The progress resulting from genomic research is significant. It has already advanced our knowledge of infectious diseases. The complete genomic sequences of many pathogens responsible for morbidity and mortality in the developing world are now established. The new tools in comparative genomics, computational biology, and informatics have already yielded promising results in studying invertebrate parasites that cause tropical diseases. When combined with the sequence of the human genome, and the sequence of some of the vectors of disease, like the Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit malaria parasites, they offer remarkable opportunities for reducing the negative impact of these diseases.
However, the authors point out that the applications of this research might only benefit patients in the First World, since there has been little or no commercial interest in developing treatments against the tropical diseases that occur among the world's poorest people. The authors illustrate this with several diseases such as malaria, hookworm and AIDS. "To achieve greater impact for the developing countries it will be necessary to combine the efforts made by some not-for-profit organisations and private funds to support research for the developing world and to link genomic research with vaccine research and other technologies." says Samuel Broder. "It will also be necessary to transfer these new technologies to developing countries and to give these countries access to necessary information, such as gene data bases."
For interviews & further questions contact
Samuel Broder
Celera Genomics
Rockville, MD, USA
Sam.Broder@celera.com
Stephen L. Hoffman
Sanaria
308 Argosy Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
slhoffman@sanaria.com
Peter J Hotez
Dept. Microbiology and Tropical Medicine
The George Washington University
Ross Hall,
Washington
mtmpjh@gwumc.edu
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the authors
Samuel Broder
is vice president of medical affairs at Celera Genomics of Rockville, MD, an Applera Corporation
business. He can be reached at sam.broder@celera.com
Stephen L. Hoffman
past president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, is at Sanaria, Gaithersburg, MD
slhoffman@sanaria.com
Peter J. Hotez
is Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine at the George Washington University in Washington, DC and senior fellow and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
mtmpjh@gwumc.edu
for authors photos see http://www.embo.org/press/reports/september.html and contact ellen.peerenboom@embo.org for better quality photos
full reference
Broder et al. (2002) Cures for the Third World's problems. EMBO reports vol. 3(9). 806-812
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