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Infectious Disease & Immune Response

These articles focus on how your genes influence your body’s ability to fight off infections, respond to vaccines, and manage viral exposures.

How MBL2 gene variants reduce mannose-binding lectin and weaken the lectin complement pathway

Genetics of Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL) Deficiency

Mannose-binding lectin, also known as mannose-binding protein, is involved in the body’s innate defense against infections. Find out how genetic variants in this system increase your susceptibility to specific pathogens.

Comparison of secretor and non-secretor status and how FUT2 changes what appears in body secretions

FUT2: Check to See if You Are a Secretor or Non-Secretor

A genetic variant in the FUT2 gene controls whether or not you secrete your blood type into your saliva and other bodily fluids, such as your intestinal mucosa. This can alter the gut microbiome – but protect against Norovirus infections.

Why Lyme disease becomes chronic for some people and the gene variants involved

Chronic Lyme: Genetic Susceptibility

The interesting thing about Lyme disease is that the genetic variants you carry impact both how the disease affects you and how well antibiotics work for you. Learn whether your genetic variants are linked to post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms such as joint pain. (Member’s article)

How the ITGB3 PlA2 variant changes platelet clumping and clot formation

ITGB3: PlA1/A2 variant and clotting risk

The PlA2 variant of the ITGB3 gene is linked to an increased risk of blood clots including stroke, heart attack, and DVT. But this variant also comes with a positive trade-off with reduced risk of hantavirus infection severity.

How APOBEC3 enzymes disable viruses by mutating viral DNA

APOBEC3 Family of Genes

The APOBEC3 family of enzymes has a unique way of stopping viruses from replicating. Your genes can affect whether the virus becomes inactive or more virulent.

Flu season: Genes and Solutions

Are You Genetically Less Likely To Get The Flu?

Have you ever wondered why some people never seem to get the flu when it is going around? Simply put, some people are just more susceptible to getting the flu than others. Learn more and see if you are more or less susceptible to the flu.

TLR7: Susceptibility to COVID-19

TLR7: Susceptibility to COVID-19

In recent research, mutations in TLR7 (a sensor in our innate immune system) might cause severe Covid-19 in a small minority of healthy people.

G6PD Deficiency: How to Check Your Genes

How to Check Your Genetic Data for G6PD Deficiency

People who carry the genetic mutations that cause G6PD deficiency are at an increased risk for hemolytic anemia when taking quinine-based medications. This article is intended to be a ‘heads up’ for anyone who is considering using quinine or chloroquine without a doctor’s advice for COVID-19.

Vitamin D, Genes, and Your Immune System

Vitamin D, Genes, and Your Immune System

Vitamin D is more than just a ‘vitamin’. It is actually a hormone essential to many processes in your body – including your immune system. Learn how vitamin D helps the immune response to coronavirus, flu, and other respiratory viruses.