% pubman genre = article @article{Zeberge2026309118, title = {{A genomic region associated with protection against severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals}}, author = {Zeberg, Hugo and P{\"a}{\"a}bo, Svante}, language = {eng}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2026309118}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-02-16}, abstract = {{We show that a haplotype on chromosome 12, which is associated with a {\~{}}22{\textpercent} reduction in relative risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 when infected by SARS-CoV-2, is inherited from Neandertals. This haplotype is present at substantial frequencies in all regions of the world outside Africa. The genomic region where this haplotype occurs encodes proteins that are important during infections with RNA viruses.It was recently shown that the major genetic risk factor associated with becoming severely ill with COVID-19 when infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is inherited from Neandertals. New, larger genetic association studies now allow additional genetic risk factors to be discovered. Using data from the Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care (GenOMICC) consortium, we show that a haplotype at a region on chromosome 12 associated with requiring intensive care when infected with the virus is inherited from Neandertals. This region encodes proteins that activate enzymes that are important during infections with RNA viruses. In contrast to the previously described Neandertal haplotype that increases the risk for severe COVID-19, this Neandertal haplotype is protective against severe disease. It also differs from the risk haplotype in that it has a more moderate effect and occurs at substantial frequencies in all regions of the world outside Africa. Among ancient human genomes in western Eurasia, the frequency of the protective Neandertal haplotype may have increased between 20,000 and 10,000 y ago and again during the past 1,000 y.Previously published data were used for this work (COVID-19 HGI 1000 Genomes Project).}}, journal = {{Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}}, volume = {118}, number = {9}, eid = {e2026309118}, }