The association of host genes with specific sexually transmitted infections

Front Reprod Health. 2023 Oct 23:5:1124074. doi: 10.3389/frph.2023.1124074. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are hazardous to human health worldwide. STIs have a direct influence on sexual and reproductive health and can increase the chances of HIV. Globally, more than 1 million STIs are acquired every day and the majority are asymptomatic. Approximately, 374 million cases of STIs have been reported annually. The most prevalent STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. These STIs are caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum and Trichomonas vaginalis. The major factor that contributes to the susceptibility and prognosis of infectious diseases is genetic variation. Host genes play a huge role in STIs and immune response. The production of host factors is stimulated by a variety of bacteria, viruses and parasites and the host factors can play a role in increasing host vulnerability to infection and pathogen persistence. Genetic variation or polymorphisms within certain host genes can influence the course of pathogen infection and disease progression. Polymorphisms can contribute to changes in gene expression and or changes in the protein structure. which may either contribute to/or protect against infection. This review discusses the role of host genes in influencing the susceptibility of the most prevalent STIs caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We evaluate polymorphisms associated pathogen recognition signalling pathway of these diseases. These polymorphisms may be used as biomarkers to infer risk to specific STIs.

Keywords: host factors; host genetics; pathogen recognition receptor; sexually transmitted infections; toll-Like receptors.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

VR was funded as a FLAIR Research Fellow (the Future Leader in African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowship Programme was a partnership between the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Royal Society that was funded by the United Kingdom Government as part of the Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) (Grant No. FLAIR-FLR\R1\190204); supported by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) with funds from the Department of Science and Technology (DST)). Funding was also provided in part through the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE), a DELTAS Africa Initiative (Grant No. DEL-15-006) by the AAS. Support was also provided by the Grants, Innovation, and Product Development unit of the South African Medical Research Council with funds received from Novartis and GSK R&D (Grant No. GSKNVS2/202101/005). TA is funded by the South African Medical Research Council Sir Grant and L'ORÉAL UNESCO Women in Science South African Young Talent fellow. The authors declare that this study received funding from Novartis and GSK R&D. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication.