SARS gene found
Oct 06, 2003
A gene variant that may make people particularly susceptible to the deadly SARS virus, has been identified by scientists in Taiwan
A gene variant that may make people particularly susceptible to the deadly SARS virus, has been identified by scientists in Taiwan.
London - The gene variant is prevalent in people of south Chinese origin, so the discovery may help explain why the disease rampaged across southeast Asia emerging in China’s southern Guangdong province in November 2002.
The gene produces a protein called HLA-B*4601, which is linked to the immune response and has been linked to a raised risk of suffering more life-threatening reactions to SARS.
“We have discovered that most of the people infected with SARS are from southern China and southeast Asia and that the gene is related to their susceptibility to SARS infection,†said Marie Lin, who led the study at Taipei’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. The scientists stress that their results needed to be confirmed by other studies.
New Scientist
London - The gene variant is prevalent in people of south Chinese origin, so the discovery may help explain why the disease rampaged across southeast Asia emerging in China’s southern Guangdong province in November 2002.
The gene produces a protein called HLA-B*4601, which is linked to the immune response and has been linked to a raised risk of suffering more life-threatening reactions to SARS.
“We have discovered that most of the people infected with SARS are from southern China and southeast Asia and that the gene is related to their susceptibility to SARS infection,†said Marie Lin, who led the study at Taipei’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. The scientists stress that their results needed to be confirmed by other studies.
New Scientist