Background: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a hepatic metabolic co-product derived from dietary precursors via gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation. Although recently implicated as a critical molecular bridge relating dietary patterns to diverse systemic pathologies, the precise impact of TMAO on colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, etiology, and progression remains largely unresolved. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the associations between circulating TMAO levels and various clinical, dietary, and behavioral risk factors associated with colorectal carcinogenesis within a cohort of Moroccan patients. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients were consecutively recruited over a 12-month period from the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca and the Mohammed V Military Hospital in Rabat. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to evaluate dietary intake, nutritional patterns, lifestyle behaviors, and clinical phenotypes. Whole blood samples were collected, and serum TMAO concentrations were quantified through liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: Globally, no significant correlation was observed between circulating TMAO concentrations and the overall CRC risk. However, highly significant specific associations were identified between elevated TMAO levels and tumor localization at the Hepatic flexure. Furthermore, significant correlations emerged between TMAO concentrations and distinct CRC symptomatologies, including rectal bleeding volume, chronic diarrhea, narrowed stool caliber, tenesmus (the sensation of incomplete rectal emptying), and fatigue. Regarding dietary habits, high-protein dietary adherence was positively correlated with elevated circulating TMAO concentrations, whereas a high consumption of plant-based whole foods was inversely associated with serum TMAO concentrations. Additionally, socioeconomic status and alcohol intake were found to modulate serum TMAO profiles. Conclusion: While these findings demonstrate no direct association between circulating TMAO levels and overall CRC risk, they underscore the clinical necessity of considering dietary patterns when interpreting TMAO biomarkers in oncological cohorts. These outcomes highlight the critical imperative to develop tailored nutritional guidelines for CRC patients and to implement structured nutritional education programs within oncology centers to promote a healthy and balanced diet as an essential component of comprehensive CRC management. Keywords: Colorectal Cancer; Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites; Dietary patterns; Oncology; Morocco.

Background: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a hepatic metabolic co-product derived from dietary precursors via gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation. Although recently implicated as a critical molecular bridge relating dietary patterns to diverse systemic pathologies, the precise impact of TMAO on colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, etiology, and progression remains largely unresolved. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association between circulating TMAO levels and various clinical, dietary, and behavioral risk factors associated with colorectal carcinogenesis within a cohort of Moroccan patients. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients were consecutively recruited over a 12-month period from the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca and the Mohammed V Military Hospital in Rabat. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to evaluate dietary intake, nutritional patterns, lifestyle behaviors, and clinical phenotypes. Whole blood samples were collected, and serum TMAO concentrations were quantified through liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: Globally, no significant correlation was observed between circulating TMAO concentrations and the overall CRC risk. However, highly significant specific associations were identified between elevated TMAO levels and tumor localization at the Hepatic flexure. Furthermore, significant correlations emerged between TMAO concentrations and distinct CRC symptomatologies, including rectal bleeding volume, chronic diarrhea, narrowed stool caliber, tenesmus (the sensation of incomplete rectal emptying), and fatigue. Regarding dietary habits, high-protein dietary adherence was positively correlated with elevated circulating TMAO concentrations, whereas a high consumption of plant-based whole foods was inversely associated with serum TMAO concentrations. Additionally, socioeconomic status and alcohol intake were found to modulate serum TMAO profiles. Conclusions: While these findings demonstrate no direct association between circulating TMAO levels and overall CRC risk, they underscore the clinical necessity of considering dietary patterns when interpreting TMAO biomarkers in oncological cohorts. These outcomes highlight the critical imperative to develop tailored nutritional guidelines for CRC patients and to implement structured nutritional education programs within oncology centers to promote a healthy and balanced diet as an essential component of comprehensive CRC management. Keywords: Colorectal Cancer; Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO); Diet; Morocco.

