These data demonstrate that host genetic factors can influence the clinical manifestations of acute HIV-1 infection and provide a functional link between HLA-B57 and viral immune control.

Men present more frequently with severe manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and are at higher risk for death. The underlying mechanisms for these differences between female and male individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are insufficiently understood. However, studies from other viral infections have shown that females can mount stronger immune responses against viruses than males. Emerging knowledge on the basic biological pathways that underlie differences in immune responses between women and men needs to be incorporated into research efforts on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and pathology to identify targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing antiviral immune function and lung airway resilience while reducing pathogenic inflammation in COVID-19.

Highlights d TLR7, CYBB, RPS6KA3, BTK, and IL13RA1 can escape XCI in human pDCs d Female pDCs with escape from XCI have higher mRNA levels of the respective genes d pDCs with escape from XCI of TLR7 have higher IFNa/b mRNA levels