The impact of host genetics on susceptibility to human infectious diseases

The development of genetic epidemiology methods using recent human genetic mapping information, together with the growing availability of candidate genes, has led to major advances in the identification of host genes involved in human infectious diseases. Within the past year, highlights include the mapping of a locus controlling the intensity of infection by Schistosoma mansoni, the demonstration that mutations in the interferon-γ receptor 1 gene are causative of disseminated infection due to weakly pathogenic mycobacteria, and the identification, in the CCR5 gene, of a deletion which provides high protection against HIV-1 infection. The impact of these findings on the understanding of infectious disease pathogenesis and on the design of future preventive and therapeutic strategies should be considerable.