The Neanderthal Gene which may make you susceptible to COVID-19 may also help protect you against HIV

Results from a joint study conducted by scientists in Germany and Sweden have shown that a gene, inherited from Neanderthals, can both increase our risk of developing a more severe case of COVID-19 but also reduces the risk of acquiring HIV. The study results were published the journal, ScienceDaily. 

Why do some people get sicker with the coronavirus than others? Some scientists believe that in addition to the agreed risk factors, such as age and underlying health conditions, that our “individual genetic heritage” may be at play.

In 2020, researchers from the Karolinska Institute and the Max Planck Institute studied The Neanderthal Gene, which increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and discovered that the gene is quite widespread - especially on the European continent and in South Asia.

The teams set out to discover how the gene affects other infectious diseases, including HIV. Data was analysed form 30,000 patients and their analysis showed that those who carried The Neanderthal Gene had 27% lower risk of contracting HIV.

The Neanderthal Gene is located on chromosome 3, which also contains genes that code for receptors in the immune system. HIV uses one of these receptors (CCR5) to infect immune cells. Scientists have found that people who inherit The Neanderthal Gene, which increases the risk of COVID-19, have fewer CCR5 receptors.