African Variation at Cytochrome P450 Genes: Evolutionary Aspects and the Implications for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases

The genomics revolution has provided a plethora of data from many previously uncharacterized populations. The increase in the amount of genetic data has improved our understanding of why individuals and populations differ in their susceptibility to multiple diseases. It has also enabled researchers to identify how genomic variation, including at the Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) super-family, affects the safety and efficacy of therapeutic drugs. CYP450 metabolize ∼90% of clinically administered drugs. Variability in CYP450 expression is known to affect the safety and efficacy of therapeutic drugs, including many used in the treatment and control of infectious diseases. There are inter-ethnic differences in the frequencies of clinically relevant CYP450 variants which affect CYP450 expression. Comparative studies of African populations have identified population structuring at CYP450 genes. This is associated with intra-African differences in the success of drug therapies used in the treatment of infectious diseases. Therapeutic drugs dominate control strategies for infectious diseases and are widely administered through mass drug administration campaigns. However, resistance to chemotherapy is spreading across endemic regions. The most common response has been to increase chemotherapeutic dosages, and administer combination therapies. However, there are few pharmacovigilance data examining how these changes influence adverse drug reactions. This review provides an overview of current knowledge of intra-Africa CYP450 variation, and the known associations with sub-optimal clinical outcomes in the treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, the potential for evolutionary approaches in the study of CYP450 variation is discussed to examine their potential in preventative medicine and intervention strategies within Africa.