Immune genetics and previous common cold infections might help protect Japan from COVID-19

(Fujita Health University) By meta-analysis, experimentally determined COVID-19 virus T cell epitopes were compared with sequences of common cold coronaviruses (CCCoVs). Only one CCCoV-matching epitope was repeatedly identified as highly immunogenic, namely the CD8+ T cell epitope VYIGDPAQL ( " VYI " peptide) if presented by the MHC class I allele HLA-A*24:02. Approximately 60% of Japanese individuals carry this allele, which in combination with previous CCCoV infections might help explain the surprisingly low prevalence of COVID-19 in Japan.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news