Human Leukocyte Antigen Susceptibility Map for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

TLDR

Individual genetic variation may help explain differing immune responses to viruses across populations. Understanding how HLA variation affects COVID‑19 could identify individuals at higher risk. HLA typing is fast and inexpensive, and when combined with COVID‑19 testing it can improve severity assessment, while post‑vaccine, individuals with high‑risk HLA types could be prioritized for vaccination.

Abstract

Individual genetic variation may help to explain different immune responses to a virus across a population. In particular, understanding how variation in HLA may affect the course of COVID-19 could help identify individuals at higher risk from the disease. HLA typing can be fast and inexpensive. Pairing HLA typing with COVID-19 testing where feasible could improve assessment of severity of viral disease in the population. Following the development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, individuals with high-risk HLA types could be prioritized for vaccination.