Researchers at University of Oxford discovered a high-risk gene for COVID-19. Furthermore, they say this doubles the risk of lung failure and death among people with the disease. It is prevalent among 60% of those with South Asian backgrounds. But 15% of those with European ancestry also carry it. This is something of a shock. However, at least we now know it is there.
Study in Nature Genetics Reveals Strong Association
The Oxford findings announced November 4, 2021 shine light on why some people in those regions become more seriously ill. However, as BBC News explains the researchers are unable to fully explain the dynamic. We took a detour to learn more about gene LZTFL1, and this is what we discovered:
1… Gene LZTFL1 is a very common protein in the cytoplasm content within cell linings.
2…It regulates protein trafficking to ciliary membranes signaling development and disease.
3… Mutations of gene LZTFL1 can cause a number of disorders and adverse effects.
4… We now know it also associates with COVID infections and respiratory failure.
Vulnerability to This High-Risk Gene for COVID-19
Lead researcher Prof James Davies explains how susceptibility varies in different population groups. Age definitely contributes to risk. But socio-economic factors are also likely to play an important role.
‘Although we cannot change our genetics,’ the prof explains. ‘Our results show that people with the higher-risk gene are likely to particularly benefit from vaccination.’ Therefore we do have a counter to the high-risk gene for COVID-19, if we choose to use it.
Apparently the high-risk gene derails defenses protecting lung linings from a COVID-19 invasion. This abnormality impairs the efficiency whereby receptor cells usually reduce their ACE-2 protein surface areas. And in turn makes it easier for the virus to attach.
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