The Qatar Genome Program of the Qatar Foundation is the first and active player of an Arab country in the Host COVID-19 Genetics Initiative, a global initiative to clarify the role of host genetic points in the sensitivity and severity of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Why does a 17-year-old with no underlying fitness disorders succumb to COVID-19 when a wonderful 75-year-old grandmother is fully recovering? The wonderful variation in gravity gives the impression that they did not have the same disease, that they had it. One of the most mysterious features of this disease, which has killed more than a million people worldwide, is the difference in severity. Some other people don’t even have symptoms, some die and many others are somewhere in between.
Age, sex and underlying physical disorders obviously play a vital role. But geneticists say the difference in gravity may be similar to the herbal variation of people’s genetic code. This is what introduced the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (HGI), led by Mark Daly and Andrea Ganna of the Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine (FIMM) and the Broad Boston Institute.
The initiative aims to combine the clinical network to examine the role of the human genome in explaining the sensitivity and severity of COVID-19. Lately, twenty countries contribute to the review, and most studies are conducted in Europe (55%) and in the United States (28%). The United Kingdom (10%) Italy (9%) are the two most sensitive countries in terms of Europe’s genomes.
The Qatar Genome Program (QGP), the only active player in the Middle East initiative, has contributed to more than 13,000 genomic effects to date. “The contribution of the Qatar genome to COVID-19 HGI is largely due to the addition of diversity to the initiative and underscores the importance of adding populations that are historically not represented in genetic research, but are still heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” dr. Andrea Ganna, co-founder of COVID-19 HGI and leader of the organization at the Institute of Molecular Medicine of Finland.
The effects of the last circular of the global study show strong evidence that genetics plays a role in the severity of COVID-19. A site on chromosome 3 was known to have a strong link to the severity of COVID-19. The known site comprises six genes; Therefore, it is not yet imaginable to say precisely which of them influences the COURSE of COVID-19. Further studies are being conducted to accurately identify which gene it is.
Dr Hamdi Mbarek, a geneticist who led QGP’s involvement, said: “These effects are very attractive and timely. We now have an objective region in the genome, and the next challenge is to perceive the link between the six genes and the severity of COVID-19 The identity of the gene similar to the severity of COVID-19 will be very much in the progression of drugs.
“Now that we know that genetics is vital to determining the severity of COVID-19, this data can help the fitness industry prioritize the organization of Americans who are the first to receive a vaccine once it develops.”
If researchers can accurately identify which gene is guilty of the severity of COVID-19, this can be a game change by temporarily discovering which patients are at the greatest threat and wanting more competitive treatment. Previously, this test was known about a variation elsewhere in the human genome. The known point is the gene that determines the type of blood. Patients with type A blood, for example, were more at threat of severe coVID-19.
“We are pleased to have contributed to this initiative with the genomes of an Arab population, which has added valuable diversity to the study. Genome diversity clearly indicates that COVID-19 indiscriminately affects others around the world,” Dr Said added. Ismail, director of the Qatar Genome Program.
QGP’s participation in this review demonstrates QF’s commitment to meaningful studies. COVID-19 HGI is proof of the importance of studies in finding a way forward in times of doubt. How studies deserve to be resilient and not hindered across borders and closed restrictions. Despite the challenges, scholars around the world have discovered tactics to unite, forge new ties, and collaborate like never before, all motivated by an unusual goal: defeating COVID-19.
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