Novel coenzyme Q6 genetic variant increases susceptibility to pneumococcal disease

Acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) remains a major worldwide cause of childhood mortality, compelling innovation in prevention and treatment. Children in Papua New Guinea (PNG) experience profound morbidity from ALRI caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. As a result of evolutionary divergence, the human PNG population exhibits profound genetic variation and diversity. To address unmet health needs of children in PNG, we tested whether genetic variants increased ALRI morbidity.

Citation:
Walker EC, Javati S, Todd EM, …….. Blyth CC, Druley TE, Kazura JW, Pomat WS, Morley SC. Novel coenzyme Q6 genetic variant increases susceptibility to pneumococcal disease. Nat Immunol. 2024.

Keywords:
Respiratory tract infection; streptococcus pneumoniae; Papua New Guinea; genetic variation

Abstract:
Acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) remains a major worldwide cause of childhood mortality, compelling innovation in prevention and treatment. Children in Papua New Guinea (PNG) experience profound morbidity from ALRI caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. As a result of evolutionary divergence, the human PNG population exhibits profound genetic variation and diversity. To address unmet health needs of children in PNG, we tested whether genetic variants increased ALRI morbidity.