Genome-wide Association Study of Susceptibility to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization in Young Children <5 Years of age
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Worldwide, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are among the most common causes of infant hospitalization. Host genetic factors influencing the risk and severity of RSV infection are not well known. Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with severe RSV infections using a nested case-control design based on 2 Danish cohorts. We compared SNPs from 1786 children hospitalized with RSV to 45 060 controls without an RSV-coded hospitalization. We performed gene-based testing, tissue enrichment, gene-set enrichment, and a meta-analysis of the 2 cohorts. Finally, an analysis of potential associations between the severity of RSV infection and genetic markers was performed. Results: We did not detect any significant genome-wide associations between SNPs and RSV infection or the severity of RSV. We did find potential loci associated with RSV infections on chromosome 5 in 1 cohort but failed to replicate any signals in both cohorts. Conclusions: Despite being the largest GWAS of severe RSV infection, we did not detect any genome-wide significant loci. This may be an indication of a lack of power or an absence of signal. Future studies might include mild illness and need to be larger to detect any significant associations.
Authors: Egeskov-Cavling, Amanda Marie, Van Wijhe, Maarten, Yakimov, Victor, Johannesen, Caroline Klint, Pollard, Andrew, Trebbien, Ramona, Bybjerg-Grauholm, Jonas, Fischer, Thea Kølsen, Bont, Louis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Consortium in Europe (RESCEU) Investigators, CTI Bont, Infectieziekten onderzoek1 (Bont), Zorg en O&O, Child Health, Infection & Immunity
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7073833685