GABPA and COVID-19: While BACH1-specific COVID-19 SNP data are lacking, the pathway is mechanistically relevant in SARS-CoV-2: HO-1 induction (a BACH1-controlled node) displays antiviral and cytoprotective activity, and multiple clinical and experimental datasets position HO-1 (and related heme-axis biomarkers) as severity/outcome biomarkers—supporting the idea that individuals with BACH1/NRF2 settings favoring higher HO-1 may fare better (Sun et al., 2002; Hou et al., 2008).