January 2003

Consortium leader: Professor JUHA KERE,
Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden and University of Helsinki. Karolinska Institute, Department of Biosciences at Novum, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden, +46-8-608-9158, juha.kere@biosci.ki.se

Other leaders of the consortium:
Jaana Vuopio-Varkila, Chief physician, Associate professor,
National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland, +358-9-4744 8240, jaana.vuopio@ktl.fi
Jaana Syrjänen, Specialist in infectious diseases, Tampere University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, P.O.Box 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland, +358-3-215 6698 or +358-3-247 4883, jaana.syrjänen@uta.fi
Lennart Hammarström, Professor, Karolinska Institute, Department of Biosciences at Novum, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden, lennart.hammarstrom@biosci.ki.se

Doctoral students of the consortium:
MSc Tuula Siljander, National Public Health Institute, Department of Microbiology, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland, tuula.siljander@ktl.fi
MD Matti Karppelin, Tampere University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, P.O.Box 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland, matti.karppelin@pshp.fi

Research nurse of the consortium:
Päivi Aitos, Biomedicum Helsinki, P.O.Box 63, 00014 Helsinki University, Finland, +358-9-1912 5623, paivi.aitos@helsinki.fi
Data manager:
Hannu Turunen, Biomedicum Helsinki, P.O.Box 63, 00014 Helsinki University, +358-9-1912 5626, hannu.x.turunen@helsinki.fi

Key words: group A streptococci, infection, genetic susceptibility, genetics

Abstract
Worldwide, infectious diseases are a significant public health concern, and one of the central targets of medicine for centuries. This project aims at substantially increasing our understanding on the pathogen-host interaction for one of the most common human pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus.

Our main hypotheses are that (1) Genetic variation in the host plays an important role in determining susceptibility to streptococcal infections, and (2) an improved understanding of the host-pathogen interaction will require detailed bacteriological and immunological as well as genetic studies in an integrated multidisciplinary approach.

The specific aims are:

1. Identify individuals and families suffering from recurrent (Clinical Study 1) and acute (Clinical Study 2) streptococcal infections and establish an information and sample base for detailed studies.
2. Perform a human genome-wide scan in families with recurrent streptococcal infections, aiming at identifying genetic loci affecting susceptibility (properties of the host).
3. Study the molecular properties of the streptococcal strains isolated from patients with recurrent and acute infections (properties of the pathogen), and
4. Test models on pathogen-host interaction on experimental systems and extend the study to an epidemiological survey of factors influencing susceptibility.

The project is a joint effort between the National Public Health Institute, University of Helsinki, Tampere University and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. 

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