Host factor pharmacogenetics for treatment of infectious diseases

Abstract

Progress in therapeutics and testing for infectious diseases over the past 100 years has resulted in dramatic reductions in morbidity and mortality. However, with developments of effective drugs has come the recognition that not all individuals respond the same to a given therapy, and this marked the beginning of initiatives to study human genetic variations as a factor in response to drug therapy. The pharmacogenetics of infectious diseases is in its infancy; however, the goal of maximizing drug efficacy while minimizing toxicity has important implications for clinical care and better understanding of the biology of the host-pathogen interface. This chapter provides an overview of the progress that has been made in pharmacogenetics and summarizes the challenges that remain for bridging the gap between research and clinical use. The few illustrative examples of genetic testing currently utilized as tools for patient management are discussed.