Infectious Disease and Host-Pathogen Evolution

It has long been recognised that an important factor in human evolution has been the struggle against infectious disease and, more recently, it has been revealed that complex genetic polymorphisms are the direct result of that struggle. As molecular biological techniques become more sophisticated, a number of breakthroughs in the area of host-pathogen evolution have led to an increased interest in this field. From the historical beginnings of J. B. S. Haldane’s original hypothesis to current research, this book strives to evaluate infectious diseases from an evolutionary perspective. It provides a survey of the latest information regarding host-pathogen evolution related to major infectious diseases and parasitic infections, including malaria, influenza and leishmaniasis. Written by leading authorities in the field, and edited by a former pupil of Haldane, Infectious Disease and Host-Pathogen Evolution will be a valuable reference for those working in related areas of microbiology, parasitology, immunology and infectious disease medicine, as well as genetics, evolutionary biology and epidemiology.