Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. May 6, 2025; 13(13): 101438
Published online May 6, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i13.101438
Genetic insights in infectious diseases: Insights from a case report and implications for personalized medicine
Suryasnata Bhowmik, Adrija Hajra, Dhrubajyoti Bandyopadhyay
Suryasnata Bhowmik, Department of Medicine, Nilratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata 700156, West Bengal, India
Adrija Hajra, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA 02115, United States
Dhrubajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Department of Cardiovacular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Co-first authors: Suryasnata Bhowmik and Adrija Hajra.
Author contributions: Bhowmik S designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Hajra A contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Bhowmik S and Hajra A contributed equally to this article, they are the co-first authors of this manuscript; Bhowmik S, Hajra A, and Bandyopadhyay D contributed to the writing, and editing the manuscript, illustrations, and review of literature; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Dhrubajyoti Bandyopadhyay, MD, Department of Cardiovacular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, No. 55 Fruit Sreet, Boston, MA 02114, United States. drdhrubajyoti87@gmail.com
Received: September 14, 2024
Revised: December 10, 2024
Accepted: December 23, 2024
Published online: May 6, 2025
Processing time: 119 Days and 9.1 Hours
Abstract

The relationship between genetics and infectious diseases is important in shaping our understanding of disease susceptibility, progression, and treatment. Recent research shows the impact of genetic variations, such as heme-oxygenase promoter length, on diseases like malaria and sepsis, revealing both protective and inconclusive effects. Studies on vaccine responses highlight genetic markers like human leukocyte antigens, emphasizing the potential for personalized immunization strategies. The ongoing battle against drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) illustrates the complexity of genomic variants in predicting resistance, highlighting the need for integrated diagnostic tools. Additionally, genome-wide association studies reveal antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacterial genomes, while host genetic polymorphisms, such as those in solute carrier family 11 member 1 and vitamin D receptor, demonstrate their role in TB susceptibility. Advanced techniques like metagenomic next-generation sequencing promise detailed pathogen detection but face challenges in cost and accessibility. A case report involving a highly virulent Mycobacterium TB strain with the pks1 gene further highlights the need for genetic insights in understanding disease severity and developing targeted interventions. This evolving landscape emphasizes the role of genetics in infectious diseases, while also addressing the need for standardized studies and accessible technologies.

Keywords: Genetic profiling; Infectious diseases; Tuberculosis virulence; pks1 gene; Genetic polymorphisms; Personalized medicine

Core Tip: Genetics significantly impacts infectious disease outcomes, from susceptibility to treatment responses. Key genetic variations, such as those in heme-oxygenase-1 and vaccine-related markers, influence how individuals respond to infections and vaccinations. The study of drug-resistant tuberculosis highlights the complex role of genomic variants, requiring advanced diagnostic tools. Genome-wide association studies and host polymorphisms, like solute carrier family 11 member 1 and vitamin D receptor, provide insights into disease mechanisms and resistance.