Findings from Australian-led study may explain why some don’t get Covid-19 symptoms

Research published in journal Nature uncovers first genetic link to strong immunity against the illness

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An Australian-led research team has uncovered the first genetic link to strong immunity against Covid-19, which may help to explain why some people never develop any symptoms of the illness.

A person who carries one copy of the protective HLA-B15 gene is twice as likely to remain asymptomatic after infection with the Sars CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, while someone who carries two copies of the gene is eight times more likely to have no symptoms, the research, published on Thursday in the journal Nature, found.

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