Genetics of COVID-19

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Abstract

COVID-19 is characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic to extremely severe. At the onset of the pandemic, it became clear that old age and chronic illness were the major risk factors. However, they do not fully explain the variety of symptoms and complications of the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus infection. The research on genetic risk factors for COVID-19 is still at its early stages. A number of mutations and polymorphisms have been identified that affect the structure and stability of proteins — factors of susceptibility to SARS-COV-2 infection, as well as a predisposition to the development of respiratory failure and the need for intensive care. Most of the identified genetic factors are related to the function of the immune system. On the other hand, the genetic polymorphism of the virus itself affects the COVID-19 spread and severity of its course . The genome of the virus accumulates mutations and evolves towards increasing contagiousness, replicative ability and evasion from the host's immune system. Genetic determinants of the COVID-19 infection are potential therapeutic targets. Studying them will provide information for the development of drugs and vaccines to combat the pandemic.

About the authors

Dmitry A. Vologzhanin

Saint-Petersburg City Hospital No 40 of Kurortny District; Saint-Petersburg State University

Email: volog@bk.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1176-794X
SPIN-code: 7922-7302

Dr. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, 9B Borisova st., 197706, Saint Petersburg, Sestroretsk; Saint Petersburg

Alexandr S. Golota

Saint-Petersburg City Hospital No 40 of Kurortny District

Author for correspondence.
Email: golotaa@yahoo.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5632-3963
SPIN-code: 7234-7870

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, 9B Borisova st., 197706, Saint Petersburg, Sestroretsk

Tatyana A. Kamilova

Saint-Petersburg City Hospital No 40 of Kurortny District

Email: kamilovaspb@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6360-132X
SPIN-code: 2922-4404

Cand. Sci. (Biol.)

Russian Federation, 9B Borisova st., 197706, Saint Petersburg, Sestroretsk

Olga V. Shneider

Saint-Petersburg City Hospital No 40 of Kurortny District

Email: o.shneider@gb40.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8341-2454
SPIN-code: 8405-1051

Cand. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, 9B Borisova st., 197706, Saint Petersburg, Sestroretsk

Sergey G. Sherbak

Saint-Petersburg City Hospital No 40 of Kurortny District; Saint-Petersburg State University

Email: sgsherbak@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5047-2792

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor

Russian Federation, 9B Borisova st., 197706, Saint Petersburg, Sestroretsk; Saint Petersburg

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Copyright (c) 2021 Vologzhanin D.A., Golota A.S., Kamilova T.A., Shneider O.V., Sherbak S.G.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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