Specific Gene Variant Found to Boost T-Cell Immunity

A recent study led by an international team of researchers, including scientists from the HSE University Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, found a link between specific genetic features of the immune system and one's ability to resist new waves of COVID-19. The study, published in PeerJ, compared the HLA-I genotypes of COVID-19 patients in the first and third waves of the pandemic. Researchers discovered that an individual's HLA Class 1 profile determines their ability to develop T-cell immunity, which is effective against new forms of the virus.

The study found that the HLA-A*01:01 allele, which was previously thought to be associated with higher risks of infections and severe COVID-19, may be more beneficial than previously thought. However, the fact that it occurred far less frequently among third-wave patients may indicate that carriers of this allele have developed robust T-cell immunity to COVID-19.

HLA-A01:01 mainly binds to peptides originating from the ORF1ab region of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. ORF1ab is considered a conservative part of the genome, meaning it is less susceptible to mutations than other regions. This could mean that the immune systems of HLA-A01:01 carriers have learned how to detect COVID-19 despite mutations.

These findings suggest that the immune systems of HLA-A*01:01 allele carriers tend to be more effective at remembering and recognizing COVID-19, regardless of its mutations. This confirms the possibility of a genetic predisposition to severe COVID-19. These findings can also inform the development of effective COVID-19 vaccines targeting the ORF1ab genome region.

The results could also help identify the molecular targets for new therapeutics to treat COVID-19. Overall, this research is a significant step forward in understanding how genetic features of the immune system can affect an individual's ability to fight COVID-19 and could lead to more effective treatments and future vaccines for the virus.