Molecular Advances in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)

Chow, Ken Yan Ching; Hon, Chung Chau; Hui, Raymond Kin Hi; Wong, Raymond Tsz Yeung; Yip, Chi Wai; Zeng, Fanya; Leung, Frederick Chi Ching

There is considerable scientific interest in the identification of the genetic agents responsible for the unusual susceptibility of the SARS-CoV in some ethnic groups. A molecular survey of the HLA system, a common method adopted to identify autoimmune disorders and emerging infectious diseases, was conducted in Taiwan during the SARS epidemic (84 ) . Using PCR amplification plus sequencespecific oligonucleotide probing (PCR-SSOP), researchers identified the HLA genotype of SARS patients. Healthy, unrelated Taiwanese were used as controls, and the HLA genotype of SARS patients was compared with probable cases and with high-risk, uninfected health care workers. The results indicated that a higher frequency of HLA-B*4601 allele was found in severe SARS cases, which may explain the severity of SARS in these patients. Such genotype, as stated in the report, is common in Southern Han Chinese, Singaporeans and Vietnamese, but not in indigenous Taiwanese. There was no reported SARS case within the latter ethnic group. Such findings may explain the unusual SARS epidemic in South Asia.