Background: bacterial pathogens and their toxins present analytical challenges for rapid and specific detection, contributing to over 600 million cases of illness annually and worsening antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Conventional detection methods are useful but limited. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) offer alternative recognition elements with unique biochemical and engineering benefits, enabling the development of nanobody-based immunoassays and biosensing platforms that provide fast, highly selective, and reliable detection of bacterial pathogens and toxins in both food and clinical environments. Objectives: this systematic review assesses the analytical and functional performance of nanobody-based immunoassays and sensing formats for detecting bacteria and toxins across food and clinical samples. Methods: following PRISMA guidelines, major scientific databases were used to gather research, resulting in 32 eligible studies published between 2011 and 2025. Results: data collected included assay platforms, target bacteria and toxins, limit of detection, sensitivity, specificity, matrix recovery, and practicality. Risk of bias was evaluated using an adapted QUADAS-2 framework. The review shows that nanobody-based immunoassays have achieved high performance, thermostability, compatibility with genetic engineering, and versatile assay design. When combined with advanced transduction and signal amplification strategies, these systems contribute to the development of highly sensitive and user-friendly bioanalytical platforms for detecting bacteria and toxins. Conclusions: however, most studies relied on spiked samples and lacked large-scale validation, emphasizing the need for standardized benchmarking and real-world testing.

The research investigates synthetic hydroxytyrosol (HT) antiviral properties against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses using in silico and in vitro methods. Molecular docking and ADMET analyses suggested favorable interactions of HT with ceramide and sphingomyelin (binding energies of -6.0 and -5.9 kcal/mol, respectively). Favorable predicted pharmacokinetics and safety profiles were also observed. In vitro tests provided preliminary evidence of the dose- and time-dependent virucidal effect of HT against several enveloped viruses, including HSV-1, West Nile virus, SARS-CoV-2 and various influenza A subtypes, which resulted in substantial viral load decreases at 1000 µg/mL. The viral titer of the measles virus decreased by 4.62 log10 units during the 2 h of exposure. No virucidal activity was observed against the non-enveloped bovine rotavirus. Overall, these findings suggest that hydroxytyrosol may represent a promising candidate for further investigation as a virucidal agent, particularly against enveloped viruses.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of neuromeningeal multiplex PCR in the diagnosis of infectious meningitis within a pediatric hospital population. The secondary objective is to compare the diagnostic performance of this technique compared with conventional methods in order to optimize the utilization of multiplex PCR. This work is a retrospective study of 112 children (1 month–17 years) investigated for suspected meningitis between 2020 and 2025. CSF samples were analyzed using conventional methods and the multiplex PCR panel, with demographic and biological data reviewed. The study included 67 boys (60%) and 45 girls (40%) (male-to-female ratio 1.49), with a mean age of 6.67 years; children aged 3–5 years were the most represented. Laboratory activity increased over time, reaching 37 multiplex PCR analyses in 2024–2025. Multiplex PCR was positive in 18 patients (16%). Viruses accounted for 85% of pathogens, mainly Enteroviruses (65%), followed by HHV-6 (29%) and HSV-2 (6%). Three bacterial cases and two co-infections (11.1%) were identified. Most patients had normal CSF cytology (71%); among PCR-positive cases, 33% showed elevated CSF protein, with normal glucose in all samples. CRP levels were elevated to very high in 55.6% of cases. In conclusion; the integration of multiplex PCR as a first-line test in symptomatic children, regardless of CSF parameters, appears justified. It allows for the optimization of the care pathway through a reduction in hospitalization duration and unnecessary treatments.

The IFIH1 gene (interferon-induced with helicase C domain 1) plays a key role in the innate immune response, being an important cytoplasmic RNA sensor for viral pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Our study aims to investigate the association between IFIH1 gene variants and COVID-19 susceptibility among Moroccan cases. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using a multi-gene panel on 206 patients and 118 controls. From the resulting dataset, the IFIH1 gene was prioritized for in-depth investigation. Variant-level statistical analyses were carried out with MedCalc software, while in silico functional predictions were obtained using seven complementary bioinformatic algorithms. Our research revealed that the AA genotype of p.Ala946Thr polymorphism was associated to protection against COVID-19 infection (p = 0.010, OR = 0.3667 [0.17–0.7908], under the dominant (p = 0.026, OR = 0.4830 [0.2539–0.9187]) and additive (p = 0.011, OR = 0.6073 [0.4137–0.8915]) models. In addition, we identified several novel rare variants in IFIH1. Notably, p.Lys349Arg, p.Arg386His, p.Val404Ala, p.Pro666Ser, and p.Asp673IlefsTer5 were seen in severe COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, p.Ile146Val, p.Gln378His, p.Gly427Glu, p.Gly494Val, p.Thr702Ile, p.Ala788Thr, p.Pro866Leu, p.Ile923Val, and p.Gln955Glu were identified among milder cases. Variants p.Gly494Val, p.Ala788Thr, and p.Pro866Leu were consistently identified as deleterious by most prediction tools, whereas p.Lys349Arg, p.Val404Ala, p.Gly427Glu, and p.Ile923Val showed conflicting predictions, indicating possible pathogenicity or uncertain significance. Collectively, rare IFIH1 variants displayed a cumulative protective effect against susceptibility to severe COVID-19. Our findings emphasize the important implication of candidate IFIH1 variants as genetic modulators in COVID-19 immunopathogenesis.

Radiotherapy (RT) remains a cornerstone of lung cancer (LC) management, serving as either a definitive treatment or an adjuvant modality following surgical resection. Nevertheless, a major challenge for radiation oncologists is the emergence of radioresistance, whether intrinsic or acquired, which contributes to therapeutic failure, tumor recurrence, metastasis and ultimately to increased patient mortality. Radioresistance is a multifactorial process driven by genetic and epigenetic alterations that dysregulate key signal transduction pathways, enabling cancer cells to survive and adapt under radiotherapeutic stress. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying radioresistance is therefore essential to identify robust biomarkers for patient stratification, prognostication and therapeutic targeting. Such insights could enable individualized treatment strategies within the framework of precision oncology and inform the development of novel radiosensitization approaches to overcome resistance in LC. The present review synthesized current evidence on molecular biomarkers associated with RT resistance in LC.

Background: The Moroccan Good Practice Guide for Laboratory Analyses (GBEA) provides the normative framework ensuring good practices and quality assurance within clinical laboratories. While some laboratories rely solely on the GBEA as their quality assurance framework, others opt for certification or accreditation to strengthen their quality management system. This study aims to explore the status of adherence to the GBEA requirements by private clinical laboratories in the Fez-Meknes region during the second half of 2025. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional quantitative study assessing compliance, consisting of measuring the degree of compliance of the structures investigated with a predefined regulatory framework (GBEA). The data collection period lasted six months, from July to December 2025, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20 software. Results: The participating laboratories (n=30) answered all questions. Laboratories with years of experience seem to have the highest rates, unlike laboratories with less than five years, which have the lowest rates, with p<0.001. Six laboratories had the highest rates, ranging from 92% to 100%, while the lowest compliance rates were between 50% and 54.5%. Challenging aspects for laboratories are quality control, documentation, procedures for recording equipment reagents and consumables, as well as procedures for accessing and using the premises. Conclusions: Although the GBEA is a legislative and regulatory framework covering good practice and quality assurance in Moroccan laboratories, it is intended to be reinforced by an explanatory guide on standardized procedures and processes, staff training and monitoring through scheduled audits, to help laboratories establish a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Acute respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and hospitalisation in children. In this context, respiratory multiplex Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a rapid molecular tool enabling the simultaneous identification of several pathogens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of multiplex PCR in paediatric respiratory infections, to describe the epidemiological profile of the patients managed, and to analyse the concordance between PCR results and certain commonly used biological markers, notably C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count. This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat. It included 125 children under the age of 5, hospitalised between September 2021 and September 2025. Respiratory samples were analysed using the FilmArray Respiratory Panel, enabling the simultaneous detection of 16 viruses and 4 bacteria. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from the DX Lab software. Of the 125 samples analysed, 90 were positive, representing a positivity rate of 72%. In total, 122 pathogens were identified. Viral infections were overwhelmingly predominant, dominated by Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Bacterial detections were rare. Co-infections were present in more than a third of the positive samples, primarily in the form of viral combinations. Biologically, nearly half of patients with a positive PCR result had normal CRP levels, while the majority had a white blood cell count appropriate for their age, with no systematic correlation with PCR positivity. Respiratory multiplex PCR thus appears to be a highly effective diagnostic tool in the management of paediatric respiratory infections. It enables rapid and reliable identification of infectious agents, improves therapeutic management and may help to limit the inappropriate use of antibiotics. These results support its value in the hospital management of respiratory infections in children in Morocco.

HIV-1 drug resistance remains a critical challenge for long-term treatment effectiveness, particularly in settings characterized by diverse viral subtypes and evolving treatment histories. We investigated the prevalence, patterns, and molecular distribution of transmitted and acquired HIV-1 drug-resistance mutations in a Moroccan cohort. A cross-sectional molecular study was performed on HIV-1–infected individuals monitored at the CVMIT in Rabat from 2024 to 2025. Demographic, clinical, and virological data were collected retrospectively from medical records. The HIV-1 pol gene was amplified and sequenced. Drug-resistance mutations were interpreted using the Stanford HIVdb v9.8 algorithm, and resistance profiles were examined by drug class, resistance level, treatment history, and viral subtype. Major surveillance drug-resistance mutations were detected in 3 of 38 ART-naïve individuals (7.9

IntroductionCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is generally self-limited in immunocompetent adults. Arterial thromboembolic complications are exceedingly rare and represent fewer than five of the ~113 cases of CMV-associated thrombosis documented in the world literature.Case PresentationA 47-year-old immunocompetent diabetic woman developed simultaneous thromboses of the coronary, bilateral renal, splenic, iliac, and popliteal arteries, bilateral sylvian ischemic strokes, and CMV encephalitis confirmed by MRI and plasma PCR (4.01 log copies/mL). Skin biopsy demonstrated leukocytoclastic vasculitis. All conventional thrombotic etiologies were excluded. She was treated with intravenous ganciclovir for six weeks, anticoagulation, and clopidogrel, with favorable outcome including PCR negativation and renal stabilization.ConclusionThis case illustrates the capacity of CMV to induce severe, multifocal arterial thromboembolism with direct cerebral involvement in immunocompetent patients. CMV should be systematically considered in any febrile unexplained arterial thrombosis, and skin biopsy of associated cutaneous lesions may provide early histological evidence of the underlying vascular inflammatory process.

Introduction: Morocco has made substantial progress in expanding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and treatment, yet longitudinal data on immuno-virologic outcomes remain limited. Objective: We sought to define the clinical profile at presentation and analyze long-term immuno-virologic outcomes under expanding integrase inhibitor-based treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with confirmed HIV-1 infection who initiated antiretroviral therapy at the Center of Virology, Infectious, and Tropical Diseases at the Military Training Hospital between 2017 and 2025. Demographic, clinical, immunological, and virological data were collected at baseline and throughout follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Results: Late presentation was common: 35.7% presented with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage C, and 41.5% had CD4 < 200 cells/& micro;L. Women had higher baseline cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) counts than men (416 vs. 250 cells/ & micro;L; p = 0.001), whereas men displayed higher viral loads (1.19 & times; 10(5) vs. 5.51 & times; 10(4) copies/mL; p = 0.005). Opportunistic infections remained substantial, including cytomegalovirus (16.5%), tuberculosis (12.5%), and toxoplasmosis (5.8%). First-line therapy was initially non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based in half of the patients, but rapid national adoption of updated guidelines led to 93.8% receiving dolutegravir plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors at the last follow-up. Viral loads declined sharply within the first month, with most patients achieving and maintaining suppression from months 6-12 onward. CD4 counts rose from a median of 279 cells/& micro;L at baseline to 560 at year 3, peaking at 610 at year 5 before stabilizing. Conclusion: Morocco's transition to dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy has produced durable virologic control and robust immune recovery. Persistent late diagnosis, sex-based disparities, and limited access to genotyping remain major obstacles. Strengthening early testing, expanding molecular monitoring, and enhancing differentiated care services will be essential to sustain national progress.

