Role of OAS1 Gene Polymorphism in the Severity of Infection in COVID-19 Patients in Babylon Province, Iraq

Abstract Background: Immunogenetics can help explain the heterogeneity of susceptibility to the viral disease progression. A candidate gene is associated with severe COVID-19, where the risk alleles are linked with decreased OAS1 expression. Objectives: The aim of this ongoing study is to investigate the polymorphism of OAS1 gene (rs1131454) with the severity of COVID-19 in local patients in urban and rural of Babylon province. Materials and Methods: In total, 140 samples of blood were obtained from urban and rural areas patients (70 samples from each) who had positive results and severe symptoms of (COVID-19) infection were provided by the medical staff of Marjan Teaching Hospital from December/2021 to February/2022. Then, blood DNA was used to amplify a partial sequence of OAS1 gene. Genotypes and alleles frequencies based on PCR-RFLP assay and gel electrophoresis. Results: The AA genotype was most common in patients inhabiting urban areas. There was a high value of odds ratio (OR) (OR = 8.9) for A allele with a significant difference ( P = 0.04) in genotype AA. The allele frequency of A allele in patients for urban area 49 (35%) was more frequent compared with rural of Babylon Province 39 (27.86%). Based on the value of OR (OR = 8.9). Conclusions: This study found that the A allele is considered a risk allele of SNP rs1131454 in OAS1 , and mutation of Guanine to Adenine (G > A) plays a role in the severity of COVID-19 infection in these populations.