This genetic quirk, inherited from Neanderthals, is at the root of the development of severe forms of Covid, debilitating millions of people around the world.
Genetic predisposition to Covid is no longer a simple hypothesis.
Several studies have shown that certain populations are more affected by the virus and develop into more severe forms due to genetic factors.
A vulnerability caused by a genetic mutation believed to be thousands of years old, 50,000 to 70,000 years ago.
The gene was identified and isolated before it was understood
After revealing racial disparities in deaths from Covid from data collected on millions of Britons, published last June on Springer LinkThe researchers wanted to know more.
The explanation of the genetic pathway was conceived very quickly, especially with the study of New England Journal of Medicine in June 2020 who reported a genetic modification on chromosome 3.
Then other researchers managed to isolate and identify The gene on chromosome 3 – That would explain the dangerous forms developed by some Covid patients, as published in natural genetics In november
It turns out that the last Double the risk of death from respiratory distress In case of covid infection.
This gene will be present in about 50% to 60% of the population of South Asia and in more than 15% of Europeans.
A boom does not mean Africa
Why are some populations more vulnerable? From this assumption, other researchers focused on the topic to realize that this genetic vulnerability practically does not imply the African population.
So in their research they could pretend, as published in an article by nature Last September it was a Neanderthal inheritance, because you should know that Homo sapiens mixed with Neanderthals as soon as they left Africa.
Why is this boom widespread in the world?
And those same scientists who shed light on Neanderthal heritage have taken their research on the subject even further.
Once it was determined that genes mutated on this chromosome 3 make Covid patients vulnerable, they wondered why such a mutation occurred thousands of years ago and whether it didn’t intervene to protect itself against certain viruses.
Therefore, this hypothesis was the subject of research, the results of which will be published in PNAS on March 1, and is already the subject of an introductory post.
Indeed, as the authors of the publication explain: “Because this genetic variant is so widespread, that is, it is very widespread in the world, it is interesting to ask whether it can protect against a pathogen other than Covid, today but also in the past.”
Then they peeled back the genetic data.
Protective mutations against HIV…
During their work they discovered that ‘this mutation protected against infection with HIV and possibly also against smallpox’.
The results showed that this genetic variant at risk for Covid patients would be protective in the event of HIV infection, with a risk. About 27% lesswhat important is.
Due to the recent rise of HIV and AIDS, a genetic mutation dating back thousands of years cannot be made to protect people from this virus.
Remember that genetic mutations happen for the survival of the species.
… but also against other viruses and bacteria
So scientists are confident that this genetic mutation provides protection against other viruses that were common in the Neanderthal era, as reported. Science and the future.
According to the research, “the smallpox virus appeared more than 10,000 years ago, making smallpox a likely candidate, while the plague appeared much later, about 7,000 years ago.”
In addition, the publication’s author adds: “The highest mutations today coincide with the regions where cholera is endemic.
So this genetic variant carried by millions of people around the world could be a possible result of a mutation to protect against smallpox or cholera.
And even if you weaken carriers of this mutation during an epidemic, you can protect them during a future epidemic…
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