Study explores how human ACE2 variants can modify SARS-CoV-2 binding
A recent tour-de-force study by researchers from the United Kingdom reveals variants of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that can improve or decrease binding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – including two variants with distinct population distributions showing an enhanced affinity for viral spike glycoprotein. This research paper is currently available on the
bioRxiv preprint server while the article undergoes peer review.
Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, one of the most pertinent questions was why there is such a diverse array of disease outcomes. More specifically, besides older age and the presence of comorbidities, it was not clear whether a genetic component may also play a role in predisposing individuals to a dire prognosis.