Viral and host genetic and epigenetic biomarkers related to SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, infection rate, and disease severity

Gašperšič, Jernej (author), Dolžan, Vita (author)

The rapid spread of COVID-19 outbreak lead to a global pandemic declared in March 2020. The common features of corona virus family helped to resolve structural characteristics and entry mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. However, rapid mutagenesis leads to the emergence of new strains that may have different reproduction rates or infectivity and may impact the course and severity of the disease. Host related factors may also play a role in the susceptibility for infection as well as the severity and outcomes of the COVID-19. We have performed a literature and database search to summarize potential viral and host-related genomic and epigenomic biomarkers, such as genetic variability, miRNA, and DNA methylation in the molecular pathway of SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell, that may be related to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Bioinformatics tools may help to predict the effect of mutations in the spike protein on the binding to the ACE2 receptor and the infectivity of the strain. SARS-CoV-2 may also target several transcription factors and tumour suppressor genes, thus influencing the expression of different host genes and affecting cell signalling. In addition, the virus may interfere with RNA expression in host cells by exploiting endogenous miRNA and its viral RNA. Our analysis showed that numerous human miRNA may form duplexes with different coding and non-coding regions of viral RNA. Polymorphisms in human genes responsible for viral entry and replication, as well as in molecular damage response and inflammatory pathways may also contribute to disease prognosis and outcome. Gene ontology analysis shows that proteins encoded by such polymorphic genes are highly interconnected in regulation of defense response. Thus, virus and host related genetic and epigenetic biomarkers may help to predict the course of the disease and the response to treatment.

• Language: English
• Keywords: COVID-19, epigenetics, biomarkers, genetics, miRNA, polymorphisms, SARS-CoV-2
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 23 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 2, art. 178
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-137045
• UDC: 616.9
• ISSN on article: 2079-7737
• DOI: 10.3390/biology11020178
• COBISS.SI-ID: 94692355
• Publication date in RUL: 31.05.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Biology
• Shortened title: Biology
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2079-7737
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523004441

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.02.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: COVID-19, epigenetika, biomarkerji

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0170
• Name: Molekulski mehanizmi uravnavanja celičnih procesov v povezavi z nekaterimi boleznimi pri človeku