11th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections San Francisco, California - February 8 - 11, 2004

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect. 2004 Feb 8-11;11th:Abstract No. 161

Amalio Telenti
Ctr Hosp Univ Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland

BACKGROUND: Since completion of the human genome, research efforts have aimed at gathering information on the basis of genetic diversity by building databases of single nucleotide polymorphisms, common DNA sequence variations among individuals (The SNP Consortium) and defining a haplotype map (The HapMap) of the human genome. The HapMap will allow researchers to find genes and genetic variations that affect health and disease. High through-put technology should bring this information first to the research setting; then, to the individual. In HIV, 2 main fields are developing: the genetics and immunogenetics of disease susceptibility, and that of pharmacogenetics and toxicogenetics. Work till present has been difficult, mostly because of the complexity inherent to the process of proposing candidate genes, validating alleles and their contribution to disease in a background of confounding variables, and assessing their biological significance. As a result, only a limited number of markers and alleles have been identified and confirmed as relevant to HIV medicine.

CONCLUSIONS: To move forward and capture the power of genomic medicine, there is a need to establish large genetic cohorts in developing countries (including solving legal and ethical issues); to apply the power of modern genomic tools, and a careful gene-by-gene candidate assessment to the identification of new restriction alleles; to assure biological validation of candidate markers, and cross-validation among cohorts and populations; and to develop the technology and appropriate trials to assess the contribution of HIV host genetics to clinical medicine. Knowledge derived from host genetics should contribute to understanding on pathogenesis, diagnostics and prediction, vaccine development, and therapeutics. This is a giant challenge, but one defined by progress and promise.

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Copyright © 2004 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Licensed (AIDSLINE) from National Library of Medicine.