The Genomic Profile Associated with Risk of Severe Forms of COVID-19 in Amazonian Native American Populations

• Published in: Journal of personalized medicine 2022-04, Vol.12 (4), p.554
• Main Authors: Pastana, Lucas Favacho, Silva, Thays Amâncio, Gellen, Laura Patrícia Albarello, Vieira, Giovana Miranda, de Assunção, Letícia Almeida, Leitão, Luciana Pereira Colares, da Silva, Natasha Monte, Coelho, Rita de Cássia Calderaro, de Alcântara, Angélica Leite, Vinagre, Lui Wallacy Morikawa Souza, Rodrigues, Juliana Carla Gomes, Borges Leal, Diana Feio da Veiga, Fernandes, Marianne Rodrigues, de Souza, Sandro José, Kroll, José Eduardo, Ribeiro-Dos-Santos, André Mauricio, Burbano, Rommel Mario Rodríguez, Guerreiro, João Farias, de Assumpção, Paulo Pimentel, Ribeiro-Dos-Santos, Ândrea Campos, Dos Santos, Sidney Emanuel Batista, Dos Santos, Ney Pereira Carneiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABO system; Bioinformatics; Blood groups; CCR9 protein; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease; Ethics; Gene frequency; Genes; Genetic diversity; Genetic engineering; Genetic factors; Genomes; Genomics; Immune system; Infections; Minority & ethnic groups; Mutation; Pandemics; Population; Population genetics; Population studies; Precision medicine
• ISSN: 2075-4426; 2075-4426
• DOI: 10.3390/jpm12040554

Genetic factors associated with COVID-19 disease outcomes are poorly understood. This study aimed to associate genetic variants in the , , , , , , and genes with the risk of severe forms of COVID-19 in Amazonian Native Americans, and to compare the frequencies with continental populations. The study population was composed of 64 Amerindians from the Amazon region of northern Brazil. The difference in frequencies between the populations was analyzed using Fisher's exact test, and the results were significant when ≤ 0.05. We investigated 64 polymorphisms in 7 genes; we studied 47 genetic variants that were new or had impact predictions of high, moderate, or modifier. We identified 15 polymorphisms with moderate impact prediction in 4 genes ( , , , and ). Among the variants analyzed, 18 showed significant differences in allele frequency in the NAM population when compared to others. We reported two new genetic variants with modifier impact in the Amazonian population that could be studied to validate the possible associations with COVID-19 outcomes. The genomic profile of Amazonian Native Americans may be associated with protection from severe forms of COVID-19. This work provides genomic data that may help forthcoming studies to improve COVID-19 outcomes.