genetic susceptibility

Childhood asthma is a multifactorial disease with a disturbingly high incidence in urbanized areas. The pathogenesis of asthma is poorly understood due to the complex relationship between genetic susceptibility and modulating environmental factors.

The Mechanistic Indicators of Childhood Asthma study (MICA) has collected multiple types of clinical, demographic, exposure, and gene expression data in order to examine the interplay between environmental and genetic factors affecting asthma in a case/control cohort of children (aged 9-12 years).

As DNA sequencing becomes cheaper, it will become common for people to have their complete genomes sequenced.

Personal genomes will not only tell people about genetic susceptibility to cancer and heart disease, but will also tell them which vitamins and how much can improve their health.

A new study shows that one enzyme can be tuned up with vitamins, suggesting that one day we all may take personalized vitamin supplements.

Researchers working in Vietnam have identified a genetic variant that predisposes people to developing a lethal form of tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis, if they are infected with a strain of TB known as the Beijing strain.

The work underlines the importance of studying both sides of the complex host-pathogen interaction and its role in susceptibility to disease.