32-gene host-response signature (32-gene signature)

The 32-gene host-response signature is a diagnostic biomarker panel composed of 32 messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts identified through whole-blood transcriptomic profiling and machine learning. It was primarily developed to distinguish severe and cerebral malaria from moderate or non-cerebral cases, addressing a critical need for reliable severity markers in endemic regions. The signature reflects the host's systemic immune response to infection, including pathways related to DNA damage response, inflammation, and immune cell trafficking. While not a therapeutic target itself, it serves as a diagnostic tool to guide clinical management and identify patients at high risk of neurological complications or mortality. The panel has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in multi-cohort validation studies, outperforming traditional clinical metrics in predicting disease progression.

Other names

32-gene host-response signatureCerebral malaria gene signatureHost-response transcriptomic signature32-gene malaria severity signature

Diagnostic monitoring of host immune status