Brazilian Scientists Discover Gene Offering Resistance to COVID-19 Infection

Brazilian researchers have identified the IFIT3 gene as a potential shield against COVID-19. Their groundbreaking study, analyzing resistant women in infected couples, opens doors to innovative antiviral therapies that could strengthen immune defenses against SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.

A Breakthrough Discovery in COVID-19 Resistance

These women, who never showed symptoms despite being in close contact with their infected partners, are a testament to the resilience of the human body in the face of a pandemic.

The study, published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, is crucial for understanding natural resistance to SARS-CoV-2. Mateus Vidigal, the lead author, said it’s unlikely that the women were not exposed to the virus, as they were in close contact with their infected partners.

IFIT3 is already known for fighting viruses like dengue and hepatitis B. This gene was found to show “greater expression” in the cells of the resistant women. This increased activity stopped the virus from making copies of itself. The women stayed healthy because the virus could not spread in their bodies.

How the IFIT3 Gene Works

The IFIT3 gene encodes a protein that binds to the RNA of invading viruses, stopping replication in its tracks. In the case of COVID-19, the virus’s ability to infect additional cells and advance the disease is significantly curtailed.

Vidigal clarified that these women were indeed infected but noted, “The virus barely multiplied inside their cells, which is why they didn’t develop symptoms or the disease itself.”

The research team began their work in 2020, at the onset of the pandemic that has claimed around 700,000 lives in Brazil alone. By examining the genetic material of 86 couples, they identified six in which only one partner—always the woman—remained asymptomatic despite prolonged exposure.

Researchers collected new blood samples in 2022 after the couples had experienced a second wave of infections and received two COVID-19 vaccine doses. The results were consistent: the resistant women still exhibited higher IFIT3 gene expression than their husbands and a control group of women who had developed COVID-19.

Implications for Antiviral Therapies

The discovery of the IFIT3 gene’s protective traits opens up exciting possibilities for future antiviral treatments, offering hope for strengthening the body’s natural defenses against COVID-19 and other pathogens.

Professor Edecio Cunha from USP’s Faculty of Medicine underscores the importance of understanding how IFIT3’s expression increases. This knowledge could lead to the development of drugs that bolster the natural immune system in at-risk individuals, a promising avenue for future research.

Possible uses include creating medicines that copy or increase the gene’s activity. Such treatments give extra protection to those at very high risk of severe COVID-19 or other viral diseases.

Next Steps and Broader Impacts

While the study’s findings are groundbreaking, they also raise critical questions. Why do some individuals naturally express higher levels of IFIT3? Are there genetic, environmental, or lifestyle factors at play? Answering these questions is essential for the researchers now. Vidigal and his team are studying if this phenomenon happens in other groups. Other populations might show similar genetic resistance. Discovering these groups could change public health methods a lot. It could help in planning specific actions for future pandemics.

This discovery also highlights how vital genetic research is in understanding diseases. Finding the body’s natural defenses helps experts develop new prevention and treatment ways. These could go beyond vaccines and usual antiviral medicines. The world is still recovering from the horrible effects of COVID-19. This study brings a small but nice hope. Using genes like IFIT3 might change how we fight not just SARS-CoV-2 but other viruses too. It might save many lives in the future.

A New Era of Personalized Medicine

Identifying the IFIT3 gene represents a shift toward personalized medicine, where treatments can be tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup. Patients with low levels of protective genes might benefit from special therapies that strengthen their immune systems. This discovery matters for vaccine development.

Scientists’ understanding of how IFIT3 provides resistance could help create vaccines. These vaccines would mimic natural defenses, which could provide very strong protection against new virus strains.

Findings could influence global health policies in the future. This matters for regions with limited vaccines or antiviral drugs. Healthcare systems might use genetic knowledge to discover cheaper ways to strengthen immunity. These solutions would apply to different groups of people.

Cunha said, “Understanding IFIT3 is not just about COVID-19. It involves revealing our immune system’s secrets to protect humanity from future pandemics.”

A Bright Future in Medicine

The IFIT3 story displays the power of human creativity during new challenges. Researchers keep discovering its wonders, and the opportunity to change medicine becomes clearer. Continued support from groups such as Fapesp might show IFIT3 as a crucial moment in the fight against infectious diseases.

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The journey has just begun, but the first steps have already been taken. Six women inspired this discovery with their genetic resistance. Their stories remind us of our bodies’ incredible power to defend us. There is hidden potential waiting to be discovered.