Association of HLA‐B22 serotype with SARS‐CoV‐2 susceptibility in Hong Kong Chinese patients

Yung, Yuk‐Lin; Cheng, Chi‐Keung; Chan, Hoi‐Yun; Xia, Jenny T.; Lau, Kin‐Mang; Wong, Raymond S. M.; Wu, Alan K. L.; Chu, Raymond W.; Wong, Alice C. C.; Chow, Eudora Y. D.; Yip, Sze‐Fai; Leung, Jennifer N. S.; Lee, Cheuk‐Kwong; Ng, Margaret H. L.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a highly infectious disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. Since its first report in December 2019, COVID‐19 has evolved into a global pandemic causing massive healthcare and socioeconomic challenges. HLA system is critical in mediating anti‐viral immunity and recent studies have suggested preferential involvement of HLA‐B in COVID‐19 susceptibility. Here, by investigating the HLA‐B genotypes in 190 unrelated Chinese patients with confirmed COVID‐19, we identified a significant positive association between the B22 serotype and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (p = 0.002, Bonferroni‐corrected p = 0.032). Notably, the B22 serotype has been consistently linked to susceptibility to other viral infections. These data not only shed new insights into SARS‐CoV‐2 pathogenesis and vaccine development but also guide better infection prevention/control.