Estudio de variantes genéticas asociadas a manifestaciones severas de la enfermedad COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT : COVID-19 is a new disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2), discovered at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, China. Various determinants of disease progression such as age, sex, virus mutations, comorbidity, lifestyle, host immune response, and genetic background variation have caused clinical variability of COVID-19. In this document we are doing a bibliographic review looking for genetic variants of the host affecting the outcome of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Firstly, we present the two main ways to approach to the study of host’s genetic variants, giving some representative examples of both strategies. Then we explain the most relevant genetic variants identified until May of 2021 and its role in infection`s pathogenesis. Finally, we have a look at some new possible lines of the treatment of this disease and promising strategies to face this global challenge. We concluded that the study of these variants contributes to a better understanding of the course of the pandemic, and it is vitally important for the researcher to consciously choose the type of approach to be carried out when studying a variant, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each one. In addition, the clarification of the genetic determinants of the severity of COVID-19 would allow the stratification of individuals according to risk, so that those classified as high risk would be prioritized in terms of therapeutic indications and immunization.