Review

Emphasizing the vitality of genomics related research in the area of infectious diseases

Wayengera Misaki¹* and Wilson Byarugaba²

¹Research Scientist and PhD Student, Division of Human and Molecular Genetics Department of Pathology College of Health Sciences Makerere University P.O. Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda

 ²Head: Division of Human and Molecular Genetics Department of Pathology College of Health Sciences Makerere University P.O. Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda

*Corresponding Author E-mail: wmisaki@yahoo.com

Accepted 31 October, 2007

Sequencing of the human and other species genomes has generated a downstream of sciences that have taken advantage of this knowledge to generate vital links between diseases and genetic variants. Sub-Saharan Africa and many developing countries form the major epicenters for Infectious diseases. Here, the role that genomics may hold in the area of infectious diseases research is emphasized in five blocks: phenotype evaluation studies, evolutionary trends’ studies across microbial and host genomes, idiopathic association or host susceptibility studies to disease, therapeutics or vaccine research insights, as well as the development of novel molecular diagnostics.

Key words: Genomics, infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis.