Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Genetic variation in the host has a substantial influence on the course of infectious diseases caused by many microorganisms. Such interactions have been well studied in humans because the pathogens and the host genome are well characterized. In recent years, the methodology and techniques available for analyzing human genetic variation have advanced rapidly, leading to the identification of a large number of genes associated with altered susceptibility to infectious pathogens. Entire human genome sequences and millions of mapped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provide a powerful resource for molecular analysis of differential susceptibility. Although many genes have already been associated with susceptibility to various diseases, it is likely that these represent only a small fraction of all the relevant genes. Indeed, susceptibility to most infectious diseases in humans is likely to be highly polygenic, and the identification of susceptibility and resistance genes is providing new insights into disease pathogenesis and resistance mechanisms. Conversely, it appears increasingly likely that a substantial proportion of the functional variation in the human genome has evolved to facilitate defense against infectious pathogens, leading to the observed polygenic variation in susceptibility among individuals and different human populations.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-323-48255-4.00010-2

Type

Book title

Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 9th Edition: Volume 1-2

Publication Date

01/01/2019

Volume

1

Pages

123 - 131.e4