title: The Red Queen's long race: human adaptation to pathogen pressure.
abstract: Pathogens, and the infectious diseases they cause, have been paramount among the threats encountered by humans in their expansions throughout the globe. Numerous studies have identified immunity and host defence genes as being among the functions most strongly targeted by selection, most likely pathogen-driven. The dissection of the form and intensity of such selective pressures have increased our knowledge of the biological relevance of the underlying immunological mechanisms in host defence. Although the identities of the specific infectious agents imposing these selective pressures remain, in most cases, elusive, the impact of several pathogens, notably malaria and cholera, has been described. However, past selection against infectious diseases may have some fitness costs upon environmental changes, potentially leading to maladaptation and immunopathology.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Evolutionary Genetics, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France; CNRS URA3012, Paris 75015, France.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Siddle
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Evolutionary Genetics, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France; CNRS URA3012, Paris 75015, France. Electronic address: quintana@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quintana-Murci
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D056084:Genetic Fitness / Q000235:genetics; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic