New viral diseases: a real and potential problem without boundaries

Article Abstract:

Although the advent of antimicrobial therapy was thought to spell doom for communicable disease, viruses, both old and new, are emerging as potent infectious agents. A review is provided of some newly problematic viral diseases. Since viruses mutate rapidly, they can acquire a strong selective advantage, even though most mutants do not survive. Familiar diseases, such as influenza, are caused by continually evolving 'new' influenza viruses. Influenza varies but little from epidemic to epidemic, and it is host factors (such as age and immunological status) that primarily determine the severity of infections. Poliomyelitis is an old virus that moved into a new role when improved sanitation resulted in fewer infections in infants, where its effects were milder, to more infections in older children and adults, where it induced paralysis. Viral infections that appear to be new, usually result from transmission from animals to man. Hemorrhagic fevers, for instance, are caused by viruses carried by arthropods and rodents that can infect the liver, kidney, or brain of human beings. Often, these infections occur when an environmental change results in new contact between humans and viral vectors. Truly new viruses are relatively infrequent, and are usually a result of genetic mechanisms. Point mutations affect critical sites on critical viral proteins; when these allow the virus to avoid recognition or attack by the host immune system, a newly virulent agent can be created. Genetic reassortment refers to the rearrangement of gene segments between different viral strains when several are present at one time in the host. If the strains are similar, they can reassort to produce novel viruses, making it possible to 'skip' slow evolutionary steps. Examples of diseases caused by genetic reassortment and point mutations are provided. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus associated with AIDS, is able to quickly produce divergent forms. Investigators are not sure if AIDS is caused by a new virus, and the HIV mutation potential is unknown. Virology is a relatively new field, but much remains to be determined about viruses, old and new. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Genetic aspects, Virus diseases

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Protection Against Atopic Diseases by Measles--A Rash Conclusion?

Article Abstract:

It may not be a specific communicable disease that protects children from allergy but several in combination. The link between communicable diseases and allergy was first made when researchers discovered that children in large families were less likely to develop an allergic disease such as asthma. Childhood infections were thought to help the immune system mature, making allergic diseases less likely. Vaccination to prevent childhood infections would therefore increase the rate of asthma and other allergic diseases. This is supported by the fact that allergic diseases are more common in developed countries whereas childhood infections are more common in developing countries.

Health aspects, Editorial, Children, Allergy, Communicable diseases, Vaccination of children, Vaccination

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Development of Antimicrobial Agents in the Era of New and Reemerging Infectious Diseases and Increasing Antibiotic Resistance

Article Abstract:

The emergence of new infectious organisms and the re-emergence of older ones comes at the same time as many are becoming resistant to antibiotics. The sequencing of bacterial genes may identify many new drug targets.

Research, Antibiotics, Bacterial genetics

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