Human genetics of leishmania infections.

ABSTRACT: Identifying genetic risk factors for parasitic infections such as the leishmaniases could provide important leads for improved therapies and vaccines. Until recently most genetic studies of human leishmaniasis were underpowered and/or not replicated. Here, we focus on recent genome-wide association studies of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). For VL, analysis across 2287 cases and 2692 controls from three cohorts identified a single major peak of genome-wide significance (P_combined = 2.76 × 10^-17) at HLA-DRB1-HLA-DQA1. HLA-DRB1*1501 and DRB1*1404/DRB1*1301 were the most significant protective versus risk alleles, respectively, with specific residues at amino acid positions 11 and 13 unique to protective alleles. Epitope-binding studies show

SUBMITTER: Blackwell JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7272388 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature