These genes are also involved with a cell-surface protein called ACE2 that the coronavirus uses to gain entry to and infect cells in the body.The researchers, led by Dr. Andre Franke from Christian-Albrecht-University in Kiel, Germany, and Dr. Tom Karlsen, from Oslo University Hospital in Norway also found a relationship between COVID-19 severity and blood type.The risk for severe COVID-19 was 45% higher for people with type A blood than those with other blood types. It appeared to be 35% lower for people with type O. "The findings ... provide specific clues as to what disease processes may be going on in severe COVID-19," Karlsen told Reuters by email, noting that additional research is needed before the information becomes useful. "The hope is that these and other findings ... will point the way to a more thorough understanding of the biology of COVID-19," U.S. National Institutes of Health director and genetics expert Francis Collins wrote in his blog on Thursday. "They also suggest that a genetic test and a person's blood type might provide useful tools for identifying those who may be at greater risk of serious illness."

Source: Economic Times June 19, 2020 08:44 UTC