The number of genes and polymorphisms associated with genetic susceptibility to infectious diseases and autoimmune and inflammatory disorders has increased rapidly over the past few years. This progress can be attributed to the new technologies capable of detecting high number of markers, even at a genome-wide level, and also the availability of modern analysis tools for high throughput data. Despite an increased number of such publications, the complete dissection of the genetic component in complex diseases still depends on the development of several independent studies, including both association designs, and functional analysis to establish genotype-phenotype correlations. A complete scenario should also consider gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.

We invite authors to submit original research and review articles describing the role of variations in genes related to the immune system in disease outcome, progression, and response to treatment.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Association studies using either genome-wide or candidate genes approach in the context of infectious diseases and autoimmune and any inflammatory disorders considering diseases outcome and/or progression
• Genetic polymorphisms as markers of response to treatment in inflammatory diseases
• Genetic polymorphisms with pleiotropic effects in inflammatory and/or infectious diseases
• Gene-gene and gene-environment interaction patterns in infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders
• Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of previously reported associations between genetic markers and inflammatory disorders