The Black Death epidemic, which caused millions of deaths in the mid-14th century, is believed to have resulted in a genetic mutation that helped survivors fight off this bacterial disease. According to a recent British study, this genetic variation is still present in some people today. The modification of the ERAP2 gene is believed to help carriers fight respiratory diseases such as Covid-19 and pneumonia. To reach this conclusion, the researchers did a study to assess whether variation in the ERAP2 gene was associated with severe infection, autoimmune disease and parental longevity. “Although we don’t know the exact mechanism influencing disease risk, carriers of alleles that provide more protection against respiratory disease seem to have an increased risk of autoimmune disease.

Source: The Star March 19, 2023 14:31 UTC