HLA loci and respiratory infectious diseases

The HLA system harbour a wide set of genes that plays an important role in the regulation and action of the immune system against invading pathogens, making them natural candidates for research on the genetic susceptibility for respiratory infections. Thus, along past decades, this topic has been subject to intense research and, consequently, several alleles of those loci have been implicated in the ability, more or less effective, to tackle and control invading pathogens in the respiratory system. Current editorial introduce, revise, summarize and comment the major advances in the role of HLA genes for the development of, and protection against, respiratory infectious disease. A general picture is drawn and new challenges on the field are relocated, especially those that might enlighten respiratory diseases aetiology and, thus, contribute in advances for diagnosis and treatment.