Some people are resistant to COVID-19 - the key to the cure is in the DNA?

High contagiousness is one of the features of the virusSARS-CoV-2. Moreover, new strains are becoming more and more contagious. At first, the Delta variant scared the world, and then the even more contagious Omicron appeared. However, not all people become infected with the virus even after prolonged contact with the sick. Why is this happening? Scientists suggest that some people have genetic resistance to SARS-CoV-2. However, it remains questionable how this resistance works, and whether it can be used to develop new drugs against COVID-19. The international consortium COVID Human Genetic Effort should answer these questions. At the moment, the program has already recruited several thousand volunteers who turned out to be immune to the coronavirus, and research is underway.

Some people are resistant to COVID-19, the reason may be in their DNA

People who do not get COVID-19

Authors of the international consortium COVID HumanGenetic Effort did not expect to find many people to study. However, they were approached by more than 5,000 people from all over the world with roughly similar stories. For example, flight attendant Angelica Kaukaki worked with other flight attendants who had COVID-19, but she did not get sick.

In July 2021, a guy contracted the coronavirusAngelica Kaukaki, who suffered a severe illness. He was tormented by high fever and pain throughout his body, which lasted about 10 days. At the same time, the stewardess herself did not have any symptoms of the disease. Moreover, the couple spent two weeks in the same apartment. It could be assumed that the woman had a mild form of coronavirus, but no antibodies were detected in her blood.

Then, Angelica Kaukaki's partner became infected again.coronavirus in January 2022 during the Omicron wave. The woman was isolated with him for five days, while multiple PCR and rapid antigen tests again showed a negative result. At that moment, Angelica Kaukaki realized that she might be a medical anomaly.

Scientists hope to find in DNA the secret to protecting the body from coronavirus

DNA mutation cure for coronavirus

Scientists take saliva samples from peoplethat meet the study criteria. They will then scan regions of the genes that code for the protein in their DNA, which will identify any mutations that are missing from the genetic sequences of patients with severe or moderate COVID-19. It is possible that some of these people have the secret of resistance to COVID-19 in their DNA.

It must be said that previously it was believed that the outcomeany infection depends on the characteristics of the pathogen. That is, pathogens were conditionally divided into heavy or light. At the same time, no attention was paid to the ability of the host to resist infection. The situation has changed over the past 20 years. Scientists have begun to conduct genome-wide association studies to identify certain genes or regions of DNA that may be associated with specific diseases.

The research compares the genetic sequences of infected people with those who are healthy, and then reveals the correlation between mutations and resistance to pathogens.

Perhaps the secret to protecting the body from COVID-19 lies in the genes encoding the ACE2 receptor

Recruitment of volunteers scientists began in the pastyear. Preference is given primarily to healthcare workers who have often been in contact with people sick with coronavirus, but did not become infected. The scientists hypothesized that if these people were repeatedly exposed and still avoided infection, they were more likely to have a mutation that conferred resistance to the virus.

Scientists have high hopes for the gene,encoding the human ACE2 receptor, as well as genes that regulate its expression on the cell surface. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is known to bind to ACE2 to enter the cell. It is possible that a mutation that alters its structure and expression could block the virus from binding and infecting the cell.

But it is possible that there are othersbiological factors that protect some people from SARS-CoV-2 infection. It may be a strong immune system that limits the replication of the virus in human cells.

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The scientists hope that if their study yieldsclues to genetic resistance, this information could be used to develop anti-COVID-19 therapies similar to CCR5 inhibitors designed to treat HIV infection.

Mutations protect the body from HIV and other infections

Are there any results of such studies?Of course there are, and they appeared back in the mid-90s. For example, in 1996, molecular biologist Stephen O'Brien and his colleagues discovered a rare genetic mutation that protects the body from the immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.

Dr. Stephen O'Brien discovers a mutation that protects the body from HIV

Typically, humans have a protein receptor onthe surface of certain immune cells, called chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). With its help, HIV binds to the cell and penetrates into it. But, as the study showed, some people have a mutation that causes a defect in the receptor.

Moreover, in order for a person to gain resistance toHIV, you must have two copies of this delta-32 mutation, one from each parent. A single copy does not protect the body from HIV, although it slows down the development of AIDS.

“Delta 32 was a damn good example that convinced people that genetics was important and that genetic resistance was possible,” says Stephen O’Brien.

Delta 32 is not the only such mutation.Scientists have also found a mutation in another gene that provides the body with resistance to certain strains of norovirus that cause gastroenteritis. This mutation prevents noroviruses from entering the cells lining the human digestive tract. Finally, let me remind you that scientists have already found one vulnerability of the coronavirus, but it is still impossible to use it in practice.