01373nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260001500042653001200057653001800069653003400087653002500121653002200146100001500168700001500183245008400198856004600282300000700328520084400335       2018                            d  bIntechOpen10aleprosy10aPolymorphisms10aPattern-recognition receptors10aMycobacterium leprae10aGenetic Variation1 aJorge KTOS1 aSoriani FM00aGenetic variation in pattern-recognition receptors and association with leprosy  uhttps://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/59506.pdf  a173 a<p>Mycobacterium leprae is a highly infectious and low pathogenic microorganism that is the causal agent of leprosy. The differences in vulnerability to leprosy, the spectral immune response, and the clinical manifestations of this disease are related to different genetic backgroundsamongindividuals.Inthissense,geneticvariants,especiallyingenesrelated to mycobacteria recognition and host immune response, may be key factors to explain individual susceptibility and resistance to leprosy and their conditions. In this chapter, studies regarding association of genetic variants in pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) and leprosy will be reviewed revealing the importance of molecules such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) in leprosy initiation and maintenance.</p>