Unraveling the Mystery of Asymptomatic COVID-19 Cases: The Role of Genetics

Genetics may play a key role in determining why some individuals who contract COVID-19 remain asymptomatic, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California - San Francisco and La Trobe University in Australia. The study found that individuals with a specific gene variation linked to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) were more than twice as likely to remain asymptomatic after infection. This genetic variant helps virus-killing T cells identify and attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus, even without prior exposure. Understanding this immune response could lead to the development of new vaccines or drugs to promote immune protection against COVID-19.