Genome-Specific Responses to Infection

A prior post listed 5 assertions regarding the role of infectious organisms on the human genome. In the next few blogs we ' ll look at each assertion, in excerpts fromPrecision Medicine and the Reinvention of Human Disease. Here ' s the third:A good portion of the genes in humans (perhaps 10%) are involved in responses to infectious organisms. It has been estimated that over 1000 human genes are involved in inflammation pathways [37]. Several studies have shown that following an inflammatory challenge or challenged by the introduction of a pathogen, more than a hundred genes are activated [38 –40]. The activated genes include some of the same genes that have been associated with autoimmune diseases, suggesting that these disease-associated genes are conserved because they have a beneficial role, protecting us from invading pathogens [39]. The genetic profile of genes activated by infla mmation is very similar from human to human, but quite dissimilar from the profile of genes activated by inflammation in the mouse [41]. This would suggest that species develop their own genome-wide responses to agents that cause inflammation (e.g., invading organisms). -Jules Berman key words: precision medicine, evolution, virus, viral, jules j berman Ph.D. M.D.

Source: Specified Life - February 10, 2018 Category: Information Technology Source Type: blogs