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Host Genetic Factors for COVID-19 Severity and Outcome in Western Indian Population
42 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2021
More...Abstract
Background: Different human populations across the globe responded in a different way against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, it is anticipated that host genetic variants have straight association with the COVID-19. Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) may help to understand this aspect.
Methods: We carried out GWAS analysis with 571 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients from Gujarat state of India with different phases of COVID-19 severity. After quality filtering, total 94, 320 and 147, deceased, recovered (after admitting in intensive care unit), and asymptomatic, patients were included in the final analysis using three tools i.e. PLINK, OrdinalGWAS·jl and SAIGE.
Findings: We identified total ten, thirteen, and ten unique genomic loci for deceased vs recovered, deceased vs asymptomatic and recovered vs asymptomatic groups, respectively. TNFSF4, LRRC56 and TUBD1 genes have shown an association in deceased vs recovered. Similarly, genomic markers where nearby genes are OR7C2, OR7A17, PAX5, etc. are significant for disease vs asymptomatic comparison. For recovered vs asymptomatic comparison, a strong signal at chromosome 6, locus 6p21·32 where HLA group of genes, which are key regulators of the immune system, is found. Unfavorable alleles in AX-11318356, AX-11403743, and AX-11509434 have shown the higher frequency in European compared to the South Asian population and it is reversed for AX-40266551, AX-40266553, AX-38975337, AX-11258333, and AX-30353919.
Interpretation: Unfavorable alleles of the markers showing association with the disease severity and outcome can be used for risk prediction in the SARS-CoV-2 infections. GWAS study in other populations may help to further strengthen the outcome of this study.
Funding: Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, India.
Conflict of Interest: All the authors of this manuscript declare no competing interests.
Ethical Approval: The present studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Institutional Ethical Committee of Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Gandhinagar, and B. J. Medical College and Civil hospital, Ahmedabad, reference No. EC/Approval/38/2020.
Keywords: COVID-19; Genome Wide Association (GWAS); SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 disease severity
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation