Neanderthal-inherited genes affect severe COVID infections

Researchers Hugo Zeberg and Svante Pabo proved in the autumn of 2020 that we inherited the major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19 from Neanderthals. Later, studying ancient human DNA, he observed that its frequency had increased significantly since the last ice age.

“In fact, it has turned out to be unexpectedly common for a genetic variant inherited from Neanderthals.”

Hugo Zeberg, the study’s sole author, said: “This major genetic risk factor for COVID-19 is so common that I began to wonder whether it might actually be good for providing protection against another infectious disease. “

The genetic risk factor is located in a region on chromosome 3 that contains several genes. Surrounding this are the many genes that encode receptors in the immune system. One of these receptors – CCR5 – is used by the HIV virus to infect white blood cells.

Zeberg found that people who carried risk factors for COVID-19 had fewer CCR5 receptors. This prompted them to test whether they also had a low risk of contracting HIV. By analyzing patient data from three major biobanks (FinGen, UK Biobank and Michigan Genomic Initiative), they found that carriers of the at-risk variant of COVID-19 had a 27 percent lower risk of getting HIV.

Zeberg said, “This shows how a genetic variant can be both good and bad news: bad news. provides.”

However, since HIV only originated during the 20th century, protection against this infectious disease cannot explain why the genetic risk variant for COVID-19 became so common in humans 10,000 years ago.

“We now know that this risk variant for COVID-19 confers protection against HIV. But it was probably protection from another disease that increased its frequency after the last ice age,” concluded Zeberg.