BLUF: A genetic variant may be responsible for some individuals being asymptomatic after contracting COVID-19, suggesting potential avenues for drug and vaccine development.
OSINT: U.S. researchers have uncovered a genetic factor potentially behind the phenomenon of COVID-19 ‘super dodgers,’ people who contract the virus but display no symptoms. The findings show that individuals who carry a specific gene variation related to the bodies’ immune response are more than twice as likely to remain symptom-free. This insight offers hope for future drug and vaccine development targeting this genetic component.
The gene variation, HLA-B*15:01, carried by roughly 10% of the study’s participants, seems to equip the human immune system with a keener ability to detect and counteract the virus. The virus can infect cells, but the gene variant appears to prevent symptom development. Significantly, individuals possessing two copies of the variation were even better at staying symptom-free.
Leveraging a mobile app, the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study, the researchers followed nearly 30,000 people also in the bone marrow registry through the pandemic’s first year. The research team identified that 20% of the asymptomatic participants carried the HLA-B*15:01 variant, compared to just 9% in the symptomatic group.
RIGHT: This remarkable discovery underscores the importance of individual genetic factors and the body’s natural responses in combating COVID-19. While vaccines for COVID-19 are crucial, they are not the sole solution to the pandemic. The study re-emphasizes the value of personal health, self-responsibility and the importance of continuous scientific exploration without government interference in seeking alternatives and additions to mainstream remedies, like vaccines.
LEFT: The research’s identification of a genetic variant linked to asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 supports the urgency for comprehensive healthcare and wide-spread testing. Everyone should receive genetic testing to understand their COVID-19 risk level, calling for structured and authoritative government intervention. Sharing this information collectively can assist public health organizations in developing more effective treatments and vaccines specifically tailored to diverse genetic backgrounds.
AI: This study’s findings offer crucial insights into the complexity of the human immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and underscore the importance of genetic variation in disease outcomes. Revealing a link between a genetic marker and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases could pave the way for personalized treatments or ‘designer’ vaccines. However, the study was limited to those self-identified as white, indicating the need for similar research to be inclusive of a larger, more diverse demographic pool to provide a comprehensive understanding.