This study investigates the evolution and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in Morocco to track the spread, clade distributions and mutations of the virus across various regions from February 2020 to June 2024. The genome sequences were retrieved from the GISAID database. A total of 2630 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were analyzed using bioinformatic tools such as Nextclade, followed by phylogenetic and statistical analyses. The study highlights the predominance of the GRA clade (Omicron variant) since November 2021, while clades such as G, GH, GR, and GRY were identified earlier. The GRA clade exhibited the highest number of non-synonymous mutations, particularly in the Spike (S) gene, suggesting strong evolutionary pressure. The correlation analysis between structural and non-structural proteins revealed key interactions between S and NSP5, providing insights into the viral replication and assembly processes. This work gives new insights to the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco and underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance to respond to emerging variants and potential future outbreaks.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity in immunocompromised patients, particularly those living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This study describes the clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic challenges of CMV infection in HIV patients in Morocco. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on seventeen (17) HIV patients with CMV infection, diagnosed by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Clinical, virological (HIV and CMV viral load, CD4 count), and therapeutic data were subsequently analysed. The mean age was 43 ± 10.7 years, with male predominance (94.1%). Digestive manifestations (29.4%) were the most frequent, followed by respiratory and neurological involvement (17.6% each). The mean CD4 count was 65.4 ± 56.2 cells/mm³. The mean CMV viral load was 2.39 ± 0.74 Log and the mean HIV viral load was 4.10 ± 1.55 Log. Antiviral therapy for CMV could not be initiated in 47% of patients due to its unavailability. The outcome was favorable in 88.2% of patients, with a mortality rate of 11.8%. In conclusion; CMV infection in HIV patients in Morocco occurs in the context of severe immunosuppression and presents with a varied clinical spectrum, dominated by digestive pathologies. Real-time PCR remains crucial for diagnosis. The unavailability of antiviral drugs constitutes a major challenge for management, highlighting the need to improve access to treatments in resource-limited settings.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous and multifactorial malignancy driven by a series of genetic and epigenetic alterations. In this field, telomere/telomerase dysfunction contributes to CRC carcinogenesis by impairing genomic stability and cellular replication. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate genetic and epigenetic alterations in CRC by examining mutation rates in the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter region, relative telomere length (RTL), hTERT gene expression, and DNA methylation in the TERT hypermethylated oncological region (THOR). Methods: A total of 45 CRC and 34 adjacent normal tissue samples from Moroccan patients were analyzed using molecular approaches, such as Sanger sequencing, quantitative PCR (qPCR), reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR), and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Results: No mutations in the hTERT promoter region were identified. However, hypermethylation in the THOR region was reported in 82.2% of CRC samples and 79.4% of adjacent normal tissues. High hTERT expression was detected in 50% of CRC patients. In addition, telomere length was significantly shorter (p=0.002) in cancerous tissues (1.41 [1.36 – 1.43]) compared to normal mucosa (1.559 [1.46 – 1.63]), with an RTL ratio less than 1 (0.90 [0.86 – 0.95]). No significant differences were found between clinicopathological features and hTERT expression, THOR methylation, or RTL, except for a significant correlation between THOR hypermethylation and smaller tumor size (p=0.017) and between THOR methylation and RTL in CRC tissues (p=0.034). Conclusion: These results suggest that telomere lengthening is crucial for CRC initiation and progression, and cancer cells tend to shorten telomeres to maintain the chromosomal instability (CIN) required for tumor progression. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying telomere shortening in CRC and understand the role of telomerase/telomere complex in CRC initiation and progression, which could provide new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets.

