bioRxivGenomicsPreprint
The MERS-CoV receptor gene is among COVID-19 risk factors inherited from Neandertals
Abstract
In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, two genetic regions derived from Neandertals have been shown to increase and decrease, respectively, the risk of falling severely ill upon infection. Here, we show that 2-8% of people in Eurasia carry a variant promoter region of the DPP4 gene inherited from Neandertals. This gene encodes an enzyme that serves as a receptor for the coronavirus MERS-CoV and is currently not believed to be a receptor for SARS-CoV-2. However, the Neandertal DPP4 variant doubles the risk to become critically ill in COVID-19.
- Citations
- 10
Reproducibility ledger
Nobody has reported trying to reproduce this paper yet. Did you replicate an experiment or run the code? Your report saves the next lab a week.
Sign in to file a reproducibility report.
Related papers
- A genetic variant protective for COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals
Hugo Zeberg, Svante Pääbo·bioRxiv·Oct 5, 2020
- The major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals
Hugo Zeberg, Svante Pääbo·NaturePeer-reviewed·Sep 30, 2020
- COVID-19 genetic risk and Neanderthals: A case study highlighting the importance of scrutinizing diversity
Inken Wohlers, Verónica Calonga‐Solís, … Hauke S. Busch·bioRxiv·Nov 2, 2020
- Regulatory dissection of the severe COVID-19 risk locus introgressed by Neanderthals
Evelyn Jagoda, Davide Marnetto, … Terence Dante Capellini·eLifePeer-reviewed·Jan 27, 2023
- Q1020R in the spike proteins of MERS-CoV from Arabian camels and recent human cases confers resistance against soluble human DPP4
Nianzhen Chen, Hannah Kleine‐Weber, … Stefan Pöhlmann·bioRxiv·Jun 17, 2025
- Reduced DPP4 Binding Confers Resistance to Soluble DPP4 While Preserving MERS-CoV Entry into Cells Expressing High Levels of DPP4
Nianzhen Chen, Stefan Pöhlmann, Markus Hoffmann·bioRxiv·Sep 20, 2026