Review: Variability of host—pathogen interaction

Abstract

The course of every infection is different. The same pathogen can lead to subclinical, mild, severe or lethal infections in individuals. But is this just chance or determined by individual differences — on the side of the host as well as on the side of the pathogen? If so, we might need to consider these variations for treatment decisions. Indeed, we now understand that genetic polymorphisms and health status represent inborn and acquired risk factors. Similarly, pathogens impress with an increasing number of already identified virulence factors and host response modifiers. The emerging, more complex, view of the factors determining course and outcome of infections promises to enable more tailored and thus, hopefully, more effective treatment decisions.