Rockefeller University. “Human Genetic Vulnerabilities May Underlie Infection Diseases, Scientist Argues.” Science Daily. February 21, 2010. [Internet]. [accessed Feb 21, 2010] Available from:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100219204419.htm
Human Genetic Vulnerabilities May Underlie Infection Diseases, Scientist Argues
At the annual conference of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on February 19, 2010, scientist Jean Laurent Casanova of Rockefeller University gave a talk entitled “Inborn Errors of Innate Immunity in Humans.” Casanova is currently conducting research on two infectious diseases, pneumococcal disease and herpes simplex encephalitis.
Casanova presented evidence at the symposium that how members of a population respond to infectious diseases such as these are dependent upon on their underlying genetic vulnerabilities. In other words, while a microbe can infect someone, whether or not that person can fight the infection depends on the defense mechanisms present in his or her genes.
Not all microbiologists agree on the subject of genetic vulnerabilities. Many others believe that infectious diseases are strictly caused by environmental factors. Immunologists, in particular, doubt that immunological molecules would target a narrow range of infectious microbes.
Whether disease happens due to genetic or environmental factors seems to be the basis for the disagreement among scientists. Casanova hopes to continue his work in finding the genetic basis of infectious diseases so that we may better understand how to effectively treat them.
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