Filariasis in Travelers Presenting to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network

As international travel increases, there is rising exposure to many pathogens not traditionally encountered in the resource-rich countries of the world. The GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, a global network of medicine/travel clinics, was established in 1995 to detect morbidity trends among travelers. Filarial infections (parasitic worm infections that cause, among others, onchocerciasis [river blindness], lymphatic filariasis [e.g. elephantiasis, lymphedema, hydrocele] and loiasis [African eyeworm]) comprised 0.62% (n = 271) of the 43,722 medical conditions reported to the GeoSentinel Network between 1995 and 2004. Immigrants from filarial-endemic regions comprised the group most likely to have acquired a filarial infection; sub-Saharan Africa was the region of the world where the majority of filarial infections were acquired. Long-term travel (greater than 1 month) was more likely to be associated with acquisition of one of the filarial infections than shorter-term travel

Network Analysis of Human Genes Influencing Susceptibility to Mycobacterial Infections.

Tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections constitute a high burden of pulmonary disease in humans, resulting in over 1.5 million deaths per year. Building on the premise that genetic factors influence the instance, progression, and defense of infectious disease, we undertook a systems biology approach to investigate relationships among genetic factors that may play a role in increased susceptibility or control of mycobacterial infections. We combined literature and database mining with network analysis and pathway enrichment analysis to examine genes, pathways, and networks, involved in the human response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. This approach allowed us to examine functional relationships among reported genes, and to identify novel genes and enriched pathways that may play a role in mycobacterial susceptibility or control. Our findings suggest that the primary pathways and genes influencing mycobacterial infection control involve an interplay between innate and adaptive immune proteins and pathways. Signaling pathways involved in autoimmune disease were significantly enriched as revealed in our networks. Mycobacterial disease susceptibility networks were also examined within the context of gene-chemical relationships, in order to identify putative drugs and nutrients with potential beneficial immunomodulatory or anti-mycobacterial effects

NTM network.

<p>Grey: Network identified genes; Blue: NTM focus genes.</p

Database-derived TB and NTM-associated genes.

<p>Database-derived TB and NTM-associated genes.</p

Network-identified immune-modulating chemicals.

<p>Grey: Network identified chemicals; Blue: Network identified genes.</p

Intersection of TB and NTM gene sets.

<p>Grey: Network identified genes; Blue: TB and NTM focus genes.</p

Network-identified nutrients.

<p>Grey: Network identified vitamins; Blue: Network identified genes.</p

TB network.

<p>Grey: Network identified genes; Blue: TB focus genes.</p

Union of TB and NTM gene sets: network 1.

<p>Grey: Network identified genes; Blue: TB or NTM focus genes.</p

Additional file 1 of Nontuberculous mycobacteria testing and culture positivity in the United States

Additional file 1: Supplemental Figure 1