{
  "abstract": "The IFNAR2 gene encodes an essential component of the type I interferon receptor, which is essential for antiviral defense. It has been proven that the severity of COVID-19 may be influenced by the genetic variants in IFNAR2; however, the results are inconclusive in the African cohorts. Thus, in this study, we investigate the association between three IFNAR2 SNPs and the critical form of COVID-19 in the Tunisian population. A total of 413 COVID-19 patients classified as hospitalized with critical illness (ICU) (n = 46) and non-hospitalized (n = 367) are included. Genotyping of three IFNAR2 polymorphisms (rs1051393, rs2236757, rs9984273) was performed using Taq Man RT-PCR assays. rs2236757 (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.60), p = 4 × 10⁻⁴) and rs9984273 (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.22-0.76, p = 0.0055) were associated with COVID-19 severity with a potential protective effect. However, rs1051393 did not show a significant association with disease severity. Additionally, exploratory haplotype analysis suggested a possible protective association for the TAC haplotype (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.86, p = 0.036), based on a very small number of carriers and not significant after correction for multiple testing. The GAC haplotype, absent from ICU patients, yielded a continuity-corrected OR of 0.03 (95% CI [0.002-0.53]); this estimate rests on a zero cell and is hypothesis-generating only. These preliminary findings, obtained from a single-center cohort with a limited number of critically ill patients, warrant replication in larger, independent, and multicentric populations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "LR26ES05: Viral Genomics, Architecture and Functions of Macromolecules, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastir, B.P. 74, Tahar Haddad Street, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.",
    "USCR-SAG: Genetic Sequencing and Analysis, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastir, B.P. 74, Tahar Haddad Street, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.",
    "Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 380, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.",
    "Salem Ben Hassen Medical Analysis Laboratory, Avenue of 18 January 1952, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.",
    "Department of Virology, Health Sciences College, Western University, 1393 Western Road, London, ON N6G 3K7, Canada."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Abir Azri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Duaa A Althumairy",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5324-7117"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hager Memni"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Mohammed A Almalki",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0746-488X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Ikbel Hadj Hassine",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1992-7976"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Noureddine Chatti"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jawhar Gharbi",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9170-3403"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Manel Ben M'hadheb",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0145-7240"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gazd3aqj6cvx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/v18101149",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709454",
  "id": "4gazd3aqj6cvx",
  "issns": [
    "1999-4915"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944068",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222533714",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709454?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13709454",
  "pmid": "42944068",
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gazd3aqj6cvx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42944068",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944068"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Genetic Variability of IFNAR2 Gene and Risk of COVID-19 Critical Illness Among the Tunisian Population.",
  "title_text": "Genetic Variability of IFNAR2 Gene and Risk of COVID-19 Critical Illness Among the Tunisian Population.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gazd3aqj6cvx",
  "venue": "Viruses",
  "versions": []
}