Population genetics and molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases

Abstract

Population genetics is based on analysing the polymorphism patterns of genetic markers at different organizational levels; i.e. within and between individuals sampled among populations. From such analyses, inferences can be made on the reproductive modes of the species in question (hence, on patterns of genetic transmission along successive generations), as well as on the demographic functioning of the studied populations (i.e., population sizes, dispersal rates among populations, etc.). In this chapter, we present the main bases of population genetics theory and illustrate its interest for epidemiological issues via different case studies on parasite species.