IFNB1 and COVID-19: However, RAVER1 is a co-activator of MDA5 (IFIH1), which recognizes nucleic acids associated with viral infections such as dsRNAs, including SARS-CoV-2, and activates antiviral response genes, including IFNB1, ICAM1, TNF and CCL5. A large human genetic study, involving more than 49,000 COVID-19-affected individuals and 2 million control subjects, identified 13 loci in the human genome that affect COVID-19 susceptibility and severity including 6 loci previously not reported [83].