OVERVIEW (ABSTRACT)

• In COVID-19, host-mediated lung inflammation is the primary critical illness driving mortality
• Genetic variants in hosts with critical illness may reveal mechanistic targets for vaccine development / therapeutic development
• This article focuses on the results of the GenOMICC genome-wide association study (GWAS)
• Novel genome-wide significant associations are identified and replicated
• There is evidence to support a causal link from low expression of IFNAR2 and high expression of TYK2 to life-threatening disease
• The monocyte/macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19
• Both mechanisms proposed may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs
• More randomized clinical trials are needed before changing clinical practice