Dormant Pathogens and Chronic Diseases: The Hidden Role of Latent Infections in Human Health
Dormant Pathogens and Chronic Diseases
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Host–pathogen interactions,
Immune evasion,
Latent infections,
Microbial
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Kanishka Singh
Aditi Singh
Abstract
Background: Latent infections are a significant yet often overlooked aspect of human health. Some examples include hepatitis B and C viruses, responsible for hepatocellular carcinoma; herpesviruses such as Epstein–Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, responsible for immune dysfunction and malignancies; and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, responsible for latent tuberculosis infection. These infections have substantial clinical significance because they can reactivate under conditions such as stress, immunosuppression, or ageing to cause chronic diseases and permanent health complications.
Aims: To examine the global health impact of latent pathogens, which is another important goal.
Methods: This narrative review synthesises evidence from peer-reviewed literature indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with emphasis on studies addressing microbial latency, host–pathogen interactions, immune evasion, associations with chronic disease, and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Results: The comprehensive search suggests that latent infections play an important role in the prevalence of chronic disease worldwide. The findings point to the complexity of interactions between pathogen survival strategies and host immune responses. The latency is dynamically balanced such that the pathogens avoid immune detection but still retain the capability to activate. This highlights a necessity to have better diagnostic tools and novel, effective treatment interventions.
Conclusion: Emerging biomarkers, omics technologies, and computational biology approaches offer promising opportunities for the improved detection and management of latent infections. A deeper understanding of microbial dormancy is essential for developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the global burden of infection-associated chronic diseases.
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