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Review
. 2022 Feb 3:9:805107.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.805107. eCollection 2022.

Implications of Using Host Response-Based Molecular Diagnostics on the Management of Bacterial and Viral Infections: A Review

Johnny Atallah  1   2 , Michael K Mansour  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Implications of Using Host Response-Based Molecular Diagnostics on the Management of Bacterial and Viral Infections: A Review

Johnny Atallah et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Host-based diagnostics are a rapidly evolving field that may serve as an alternative to traditional pathogen-based diagnostics for infectious diseases. Understanding the exact mechanisms underlying a host-immune response and deriving specific host-response signatures, biomarkers and gene transcripts will potentially achieve improved diagnostics that will ultimately translate to better patient outcomes. Several studies have focused on novel techniques and assays focused on immunodiagnostics. In this review, we will highlight recent publications on the current use of host-based diagnostics alone or in combination with traditional microbiological assays and their potential future implications on the diagnosis and prognostic accuracy for the patient with infectious complications. Finally, we will address the cost-effectiveness implications from a healthcare and public health perspective.

Keywords: RT-PCR; biomarkers; host-response; infections; proteomics; transcriptomics.

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Conflict of interest statement

MM reports consultation fees from Safi Biosolutions, Clear Creek Bio, Vericel, NED biosystems, GenMark Diagnostics, and Day Zero Diagnostics; grant support from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Genentech; medical editing/writing fees from UpToDate, outside the submitted work. MM also reports patents 14/110,443 and 15/999,463 pending. The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the implications of host-response diagnostics on infectious diseases management and outcome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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