Varanasi: A study conducted by researchers at the University of Banaras Hindu showed that many genetic mutations were responsible for Covid-19 vulnerability in India.
The team led by Prof.
Gyaneshwer Chaubey analyzed the TMPRSSS2 gene between the global population and found that this gene contributed the severity of Covid-19 in the Indian population.
This research has been published in the International Journal “Infection, Genetics, and Evolution”.
Prof.
Chaubey said that Coronavirus (SARS-COV2), COVID-19-causing agent, employing Ace2 receptors to enter the host cell through pr priming protein with serine proteases, TMPRSSS2.
Mutations in the ACE2 and TMPRSSS2 genes contributed to disparity in the vulnerability of diseases between the population.
The team also included Lab scientists Prof.
Chaubey Rudra Kumar Pandey, Anshika Srivastava, and Prajjval Pratap Singh.
He said that they analyzed the next generation sequencing data (NGS) of 393 global samples.
“Our phylogenetic linkage analysis shows the affinity closer to South Asia with Western Eurasian populations; Therefore, host of disease and severity vulnerability, especially in the context of TMPRSS2, will be closer to West Eurasia, instead of East Eurasia,” said Rudra Kumar Pandey, “said Rudra Kumar Pandey,” said Rudra Kumar Pandey, “said Rudra Kumar Pandey The first author of this study.
The study also reported the mutation of RS2070788 which significantly increased the expression of TMPRSSS2 in the lungs and was associated with a high level of death rate among the Indian population.
“Thus, ACE2 and TMPRSSS2 have an antagonistic role in determining Covid-19 vulnerability among South Asians,” said Prof.
Chaubey.