covid-19, coronavirus, genes, sars-cov-2: Susceptibility to coronavirus recorded in our DNA? Geneticists note some predispositions:

People with certain genetic features may have a potentially greater susceptibility to coronavirus infection. Within the human ACE2 gene, several variants have been identified that may affect susceptibility to infection with other coronaviruses: SARS-CoV and NL63. However, the relationship between susceptibility to disease and COVID-19 course is still unknown, and more research is needed.

People with specific genetic characteristics, e.g. gene variants, have different susceptibility to infections and react differently to the drugs used in therapy. Consequently, the very course of the disease may depend on individual genetic predispositions. This knowledge is extremely valuable and begins to translate into clinical effects.

Genes and SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus:

As with other diseases, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus may also play a role in genes. One of the best described is the ACE2 gene. Earlier studies on the SARS-CoV coronavirus, which caused a pandemic in 2002 and 2003, showed a relationship between the amount of ACE2-encoded proteins found on the surface of alveoli and infection with this virus. Similarly, it can now be the case with SARS-CoV-2. Despite the early stages of the epidemic, the new coronavirus is becoming more and more known about how this virus can infect human cells.

The mechanism of infection of lung cells by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is associated with the activation of viral proteins by a specific enzyme located on the surface of the lung cells. Activated virus proteins, as in the SARS-Cov pandemic in 2002, have been shown to bind to the human receptor encoded by the ACE2 gene mentioned above, causing infection.
Thus, the ACE2 receptor can be used by viruses to enter the host cell in which they multiply. Of the thousands of variants identified within the ACE2 gene, many of them can potentially affect susceptibility to coronavirus infection such as SARS-CoV and NL63. However, it still cannot be confirmed that a similar relationship exists with the current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Large scale genetic analyzes on many populations will be needed for further epidemiological studies in the context of the spread of the virus and its invasiveness.

Can you check that we are at risk?

Interestingly, previous studies have shown a link between genetic changes within the ACE2 gene in patients who are susceptible to many other diseases, including cardiology. - We can see that COVID-19 can be influenced not only by the age of patients, but also by co-morbidities such as diabetes or hypertension, i.e. those whose underlying may also depend on genetic conditions and lifestyle. Only now, in a crisis, are we all beginning to recognize the importance of such dependencies more.

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