Open AccessHigh‐resolution HLA genotyping identifies alleles associated with severe COVID‐19: A preliminary study from India
Author(s) -
Vishnubhotla Ravikanth,
Sasikala Mitnala,
Ketavarapu Vijayasarathy,
Reddy Duvvur Nageshwar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
immunity, inflammation and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2050-4527
DOI - 10.1002/iid3.481
Subject(s) - genotyping , allele , human leukocyte antigen , genotype , asymptomatic , immunology , biology , medicine , genetics , antigen , gene
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variability has been demonstrated to be associated with susceptibility/severity of COVID‐19. High‐resolution HLA genotyping to identify alleles associated with severe COVID‐19 in an Indian cohort was performed. Methods Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients with mild/moderate/severe disease ( n = 54) and asymptomatic ( n = 42) were recruited and genotyped for 11‐HLA loci on MiSeq using NGSgo®‐MX11‐3 and analyzed (NGSengine; GenDx). Results A significant difference in alleles between the groups was identified for HLA‐C*04:01:01:01, HLA‐DRB5*01:01:01:02, HLA‐DQA1*03:01:01:01, HLA‐DPB1*04:01:01:41, and HLA‐DPA1*01:03:01:02. Alleles namely, HLA‐C*04:01:01:01 (OR: 5.71; 95% CI: 1.2–27.14; p = .02), HLA‐DRB5*01:01:01:02 (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.1–7.84; p = .03), DQA1*03:01:01:01 (OR: 22.47; 95% CI: 1.28–393.5; p = .03), HLA‐DPB1*04:01:01:41 (OR: 9.44; 95% CI: 0.5–175.81; p = .13), and HLA‐DPA1*01:03:01:02 (OR: 8.27; 95% CI: 2.26–30.21; p = .001) were associated with severe COVID‐19. Conclusion Genotyping for these alleles will enable identification of individuals at risk of severe disease and stratification for preferential vaccination.