New research has found some people could potentially be resistant to SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19.
The report, which was published in the journal Nature Immunology on Tuesday, said understanding the genes involved could help us to better understand COVID-19 infections and could help researchers develop drugs to prevent infection in others.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that infections are unique among diseases in their potential to rapidly cause massive morbidity and mortality worldwide," the paper said.
"Throughout history, infectious diseases have imposed strong selection pressures on humans. In particular, viral pandemics, including ones caused by coronaviruses, have occurred repeatedly over the last century, and probably throughout human history."
Infectious Diseases expert Prof Kurt Krause told The AM Show on Tuesday genetic related resistance to COVID-19 "isn't such a surprise".
"We've actually found that there are genetic determinants for if you are likely to get HIV for example or if you are likely to get norovirus or malaria. But we haven't known up until now what are the specific genes that might be involved in making us more likely or less likely to get coronavirus too.
"There's been between 20-30 studies over the past two years looking over this area and they've put all the data together."
The researchers said scientists have found genes that give people natural resistance to other infections which points to the idea there may also be people resistant to COVID-19.
They said evidence already suggests people with O type blood groups may be slightly more resistant, and a number of other candidate genes have already been identified.
Watch the full interview.
