Gene for SARS susceptibility found (New Scientist)

The gene variant is prevalent in people of south Chinese origin, so the discovery may help explain why the disease rampaged across southeast Asia emerging in China's southern Guangdong province in November 2002.
The gene produces a protein called HLA-B*4601, which is linked to the immune response and has been linked to a raised risk of suffering more life-threatening reactions to SARS.