Host genes and infectious diseases. HIV, other pathogens, and a public health perspective

The global impact of infectious diseases is tremendous. In 1996, the 17 million deaths from infectious diseases accounted for one third of all deaths worldwide, while the acute and chronic morbidity from infectious diseases adds an additional great burden on global health. Multiple factors, host and nonhost, influence the susceptibility of individuals and populations to infectious diseases, as well as the severity of the illness once infected.

We review the influence of host genes on the susceptibility to and severity of viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infectious diseases, on vaccine responsiveness and on treatments for infections. HIV/AIDS is discussed in detail because it is an example of an infectious disease influenced by multiple host genes and because of its impact. Although the HIV/AIDS pandemic dates only since the late 1970s, it has claimed the lives of 11 million people worldwide and, today, more than 30 million people are estimated to be HIV infected.

Our greater understanding of the genetic factors that influence morbidity and mortality of infectious disease leads to new avenues of prevention and treatment that can improve the health of individuals and populations.