Have you ever wondered why some people almost seem immune to COVID-19, no matter how much they’re exposed to it? A recent study has uncovered a fascinating clue which might just be the answer: a gene called HLA-DQA2. This little-known gene could possibly explain why some people’s immune systems are able to fight off the virus before it even takes hold.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute conducted a trial by exposing orignally 36 healthy volunteers to SARS-CoV-2 in 2021. The goal was to understand how the virus infects people. 16 out of the 36 participants went under more extentisve testing. However, only six of the 16 volunteers who underwent extensive testing became sick. Miraculously, rest did not get sick despite being placed under the same conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 without background

The researchers soon realized they had stumbled upon a unique opportunity to understand how some people could fend off COVID-19 more effectively. It turned out that their immune systems had a stronger response, thanks to elevated activity in a gene called HLA-DQA2. This gene is involved in alerting the immune system to the invasion of pathogens, and the participants who didn’t get sick showed higher activity of this gene in their immune cells even before exposure to the virus.

This elevated gene activity allowed their immune systems to respond rapidly once the virus entered their system. Within one day of exposure, these participants immune systems triggered a response, signaling their bodies to fight the virus. In contrast, people who got sick took, took five days to trigger the same immune response, allowing the virus time to spread and cause illness.

The study revealed that this gene activity could be a predictor of who might be more resistant to COVID-19. While scientists aren’t sure exactly how HLA-DQA2 works, previous research has linked it to milder COVID-19 outcomes.

Although the study was conducted during the early days of the pandemic, when few had immunity from vaccines or prior infections, its findings offer valuable insights into how the immune system works. As research continues, scientists hope this discovery could lead to better ways to prevent or treat COVID-19—and maybe even other diseases in the future.

This study connects to the AP Biology immune system unit by showing how genetics, specifically the HLA-DQA2 gene, can influence the immune response. The gene helps trigger a faster immune reaction, preventing illness in some individuals exposed to COVID-19. This ties into the concepts of innate immunity, where the body’s first defense responds quickly, and how genetic differences affect immune function. HLA-DQA2 helps amplify inate response by activation T cells that secrete cytokines which then activate more cells to carry out the immune response.

Have you ever caught covid? If not, do you think it could be due to this gene, or simply a lack of exposure to the disease.

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