Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) rs111200466 variant offers protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections and mortality: a worldwide epidemiological correlation analysis.

Recently Toll-like receptor-2 has been shown to sense the envelope protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and initiate the production of inflammatory molecules. The expression and function of the TLR2 has been associated with several functional polymorphisms such as a 23 bp ins/del (rs111200466), Arg677Trp (rs121917864), and Arg753Gln (rs5743708). In the present study, we hypothesized that the TLR2 common functional variants would be associated with the worldwide incidence and mortality rate of SARS-CoV-2. The frequency of TLR2 polymorphisms and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) were acquired from multiple databases, including genomAD, 1000 genome, dbSNP, and worldometer, respectively. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between the del allele of rs111200466 polymorphism with susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and related mortality at different times. In conclusion, the TLR2 rs111200466 minor allele (del) may be linked with susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infections and bad outcomes. However, further case-control studies in different populations are required to validate our observations.

ABO blood group system is associated with COVID-19 mortality: An epidemiological investigation in the Indian population.

BACKGROUND: Novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, and to date presence of the virus has been recorded in 215 countries contributing 0.43 million of death. The role of blood groups in susceptibility/resistance to various infectious diseases has been reported. However, the association of blood groups with susceptibility to COVID-19 infections or related death are limited. In the present report, we performed an epidemiological investigation in the Indian population to decipher the importance of blood groups concerning susceptibility or mortality in COVID-19 infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on COVID-19 infection and mortality was obtained from the website of the Government of India. Prevalence of ABO blood groups in different states and union territories of India were searched using different databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. Relevant articles were downloaded, and data were extracted. Spearman's rank coefficient analysis was employed to study the correlation between blood group frequencies and COVID-19 infection or mortality rate. RESULTS: A significant inverse correlation was observed between the frequency of O blood group and the COVID-19 mortality rate (Spearman r=-0.36, P=0.03), indicating a possible protective role of O blood group against COVID-19 related death. In contrast, the prevalence of blood group B was positively correlated with COVID-19 death/million (Spearman r=0.67, P<0.0001), suggesting B blood type as a deleterious factor in COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: ABO blood group system is associated with poor prognosis of COVID-19 infection. Blood group O may protects, and subjects with blood type B could be susceptible to COVID-19 mortality. However, further studies on COVID-19 infected patients in different population are required to validate our findings.

Lower levels of vitamin D are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality in the Indian population: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: The role of vitamin D in the susceptibility and severity of various viral diseases has been well documented. Recently, some reports highlighted the possible importance of vitamin D in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although India receives adequate sunlight throughout the year, the majority of Indians are deficient in vitamin D levels. In the present study, we hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency would be associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and mortality in the Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality data were obtained from the Government of India's official website (accessed on 16th August 2020). Various literature databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to find the mean of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in different states and union territories of India, Pearson correlation was carried out to investigate the possible link between mean 25(OH)D levels and SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality per million of the population. RESULTS: An inverse correlation was observed between the mean level of 25(OH)D and SARS-CoV-2 infection rate (r = -0.43, p = 0.02) and mortality rate (r = -0.42, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The present observational study revealed an association of vitamin D with SARS-CoV-2 infection and related mortality. Further studies are required to validate our observations.

ACE deletion allele is associated with susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality rate: An epidemiological study in the Asian population.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is believed to have emerged from Wuhan, China, and spreads over 215 countries worldwide. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptors and enter the host cells. Several reports have been highlighted the importance of ACE-2 on the pathogenesis of COVID-19. In the present study, we hypothesize that a functional insertion/deletion polymorphism in the ACE gene could be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Google scholar search engines were used to obtained data on the prevalence of ACE I/D polymorphism in different countries of the Asia continent. Data on COVID-19 infection rate (per million), mortality/million, and percentage of recovery were acquired form worldometer website. The Spearman rank correlation test performed to investigate the correlation of allele 'D' with SARS-CoV-2 infection, mortality rate, and recovery percentage. RESULTS: Epidemiological investigation revealed a significant positive correlation of D allele of ACE polymorphism with SARS-CoV-2 infection (r = 0.502, p = 0.008, n = 26) and mortality rate (r = 0.620, p = 0.002, n = 22) in Asian population. However, no significant role of ACE I/D polymorphism was observed with recovery rate of patients from SARS-CoV-2 infection (r = -0.208, p = 0.352, n = 22). CONCLUSIONS: Allele D of ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism is associated with the rate of infection and mortality in the Asian population.