Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an Opportunistic Pathogen


Book Description

Assembling the latest research by an international group of contributors, this volume covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and control measures of this elusive microorganism. It will provide a deeper understanding of the pathogen to physicians and surgeons caring for patients infected, or at risk of becoming infected, with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.




Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides


Book Description

Peptides play a crucial role in many physiological processes including actions as neurotransmitters, hormones, and antibiotics. Research has shown their importance in such fields as neuroscience, immunology, pharmacology, and cell biology. The Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides presents, for the first time, this tremendous body of knowledge in the field of biologically active peptides in one single reference. The section editors and contributors represent some of the most sophisticated and distinguished scientists working in basic sciences and clinical medicine. The Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides is a definitive, all-encompassing reference that will be indispensable for individuals ranging from peptide researchers, to biochemists, cell and molecular biologists, neuroscientists, pharmacologists, and to endocrinologists. Chapters are designed to be a source for workers in the field and will enable researchers working in a specific area to examine other related areas with which they would not ordinarily be familiar.*Chapters are designed to be a source for workers in the field and will enable researchers working in a specific area to examine other related areas that they would not ordinarily be familiar.*Fascinating relationships described in the book include the presence of some peptides originally found in frog skin that persist in the human human and brain where they can affect food intake and obesity.




Antimicrobial Drug Resistance


Book Description

This ? rst edition of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance grew out of a desire by the editors and authors to have a comprehensive resource of information on antimicrobial drug resistance that encompassed the current information available for bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. We believe that this information will be of value to clinicians, epidemiologists, microbiologists, virologists, parasitologists, public health authorities, medical students and fellows in training. We have endeavored to provide this information in a style which would be accessible to the broad community of persons who are concerned with the impact of drug resistance in our cl- ics and across the broader global communities. Antimicrobial Drug Resistance is divided into Volume 1 which has sections covering a general overview of drug resistance and mechanisms of drug resistance ? rst for classes of drugs and then by individual microbial agents including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Volume 2 addresses clinical, epidemiologic and public health aspects of drug resistance along with an overview of the conduct and interpretation of speci? c drug resistance assays. Together, these two volumes offer a comprehensive source of information on drug resistance issues by the experts in each topic.




Biofilm Infections


Book Description

This book will cover both the evidence for biofilms in many chronic bacterial infections as well as the problems facing these infections such as diagnostics and treatment regimes. A still increasing interest and emphasis on the sessile bacterial lifestyle biofilms has been seen since it was realized that that less than 0.1% of the total microbial biomass lives in the planktonic mode of growth. The term was coined in 1978 by Costerton et al. who defined the term biofilm for the first time.In 1993 the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) recognised that the biofilmmode of growth was relevant to microbiology. Lately many articles have been published on the clinical implications of bacterial biofilms. Both original articles and reviews concerning the biofilm problem are available.




Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Virulence


Book Description

The growing body of information on bacteria pathogenic for humans, mammals and plants generated within the past ten years has shown the interesting conservation of newly identified genes that playa direct role in the pathogenic mechanism. In addition to these genes, there are also genes that confer host specificities and other traits important in pathogenesis on these pathogens. In this volume, we have organized the subject areas to best fit the concept on the way bacterial pathogens recognize, interact and invade the host, on the regulation of genes involved in virulence, on the genes involved in the elaboration of toxins and other pathogenic components such as iron sequestering proteins, and on the mechanisms of circumventing the host defense systems. These areas are divided into Sections. Section I covers the first step when the pathogen seeks its host, and Sections II through VI cover subsequent steps leading to pathogenesis while avoiding host defenses. We conclude this work with a chapter summarizing information on examples of virulence mechanisms that are highly conserved.




Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases


Book Description

"In print, online, or on your mobile device, Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Disease provides the comprehensive and actionable coverage you need to understand, diagnose, and manage the ever-changing, high-risk clinical problems caused by infectious diseases in children and adolescents. With new chapters, expanded and updated coverage, and increased worldwide perspectives, this authoritative medical reference offers the latest need-to-know information in an easily-accessible, high-yield format for quick answers and fast, effective intervention!"--Publisher's website.




Imaging Flow Cytometry


Book Description

This detailed volume for the first time explores techniques and protocols involving quantitative imaging flow cytometry (IFC), which has revolutionized our ability to analyze cells, cellular clusters, and populations in a remarkable fashion. Beginning with an introduction to technology, the book continues with sections addressing protocols for studies on the cell nucleus, nucleic acids, and FISH techniques using an IFC instrument, immune response analysis and drug screening, IFC protocols for apoptosis and cell death analysis, as well as morphological analysis and the identification of rare cells. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Imaging Flow Cytometry: Methods and Protocols will be a critical source for all laboratories seeking to implement IFC in their research studies.




Pathophysiological Aspects of Proteases


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted field of protease in the cellular environment and focuses on the recently elucidated functions of complex proteolytic systems in physiology and pathophysiology. Given the breadth and depth of information covered in the respective contributions, the book will be immensely useful for researchers working to identify targets for drug development. Multidisciplinary in scope, the book bridges the gap between fundamental and translational research, with applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry, making it a thought-provoking read for basic and applied scientists engaged in biomedical research. Proteases represent one of the largest and most diverse families of enzymes known, and we now know that they are involved in every aspect of a given organism’s life functions. Under physiological conditions, proteases are regulated by their endogenous inhibitors. However, when the activity of proteases is not correctly regulated, disease processes such as tumour progression, vascular remodelling, atherosclerotic plaque progression, ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation can result. Many infective microorganisms require proteases for replication or use them as virulence factors, which has facilitated the development of protease-targeted therapies for a variety of parasitic diseases.




Microbial Endocrinology


Book Description

Microbial endocrinology represents a newly emerging interdisciplinary field that is formed by the intersection of the fields of neurobiology and microbiology. This book will introduce a new perspective to the current understanding not only of the factors that mediate the ability of microbes to cause disease, but also to the mechanisms that maintain normal homeostasis. The discovery that microbes can directly respond to neuroendocrine hormones, as evidenced by increased growth and production of virulence-associated factors, provides for a new framework with which to investigate how microorganisms interface not only with vertebrates, but also with invertebrates and even plants. The reader will learn that the neuroendocrine hormones that one most commonly associates with mammals are actually found throughout the plant, insect and microbial communities to an extent that will undoubtedly surprise many, and most importantly, how interactions between microbes and neuroendocrine hormones can influence the pathophysiology of infectious disease.




Pseudomonas Aeruginosa


Book Description

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, though unfamiliar as an aggressive invader, has gained importance in the scientific community due to its association with cystic fibrosis (CF) and its ability to construct biofilms resilient to host defense. The chronic nature of CF allows this bacterium to colonize, adapt, and evolve at its own pace, thereby causing further complications in CF patients. With its huge genetic repertoire and plasticity of the genome, P. aeruginosa has been able to alter its contents by way of deletions, insertions, inversions, and so on. Therefore scientists and researchers are eager to study this bacterium in diverse and unusual niches. Written by experts from around the world, this book describes and discusses the various mechanisms of adaptation and evolution displayed by P. aeruginosa.