[Evolution of pathogenic micro-organisms as a challenge for medicine].
Successful parasitic micro-organisms are able to adapt to the circumstances of the host's organ system, and it is usually not expedient for them to kill their host. Under selection pressure, the evolution of micro-organisms is vastly quicker that that of man. The selection pressure brought about by rapid ecological changes and alterations associated with human action provides for the development of new, dangerous pathogens and transformation of familiar pathogens to become more dangerous. Progress in molecular biology has thus far not yielded as many new tools for the treatment of infectious diseases as the hopes were in the early 2000's.
Huslab, kliinisen mikrobiologian laboratorio, PL 720, 00029 HUS.
Martti
M
Vaara
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D012641:Selection, Genetic