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Coronavirus: Pure Infectious Disease or Genetic Predisposition

Farzaneh Darbeheshti1,2, Hassan Abolhassani3,4,5, Mohammad Bashashati6,7

  • 1Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|May 11, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Genetic factors may influence susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. Research into host genetics, drawing parallels with SARS-CoV-1, aims to unravel the genetic predisposition puzzle for coronavirus disease 2019.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Human Genetics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a novel disease with limited understood host effects.
  • Host genetic factors significantly influence individual susceptibility to infectious diseases.
  • SARS-CoV-1, genetically similar to SARS-CoV-2, offers insights into potential host-pathogen interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the genetic susceptibility factors contributing to COVID-19.
  • To investigate the role of host genetics in determining COVID-19 severity.
  • To assemble evidence for a potential genetic predisposition model for COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on coronaviruses and host genetics.
  • Analysis of genetic similarities between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.
  • Discussion of potential genetic predisposition models for COVID-19.

Main Results:

  • Host genetic factors are implicated in differential susceptibility and severity of COVID-19.
  • Virus entry receptors and immune/inflammation-related genes are key areas of investigation.
  • Parallels with SARS-CoV-1 suggest shared genetic susceptibility pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding host genetic factors is crucial for predicting COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Further research into genetic predisposition can inform personalized risk assessment and management strategies.
  • Genetic susceptibility to COVID-19 is a complex interplay of viral, host, and environmental factors.
Keywords:
COVID-19Genetic predispositionGenetic susceptibilityPolymorphismSARS-CoV-1SARS-CoV-2

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