The The Evidence for a Role of Bacteria and Viruses in Cardiovascular Disease

Grant N Pierce; Justin F Deniset; Craig T Resch; Muntahi Mourin; Elena Dibrov; Pavel Dibrov

doi:10.5937/scriptamed53-37418

Grant N Pierce University of Manitoba
Justin F Deniset University of Calgary
Craig T Resch University of Manitoba
Muntahi Mourin
Elena Dibrov
Pavel Dibrov

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/scriptamed53-37418

Keywords: bacteria, virus, cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Inflammation plays a critical role in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Bacteria and viruses are major causative agents of inflammation in the body which normally develops as a response to infection. It is a logical extention, therefore, to believe bacterial and viral infections may be involved in a variety of presentations of cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this review is to describe the data and conclusions to date on the involvement of these infectious agents in the induction of cardiovascular disease. The review also discusses the various specific bacteria and viruses that have been implicated in cardiovascular disease and the mechanisms, if known, that these agents induce cardiovascular disease.

Author Biographies

Justin F Deniset, University of Calgary

Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiac Sciences, Libin Institue and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N

Craig T Resch, University of Manitoba

Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada

Muntahi Mourin

University of Manitoba

Elena Dibrov

Department of Physiology and pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. MB Canada

Pavel Dibrov

Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada

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