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.

Substantial evidence exists that host genes are important in determining the outcome of infection with mycobacteria and other intracellular pathogens. Geographical variation in the prevalence of malaria has facilitated the recognition of many genes important in determining interindividual variability in susceptibility to the severe forms of this infection. This success has, however, been difficult to achieve in other infectious diseases. Recently a variety of study designs including large-scale association-based population case/control studies of candidate genes, family-based linkage studies, investigation of rare individuals with exceptional mycobacterial susceptibility and comparison with mouse models of disease has enabled identification of host genes which contribute to susceptibility to mycobacterial disease. This work demonstrates that a large number of genes are probably important in susceptibility to mycobacterial pathogens and provides a model for the investigation of genetic susceptibility to other infectious diseases.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Curr Opin Immunol

Publication Date

08/1998

Volume

10

Pages

483 - 487

Keywords

Animals, Carrier Proteins, Cation Transport Proteins, Collectins, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, HLA Antigens, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Macrophages, Membrane Proteins, Mice, Mycobacterium Infections, Receptors, Calcitriol, Receptors, Chemokine, Receptors, Interferon