Genetic Insights into Population Adaptations Associated with Immunity and Host Defense

Dear Colleagues,

As pathogens exert significant selective pressure on the human genome, the variability of immune responses across populations becomes evident. Understanding these differences in antiviral and inflammatory responses provides invaluable mechanistic insights into the activation of innate immunity, thus fostering the development of customized therapeutic interventions based on the known genetics.

The dissection of the evolutionary genetics of the immune system provided us with insights into population-specific adaptations related to immunity and host defense. Moreover, the interbreeding between early Eurasian populations and now-extinct hominins such as Neanderthals or Denisovans, along with admixture among modern human populations, has been recognized as advantageous for adapting to pathogen pressures and has partially accounted for disparities in population immune responses. While functional genomics studies increasingly contribute to understanding immune adaptations linked to lifestyle shifts from hunting to gathering, historical population migrations, and past epidemics, few have comprehensively addressed the combined genetic and environmental contributions.

We invite submissions for a Special Issue focused on exploring the intricate relationship between genetic variation, population diversity, and immune responses. This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research that investigates how genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors contribute to variations in immune responses across diverse human populations. We encourage contributions that illuminate the underlying mechanisms driving population disparities in immune function and explore their implications for human health and disease.

Dr. Cheng I. Wang
Guest Editor

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• population disparities
• genetic polymorphism
• human evolution
• functional genomics
• immunogenetics
• transcriptional regulation
• gene-environment interaction