IFI27 and COVID-19: In contrast to the above, others report that there is no difference in the expression of IFI27 and IFITM3 between severe and mild samples [38] and a study that is currently under peer review supports that the alterations in gene expression reflect only local activity of IFI27 in the lower respiratory tract, as in the lung tissue of deceased individuals suffering COVID-19, IFI27 was upregulated and the overexpression is correlated with high viral load [94].