Title:Elucidating the Genetic Factors Contributing Towards Susceptibility and Severity of Covid 19
Volume: 1
Issue: 6
Author(s): Syeda Marriam Bakhtiar*, Syeda Eeman Zahra Bokhari, Iqra Riasat and Erum Dilshad
Affiliation:
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad,Pakistan
Keywords:
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, genetic susceptibility, ACE gene, IL-6, presentation of COVID, severity of COVID.
Abstract: COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCov is a pandemic disease that occurred in December
2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. It was first transmitted from the animal host to
a human source, after which it followed human-human transmission and spread exponentially
worldwide. Various countries have fallen prey to this virus, but there are certain countries or
populations, which have been more affected by this than others. Moreover, the demographics of
transmission and affected individuals are also variable from country-country. The purpose of this
article is to highlight the non-modifiable risk factors for COVID-19 and their analysis in various
populations affecting their susceptibility. Besides age, gender, and blood group, two major genetic
factors associated with this disease are discussed here, including the potential of IL-6, in causing
chronic disease conditions and the rs1800795 G/C-174 IL-6 polymorphism in the IL-6 gene and
with the potential role of ACE-2 receptor in viral transmission and pathogenicity with its protective
and disease-causing variants.
