title: Genetic predisposition to infectious pathogens: a review of less familiar variants.
abstract: The susceptibility and clinical manifestations of infectious diseases in human populations are influenced by a variety of factors, among them host genetics. Obvious examples for the effect of host genetics on predisposition to unique infections are the primary immunodeficiency diseases. Minor gene variants that influence the host immune system are much more common. The iceberg model can be used to illustrate the epidemiology of immunodeficiency states. Accordingly only a few individuals have known and severe recognized primary immunodeficiencies, whereas many more patients have mild immunodeficiencies that may remain undiagnosed and are predisposed to a unique infectious disease. We review some of the less common variants that influence the host defense and predispose to certain infectious agents or change their outcome.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Raz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somech
authors.forename: Ninette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amariglio
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Spirer
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rechavi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index