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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Determining the Likelihood of Variant Pathogenicity Using Amino Acid-level Signal-to-Noise Analysis of Genetic Variation
Published on: January 16, 2019
[Effect of genetic polymorphisms on the susceptibility to and course of infectious diseases]
T G Kimman1, R Janssen, B Hoebee
1Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Postbus I, 3720 BA Bilthoven. tg.kimman@rivm.nl
Abstract:
The highly variable susceptibility to and course of infectious diseases are caused by variable environmental factors and by genetic differences in both the pathogens and the host. The genetic variability of the host is determined mainly by polymorphisms in genes that play a role in processes such as adhesion, specific and non-specific immunity, antigen presentation, and inflammation. These variations are important, for example, in infections with HIV or respiratory syncytial virus. It is important to combine genetic knowledge with knowledge about the functional properties of variant genes. Applications of knowledge about genetic variability can be found in the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents, prognostics, and the treatment of individual patients.
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