Background: The global health challenge of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection demands an in-depthevaluation of TB treatment's safety and efficacy in individuals, regardless of their HIV status.Objective: This study critically examines the literature to determine the effectiveness of anti-TB therapies among HIV-positive and HIV-negativepatients.Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature by searching databases such as Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, and the CochraneCentral Register up to 30 August 2023. Using RAYYAN.AI for initial screening and the R programming language for meta-analysis, we extractedand analysed outcome data, focusing on treatment success and mortality rates. The analysis included heterogeneity assessment via the I² test and biasrisk evaluation via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

The goal of our study was to explore the association of the polymorphisms in the JAK/STAT pathway among Moroccan COVID-19 patients, using a case-control approach. Next-generation sequencing was employed to investigate the IFNAR1, IFNAR2, JAK1, TYK2, STAT2, and IRF9 genes within the JAK/STAT pathway. We also performed an in silico study to examine the rare variants in this pathway. Statistical analyses were conducted using MedCalc software. Protein 3D structures were determined via the I-TASSER server, with variant structures generated using PyMOL. YASARA View allowed local 3D analysis comparing native and variant structures for pathogenic rare variants.The study encompassed 206 COVID-19 patients, averaging 45.70 ± 12.73 years and a control group (N=118). Among the examined genes, 15 common polymorphisms and 7 rare variants were identified. Adjustment for age and gender revealed a significant association between TYK2 p.Gly363Ser (p=0.036) and COVID-19 infection, where the GA variant exhibited protective effects (0.6361 [0.3405–1.1884], p=0.035). Additionally, STAT2 p.Met594Ile showed an association to COVID-19 risk (p=0.042), with heterozygous GC being linked to infection (p=0.037, OR=2.7135 [0.5684 -12.9532]). Notably, IFNAR1 p.Val168Leu mutated C allele was significantly associated with reduced susceptibility to COVID-19 severity (p=0.028, OR=0.5936 [0.3725 – 0.9461]), under the additive model (p=0.045, OR=0.626 [0.3958 – 0.9899]).Rare variants IFNAR1 p.Trp318Cys, p.Ser476Phe, and IFNAR2 p.Cys271Tyr were predicted deleterious, impacting protein structure via hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction alterations. Burden analysis of rare variants revealed a protective cumulative effect against COVID-19 severity for TYK2 (p=0.0013, OR=0.1438 [0.04237 – 0.4803]) under the dominant model.This study underscores the role of genetic factors in COVID-19 susceptibility and advocates further explorations regarding functional impacts of JAK/STAT pathway rare variants.

SARS-CoV-2 infection manifests in a wide range of clinical outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms to severe forms of COVID-19. This variability highlights the influence of various factors, such as age, gender, and pre-existing health conditions. Additionally, exploring genetic factors can offer valuable insights into the mechanisms and pathogenesis of COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate the possible link between genetic variants in the complement system (MBL2, MASP2, and CCL2), pulmonary fibrosis (MUC5B and TERT), and the ABO system (ABO and FUT2) and susceptibility to infection or severe outcomes of COVID-19 in a Moroccan cohort. Our case–control study involved 324 participants, consisting of 101 asymptomatic or experienced mild symptoms, 105 presented moderate to severe symptoms, and 118 healthy controls negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The 324 samples were analyzed using gene-panel next-generation sequencing (NGS) that included eight genes. A total of 139 variants were identified, including 99 in MUC5B, 12 in ABO, 9 in FUT2, 9 in MASP2, 7 in TERT, and 3 in MBL2. Only variants with a minor allele frequency (MAF) > 10