Title: “COVID-19 genomes and proteomes: Neanderthals to the Rescue.” 

Abstract: Circulating proteins are favourable drug targets and might be helpful in drug development to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes. To identify circulating proteins influencing COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, we undertook a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, rapidly scanning hundreds of circulating proteins while reducing bias due to reverse causation and confounding. In up to 14,134 cases and 1.2 million controls, we found that an s.d. increase in OAS1 levels was associated with reduced COVID-19 death or ventilation, hospitalization and susceptibility. Measuring OAS1 levels in 504 individuals, we found that higher plasma OAS1 levels in a non-infectious state were associated with reduced COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Further analyses suggested that a Neanderthal isoform of OAS1 in individuals of European ancestry affords this protection. Thus, evidence from MR and a case–control study support a protective role for OAS1 in COVID-19 adverse outcomes. Available pharmacological agents that increase OAS1 levels could be prioritized for drug development. 

Biography: Brent Richards is a Professor at McGill University and a Senior Lecturer at King’s College London, UK. Prof Richards focuses on understanding the genetic determinants of common diseases. He and his colleagues have identified some of the genes that influence these diseases, publishing these findings in Nature, Nature Genetics and other journals. Prof Richards has also used Mendelian randomization to better understand the role of biomarkers, such as vitamin D, in disease. 

His work has been recognized through election as a Member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, and the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Foundation Grant. 

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