Full Description
This book provides a comprehensive overview of host genetic factors that influence susceptibility to infectious diseases. It deals with the role of infections as evolutionary forces, methods of identifying susceptibility genes, the role of susceptibility genes in the pathogenesis of infectious disease, as well as with the application of this knowledge in public health policy, vaccine development, and animal breeding.
Contents
Preface. Part Icontribution of host genetics to infectious disease? 2. Genetic diversity and infectious disease. 3. Co-evolutionary forces and balanced pathogenicity. 4. Mapping susceptibility loci. 5. The use of animal models and comparative genomics. 6. How to identify relevant candidate genes? Part II: Genes and gene functions influencing susceptibility to infectious disease. 7. Genes involved in attachment and entry of micro-organisms into the body. 8. Genes involved in innate immunity. 9. Genes involved in antigen processing and presentation. 10. Genes regulating immune and inflammatory responses. 11. Genes influencing lymphocyte function. 12. Genes involved in accessory effector cell function. 13. Genes involved in tissue function and integrity. 14. Infectious diseases, blood groups, and secretor status. Part III: Genetics of specific infectious and multicausal diseases. 15. Helicobacter pylori. 16. Tuberculosis. 17. Bacterial meningitis and sepsis. 18. Resistance to influenza virus. 19. Resistance to HIV/AIDS and other retroviruses. 20. Genetic factors influencing the outcome of viral hepatitis. 21. Resistance to malaria. 22. Trypanotolerance. 23. Post infection complications: the examples of reactive arthritis and Guillain-Barre syndrome. 24. Host Genes, infection, and cancer: the example of cervical cancer. 25. Genetic predisposition to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Part IV: Application of infectious disease genetics in human and veterinary medicine. 26. Use of genetic information in preventive medicine, public health, and patient treatment. 27. Pharmacogenetics in the treatment of infectious disease. 28. Genetics and the response to vaccination. 29. Improving genetic disease resistance in farm animals. 30. Infectious disease genetics in laboratory animal science. Epilogue. Acknowledgements. Subject index.
