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Researchers explore genetic immunity to COVID-19
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# Researchers explore genetic immunity to COVID-19
Scientists study genetic "super-dodgers" of COVID-19 to develop better
nasal spray vaccines
Early in the pandemic, Hugh Potter, 68, avoided COVID-19 despite his
wife coughing violently from the virus.
Experts now explore genetic factors in such rare cases, according to
CBC News.
"Bloody lucky," said Potter, "Where I work, I think almost everyone
has had it."
Experts studying the genes of these rare individuals have gained new
insights. Scientists writing in the journal Nature described high
activity of a specific gene in people who didn't get infected.
In a related study, Potter provided DNA to McGill University Health
Centre researchers looking for those with genetic protection against
the virus.
Researchers hope to use this knowledge to develop nasal spray vaccines
for COVID-19, similar to FluMist for influenza. Despite the pandemic
emergency being over, COVID-19 still kills about 20 people a week in
Canada.
The World Health Organization reported over 2,600 new fatalities in
April, bringing total confirmed cases to over 775 million, with more
than seven million deaths globally.
To understand what makes people super-dodgers, UK COVID-19 Human
Challenge study investigators administered a low dose of SARS-CoV-2 to
36 healthy volunteers in March 2021 and monitored their immune
responses. None were previously exposed or vaccinated.
The 16 participants with detailed monitoring fell into three groups:
Christopher Chiu, a professor at Imperial College London, found high
levels of activity in the gene HLA-DQA2, which flags invaders to the
immune system for rapid destruction.
Immunologists not involved in the study are unsure why this gene
offers protection. "If you had asked me to bet money on the genes
involved in the protection, they're not the ones I would have chosen,"
said Professor Dawn Bowdish from McMaster University.
Bowdish explained that immune responses differ in the nose, blood, and
lungs. Vaccines administered in the arm trigger a response as part of
adaptive immunity. HLA genes present the trigger to immune system
fighter cells.
However, the HLA gene in the study, while good at blocking COVID-19
infection, is also associated with diseases like lupus and rheumatoid
arthritis.
Those with sustained infection took longer to mount an immune response
in the nasal mucosa, said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases
specialist at the University of Alberta. Findings from those who
responded quickly could aid in developing nasal vaccines.
Researchers at McMaster and the University of Ottawa aim to create
nasal or inhaled vaccines to prevent severe illness and block
infection altogether.
Bowdish noted that turning on immune cells in the nose was once
thought sufficient, but the new study showed the importance of cells
recruiting immune reactions in the mouth, nose, and lungs.
"We hope to use inhaled or nasal vaccines, and this study gives hints
about which immune genes to target," Bowdish said. Saxinger added that
blocking infection is crucial to prevent asymptomatic spread.
The pandemic landscape has changed with variants and immunity from
vaccinations. Some people still get COVID-19 repeatedly, and the
illness continues to severely impact older, vulnerable individuals.
British researchers plan to test several nasal spray vaccines against
coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, MERS, and common cold viruses.
"There might be common features that allow for preventative or early
treatment," Saxinger said.
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