SARS susceptibility may have a genetic element according to a new study (the full report is availabe at the link, a newspaper article for the more timid). Here is the conclusion:
Densely populated regions with genetically related southern Asian populations appear to be more affected by the spreading of SARS infection. Up until recently, no probable SARS patients were reported among Taiwan indigenous peoples who are genetically distinct from the Taiwanese general population, have no HLA-B*4601 and have high frequency of HLA-B*1301. While increase of HLA-B*4601 allele frequency was observed in the “Probable SARS infected” patient group, a further significant increase of the allele was seen in the “Severe cases” patient group. These results appeared to indicate association of HLA-B*4601 with the severity of SARS infection in Asian populations. Independent studies are needed to test these results.
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system contains more than 100 genes and is highly polymorphic. You have the variety of HLA alleles to thank for tissue rejection. HLA even has transpecies polymorphisms, so you may have a variant that is more genetically similar to a chimpanzee than your next door neigbhor (ever wonder about the wack projects to use pig hearts?). The connection of race to health is crucial, at least before full genomic sequencing becomes cheap, especially for people of small racial minorities…. (I wonder when SARSPundit will comment)
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