Genetic Basis of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Infectious disease can be caused by viruses, prions, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, worms, and arthropods. The microbiological basis of infectious disease involves wide range of knowledge, including structures, pathogenicity, immunity, replication and growth, heredity and variation, sensibility and resistance mechanism of anti-infective drugs, and resistance to external environment of various microorganisms. All of these aspects directly exert effects on the type, severity, and prognosis of the infectious diseases. With the development of molecular biology and molecular genetics, the knowledge about the structures and pathogenic mechanism of microorganisms has been further explored at the molecular and genetic level. For instance, for completion of the human genome project, the gene sequences that encode and regulate the structures and functions of exotoxin, endotoxin, invasive protein, adhesin, virus structural protein, and nonstructural protein of pathogenic microorganisms have been gradually decoded. All of these efforts and achievements greatly expand our knowledge about the relationship between microorganisms and their hosts.