Genetic variation in immune system may affect COVID-19 severity: Study

Genetic variability in the human immune system may affect susceptibility to, and severity of disease due to the novel coronavirus, according to a study which may help identify people at higher risk of the disease.

The research, published in the Journal of Virology, noted that individual genetic variation may explain differences in the strength of immune responses among COVID-19 patients.

According to the researchers, including those from Oregon Health & Science University in the US, certain immune system genes, called human leukocyte antigen genes which are involved in recognising pathogens, vary from person to person.

These variations, they said, can influence how well the immune system recognises a given pathogen.

Poor recognition of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, could cause a person to be more vulnerable to the virus, the study noted.

"In particular, understanding how variation in HLA -- a component of the immune system containing multiple genes -- may affect the course of