de Pesquisa sobre o Genoma Humano e Células-Tronco, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
COVID-19 comprises clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and is highly heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic individuals to deceased young adults without comorbidities. There is growing evidence that host genetics play an important role in COVID-19 severity, including inborn errors of immunity, age-related inflammation and immunosenescence. Here we present a brief review on the known order of events from infection to severe system-wide disturbance due to COVID-19 and summarize potential candidate genes and pathways. Finally, we propose a strategy of subject's ascertainment based on phenotypic extremes to take part in genomic studies and elucidate intrinsic risk factors involved in COVID-19 severe outcomes.
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