Identification of rare single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

The aim of this controlled study was to identify polymorphisms in the genome of COVID­19 patients associated with the frequency of hospitalization.

Materials and methods: Two groups of patients were formed: the main group – 56 patients with COVID­19, hospitalized at least twice during the study period, and the control group – 107 patients for whom only one hospitalization with COVID­19 was confirmed during the study period. Wholeexome sequencing of residual nasopharyngeal swabs from patients hospitalized with COVID­19 was performed on the MGI platform, followed by bioinformatics analysis and gene enrichment analysis.

Result: For the first time, exome sequencing was performed from oropharyngeal swabs from 163 patients hospitalized with COVID­19 using the MGI platform. In the main group, unique variants of genetic polymorphisms were identified, including six previously undescribed ones.

Conclusion: No genetic variants were statistically significantly associated with single or multiple hospitalizations of COVID­19 patients in the study. Nasopharyngeal swabs can be used for whole exome sequencing. Further studies are needed to identify unique genetic variants responsible for susceptibility to infectious diseases. Nasopharyngeal swabs can be used for whole­exome sequencing. Further studies are needed to identify unique genetic variants responsible for susceptibility to infectious diseases.

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