title: Global research priorities for infections that affect the nervous system.
abstract: Infections that cause significant nervous system morbidity globally include viral (for example, HIV, rabies, Japanese encephalitis virus, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, dengue virus and chikungunya virus), bacterial (for example, tuberculosis, syphilis, bacterial meningitis and sepsis), fungal (for example, cryptococcal meningitis) and parasitic (for example, malaria, neurocysticercosis, neuroschistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths) infections. The neurological, cognitive, behavioural or mental health problems caused by the infections probably affect millions of children and adults in low- and middle-income countries. However, precise estimates of morbidity are lacking for most infections, and there is limited information on the pathogenesis of nervous system injury in these infections. Key research priorities for infection-related nervous system morbidity include accurate estimates of disease burden; point-of-care assays for infection diagnosis; improved tools for the assessment of neurological, cognitive and mental health impairment; vaccines and other interventions for preventing infections; improved understanding of the pathogenesis of nervous system disease in these infections; more effective methods to treat and prevent nervous system sequelae; operations research to implement known effective interventions; and improved methods of rehabilitation. Research in these areas, accompanied by efforts to implement promising technologies and therapies, could substantially decrease the morbidity and mortality of infections affecting the nervous system in low- and middle-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Chandy C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carabin
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bangirana
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Zunt
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D038622:Internationality; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D012106:Research