Evolution of Infectious DiseaseFindings from the field of evolutionary biology are yielding dramatic insights for health scientists, especially those involved in the fight against infectious diseases. This book is the first in-depth presentation of these insights. In detailing why the pathogens that cause malaria, smallpox, tuberculosis, and AIDS have their special kinds of deadliness, the book shows how efforts to control virtually all diseases would benefit from a more thorough application of evolutionary principles. When viewed from a Darwinian perspective, a pathogen is not simply a disease-causing agent, it is a self-replicating organism driven by evolutionary pressures to pass on as many copies of itself as possible. In this context, so-called "cultural vectors" - those aspects of human behavior and the human environment that allow spread of disease from immobilized people - become more important than ever. Interventions to control diseases don't simply hinder their spread but can cause pathogens and the diseases they engender to evolve into more benign forms. In fact, the union of health science with evolutionary biology offers an entirely new dimension to policy making, as the possibility of determining the future course of many diseases becomes a reality. By presenting the first detailed explanation of an evolutionary perspective on infectious disease, the author has achieved a genuine milestone in the synthesis of health science, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology. Written in a clear, accessible style, it is intended for a wide readership among professionals in these fields and general readers interested in science and health. |
Contents
1 Why This Book? | 3 |
2 Symptomatic Treatment Or How to Bind The Origin of Species to The Physicians Desk Reference | 15 |
3 Vectors Vertical Transmission and the Evolution of Virulence | 35 |
4 How to Be Severe Without Vectors | 57 |
5 When Water Moves like a Mosquito | 67 |
6 AttendantBorne Transmission Or How Are Doctors and Nurses like Mosquitoes Machetes and Moving Water? | 87 |
7 War and Virulence | 109 |
Where Did It Come from and Where Is It Going? | 119 |
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Common terms and phrases
Africa AIDS patients allergic response antibiotic resistance aphid areas aspirin associated attendant-borne transmission bacteria benefit benign Blattner blood cancer cause century cholerae cultural vectors hypothesis cycle death defense density diarrhea diarrheal diseases diphtheria effects el tor epidemic epidemiology evolution evolutionary evolve Ewald example explain falciparum favor fever genes genetic HIV infection HIV's homosexuals hospital hospital-acquired host HTLV HTLV-I human immunodeficiency virus immune system increased virulence indicate individuals infected cells infectious diseases influenza isolated Kaposi's sarcoma lethal lineages malaria monkeys mosquito mutations natural selection needleborne numbers occur organisms outbreaks pandemic parasites pathogens population potential prediction prevalence progression to AIDS protein reduced relatively replication rate reproduction reverse transcriptase Reye's syndrome severe sexual contact sexual partner rates Shigella sit-and-wait species spread strains studies suggest suppression susceptibles tend tissues toxin production transmitted tuberculosis typically vaccine variation Vibrio cholerae viral virulence viruses water supplies waterborne transmission zidovudine