Aspectos genômicos e epidemiológicos COVID-19 nas populações nativas brasileiras [Genomic and epidemiological aspects COVID-19 in native Brazilian populations]

Native American populations have been in contact with European colonists exposed to a myriad of pathogens from which they have been isolated for more than 15 centuries, since their differentiation in Beringia. Examples abound of epidemics that plagued post-contact America, leading to the extinction of diverse peoples. Recent studies involving old and current samples show a decrease in genetic variability between 50% and 90% after the arrival of Europeans. The leading cause of death in Brazilian natives today is respiratory complications from infection. Therefore, given the current epidemic of COVID-19, it is important to study these historically vulnerable populations, contributing to a better understanding of the impact of epidemics (past and present) on these populations, and to investigate the existence of genetic differentiation. in these individuals related to the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The present project intends to study COVID-19 under the genomic and epidemiological aspects in 550 individuals belonging to two native populations, Tupiniquim and Guaraní-Mbyá, resident in Espírito Santo, with different levels of exposure to urban society. Given the extensive studies in these populations over the past few decades, it will be possible to assess the evolution of the epidemic, whether the response is related to the genetic profile of these populations and what the contribution of pre-existing clinical findings (i.e. tuberculosis, diabetes) is. In addition, it will be important to transfer the findings in these native individuals to assess whether the potential for infection may be related to native ancestry in the Brazilian population.