Role of TLR2 rs5743708 and dectin-1 rs16910526 polymorphisms in susceptibility to fungal infections in COVID-19 patients

Karzan Abdulmuhsin Mohammad; Hero M. Ismael; Shukur Wasman Smail; Taban Kamal Rasheed; Mohammed O. Rahman; Niaz Albarzinji; Rebaz Hamza Salih; Kalthum Othman Taha; Khawlah Salah Khaleel; Kawa Amin; Christer Janson

doi:10.5114/ceji.2025.149165

eISSN: 1644-4124
ISSN: 1426-3912

Central European Journal of Immunology

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abstract:

Original paper

Role of TLR2 rs5743708 and dectin-1 rs16910526 polymorphisms in susceptibility to fungal infections in COVID-19 patients

Karzan Abdulmuhsin Mohammad

¹

,

Hero M. Ismael

¹

,

Shukur Wasman Smail

^{1, 2}

,

Taban Kamal Rasheed

¹

,

Mohammed O. Rahman

³

,

Niaz Albarzinji

⁴

,

Rebaz Hamza Salih

⁵

,

Kalthum Othman Taha

¹

,

Khawlah Salah Khaleel

¹

,

Kawa Amin

^{6, 7}

,

Christer Janson

⁶

Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
College of Pharmacy, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Science, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
PAR Private Hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Department of Medical Science, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University and University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Cent Eur J Immunol 2025; 50 (1)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ceji.2025.149165

Online publish date: 2025/05/05

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Introduction:
The progression of fungal co-infection with COVID-19 depends on the patient’s genetic innate immunity. Our goal is to understand the connection between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs5743708 and rs16910526 in the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and dectin-1 (CLEC7A) genes, respectively, and fungal infection in COVID-19 patients.

Material and methods:
This study assessed the SNPs rs5743708 from the TLR2 gene and rs16910526 from dectin-1 by Sanger sequencing. Two groups of COVID-19 patients participated in this study: 110 COVID-19 patients free from fungal infection (COVID-19 FFI), and 77 COVID-19 patients with fungal infection (COVID-19 WFI).

Results:
The AG genotype of the TLR2 SNP rs5743708 showed no significant association with fungal infection in COVID-19 compared to the AA genotype. However, the GG genotype and G allele were significantly associated with decreased vulnerability to fungal co-infections. Similarly, regarding the dectin-1 SNP rs16910526, the TG genotype did not show a significant association with fungal infection compared to the TT genotype, but the GG genotype and G allele were significantly related to decreased susceptibility to fungal co-infections in COVID-19. The TLR2 protein levels in the serum of COVID-19 patients with GG genotypes of TLR2 rs5743708 were elevated. Variations in the dectin-1 genotypes (specifically GG genotype) can also raise the levels of dectin-1 serum protein.

Conclusions:
The relationship between TLR2 rs5743708 and dectin-1 rs16910526 SNPs and susceptibility to fungal infection in COVID-19 patients was found to be significant, highlighting the im- portance of investigating their connection to infection progression for personalized patient care. The variation in genotypes also affects the levels of corresponding serum TLR2 and dectin-1.

keywords:

Role of TLR2 rs5743708 and dectin-1 rs16910526 polymorphisms in susceptibility to fungal infections in COVID-19 patients

Karzan Abdulmuhsin Mohammad 1 , Hero M. Ismael 1 , Shukur Wasman Smail 1, 2 , Taban Kamal Rasheed 1 , Mohammed O. Rahman 3 , Niaz Albarzinji 4 , Rebaz Hamza Salih 5 , Kalthum Othman Taha 1 , Khawlah Salah Khaleel 1 , Kawa Amin 6, 7 , Christer Janson 6

COVID-19, TLR2, dectin-1, polymorphism, susceptibility, fungal coinfection