EXPLORING THE GENETIC LANDSCAPE OF COVID-19 SUSCEPTIBILITY AMONG PATIENTS IN TÜRKIYE: A VARIANT DISCOVERY STUDY

2024-8-20
Çakır, Yavuzhan
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has underscored the need to understand the genetic factors influencing disease susceptibility. This study adopts a data-driven approach to identify and analyze Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) associated with COVID-19 susceptibility in the Hacettepe University Hospital patient cohort. We systematically compiled and analyzed variants published in diverse scientific publications. We genotyped patients treated at the Hacettepe University Hospital (Ankara, Türkiye) using a multiplex approach with next-generation sequencing. The analysis included variant calling, linkage analysis, and statistical comparisons with non-Finnish European allele frequencies. Key findings suggest variants (rs17860115, rs2298659, rs2298661, rs4290734, rs9271609, rs2532300, rs34624090, rs61299115, and rs56106917) exhibit different frequencies compared to the European population, suggesting potential genetic predispositions affecting COVID-19 susceptibility in the hospitalized population in Türkiye. Linkage disequilibrium analysis highlighted strong correlations between specific genetic loci, indicating inherited patterns. The study highlights significant genetic variations associated with COVID-19 susceptibility within a Turkish cohort, differing from European allele frequencies. These findings emphasize the importance of considering genetic diversity in public health strategies and enhance our understanding of the genetic factors that may influence disease susceptibility and severity. Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to validate these associations and explore their implications for disease management and prevention strategies.
Citation Formats
Y. Çakır, “EXPLORING THE GENETIC LANDSCAPE OF COVID-19 SUSCEPTIBILITY AMONG PATIENTS IN TÜRKIYE: A VARIANT DISCOVERY STUDY,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2024.