Susceptibility of the Iranian population to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection based on variants of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2

Mohebbi, Alireza; Askari, Fatemeh Sana; Ebrahimi, Mohsen; Zakeri, Mana; Yasaghi, Mohammad; Bagheri, Hanieh; Javid, Naeme

Background: Variations in the viral receptor human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may specify the susceptibility of a certain population to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Objective: Evaluation of the affinity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike glycoprotein to the Iranian genetic variants of ACE2. Materials & methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms of ACE2 among the Iranian population were collected from the Iranome database. Missense mutations in the N-terminal peptidase domain were selected for in silico analysis. Results: 17 missense single nucleotide polymorphisms were found at ACE2. Viral glycoprotein had the lowest affinity to ACE2 mutant V485L. Discussion: The V485L variant of ACE2 could be a natural resistance mutation among the Iranian population. In addition, variant S331F can increase slightly the susceptibility to infection with the virus.