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Molecular basis of cholera blood‐group dependence and implications for a world characterized by climate change
Author(s) -
Holmner Åsa,
Mackenzie Alasdair,
Krengel Ute
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.03.050
Subject(s) - cholera , climate change , precipitation , epidemiology , environmental health , geography , biology , environmental science , environmental planning , medicine , ecology , virology , meteorology
Climate change has the potential to increase the threat of water‐borne diseases, through rises in temperature and sea‐level, and precipitation variability. Cholera poses a particular threat, and the need to develop better intervention tools is imminent. Cholera infections are particularly severe for blood group O individuals, who are less protected by the current vaccines. Here we derive a hypothesis as to the molecular origins of blood‐group dependence of this disease, based on relevant epidemiological, clinical and molecular data, and give suggestions on how to plan prevention strategies, and develop novel and improved pharmaceuticals.