Risk of contracting fatal infectious diseases lies in blood: Australian study

Australian scientists have found a way to predict the likelihood of someone contracting a fatal infection as many as 14 years before the onset of the disease.

The Melbourne University researchers, who worked in conjunction with Finnish counterparts, said a person's predisposition to certain diseases - such as pneumonia and sepsis - could be detected in their blood.

The study, published in science journal Cell Systems on Tuesday, discovered heightened levels of certain proteins in the bloodstream determined whether the person would live or die, in relation to infectious diseases.

A specific protein, GlycA which is made in the liver, and transported throughout the bloodstream, was the key biomarker that allowed scientists to predict an individual's chances of survival decades in advance.

"Elevated GlycA (protein) levels are telling us that there is an overactive immune system and that overactive immune system is likely to be chronic," Michael Inouye, a worker in the university's Centre for Systems Genomics, told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.

The scientists analysed raw data provided by Finland researchers, who analysed the blood and DNA samples of 10,000 volunteer participants.

The health records of each participant were followed up 14 year later, with their history - a clean bill of health, death or injury - matched-up to the original amount of GlycA detected within their body.

Scott Ritchie, a computational biologist involved in the study, said those at an increased risk of death or hospitalisation had abnormally high, dormant levels of GlycA, without already contracting an infection.

Richie said the research had obvious practical use for future testing.

"Broadly this type of study will give us a fair understanding of a lot of other diseases such as heart disease and design therapies to prevent these conditions," Ritchie said. Endit