Dynamic data-driven meta-analysis for prioritisation of host genes implicated in COVID-19
Scientific Reports, vol. 10, pp. 22303
Abstract
The increasing body of literature describing the role of host factors in COVID-19 pathogenesis demonstrates the need to combine diverse, multi-omic data to evaluate and substantiate the most robust evidence and inform development of therapies. Here we present a dynamic ranking of host genes implicated in human betacoronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, seasonal coronaviruses). We conducted an extensive systematic review of experiments identifying potential host factors. Gene lists from diverse sources were integrated using Meta-Analysis by Information Content (MAIC). This previously described algorithm uses data-driven gene list weightings to produce a comprehensive ranked list of implicated host genes. From 32 datasets, the top ranked gene was PPIA, encoding cyclophilin A, a druggable target using cyclosporine. Other highly-ranked genes included proposed prognostic factors (CXCL10, CD4, CD3E) and investigational therapeutic targets (IL1A) for COVID-19. Gene rankings also inform the interpretation of COVID-19 GWAS results, implicating FYCO1 over other nearby genes in a disease-associated locus on chromosome 3. Researchers can search and review the gene rankings and the contribution of different experimental methods to gene rank at https://baillielab.net/maic/covid19 . As new data are published we will regularly update the list of genes as a resource to inform and prioritise future studies.
Authors 11
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · Leiden University Medical Center · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Roslin Institute · Centre for Inflammation Research · The Queen's Medical Research Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
-
John Kenneth Baillie corresponding
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK. j.k.baillie@ed.ac.uk
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
-
Sara Clohisey corresponding
Roslin Institute · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK. sara.clohisey@roslin.ed.ac.uk
Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
Cited by 43 stored of 50
No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-11).