Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor
Daniel Moore
Keywords
ACE2 Gene Expression, ACE2 and COVID-19, COVID-19 Severity and Susceptibility
Abstract
A wide spectrum of susceptibility and severity of infection has been observed among COVID-19 patients. While some individuals remain unaffected by the Sars-Cov-2 virus, others have contracted the virus multiple times with varying levels of severity. This poster reviews some of the research demonstrating a link between the susceptibility of the Sars-Cov- 2 virus and the severity of infection, and a specific gene called ACE2. The ACE2 gene encodes an angiotensin-converting enzyme that acts as a functional receptor for the spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain of the coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses. ACE2 presents numerous amino acid variants with different functions and catalytic properties. The Sars-Cov-2 virus utilizes the ACE2 gene as a host receptor to infect its human host through three amino acid (AA) residues (T20, Y83, and K353) near the interface. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing has found organ- and cell-specific expression of the converting enzyme in the lungs and alveolar tissue, explaining why infection typically includes respiratory symptoms. It is hypothesized that expression levels from the ACE2 gene may affect an individual’s susceptibility to the virus and the severity of the infection. Awareness of genetic predisposition factors can contribute to evidence-based risk assessment which could allow for future individualized treatments and preventative measures.
COVID Susceptibility and Severity Correlation with the ACE2 Gene
A wide spectrum of susceptibility and severity of infection has been observed among COVID-19 patients. While some individuals remain unaffected by the Sars-Cov-2 virus, others have contracted the virus multiple times with varying levels of severity. This poster reviews some of the research demonstrating a link between the susceptibility of the Sars-Cov- 2 virus and the severity of infection, and a specific gene called ACE2. The ACE2 gene encodes an angiotensin-converting enzyme that acts as a functional receptor for the spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain of the coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses. ACE2 presents numerous amino acid variants with different functions and catalytic properties. The Sars-Cov-2 virus utilizes the ACE2 gene as a host receptor to infect its human host through three amino acid (AA) residues (T20, Y83, and K353) near the interface. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing has found organ- and cell-specific expression of the converting enzyme in the lungs and alveolar tissue, explaining why infection typically includes respiratory symptoms. It is hypothesized that expression levels from the ACE2 gene may affect an individual’s susceptibility to the virus and the severity of the infection. Awareness of genetic predisposition factors can contribute to evidence-based risk assessment which could allow for future individualized treatments and preventative measures.
