Toxins and Signal Transduction


Book Description

Of the multitude of toxins known and the enormous variety of effects they cause, of particular interest are those that influence signal transduction. Intercellular communication by chemical signals is essential for the functioning of multicellular organisms. Many toxins exert their biological effects by interfering with the signal transduction initiated by these chemicals (hormones, transmitters, growth factors, and other mediators). Up-to-date information is provided by outstanding experts, who discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in the action of many toxins, as well as the use of toxins as informative tools with which to study signal transduction and their potential therapeutic usage. This volume contains useful information for the experimentalist interested in toxins or in signal transduction, as well as for the reader interested in gaining a comprehensive overview of the field. The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxin Action series will include monographs on signal transduction, secretory systems, cytoskeleton, selective neurotoxicity of natural, recombinant and chimeric toxins giving a broader emphasis on the mechanism of action, structure-function relationship, and use of toxins as research tools and their therapeutic applications.




Toxicant-Receptor Interactions


Book Description

Many of the toxic effects elicited by xenobiotics can be explained at the molecular level by their interaction with receptors or by disruption or interference with receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways. This volume describes molecular approaches and reviews of current research. It provides reviews of numerous research areas which are direc




Bacterial Protein Toxins


Book Description

In recent years remarkable progress has been accomplished with respect to our knowledge about bacterial protein toxins. This refers especially to structural aspects of protein toxins but also holds true for genetics, molecular biology and biochemical mechanisms underlying the action of toxins. This volume covers the very current and exciting aspects of up-to-date bacterial toxicology and comprehensively reviews the most important bacterial protein toxins such as the intracellular acting toxins which exhibit enzyme activity, as well as those toxins that interact with cell plasma membranes by damaging the membranes (pore formation) or stimulating cell receptors (superantigens). This is the most current reference work on these important bacterial protein toxins, which are presented from the point of view of different disciplines such as pharmacology, microbiology, cell biology and protein chemistry.




Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment


Book Description

The new field of toxicogenomics presents a potentially powerful set of tools to better understand the health effects of exposures to toxicants in the environment. At the request of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Research Council assembled a committee to identify the benefits of toxicogenomics, the challenges to achieving them, and potential approaches to overcoming such challenges. The report concludes that realizing the potential of toxicogenomics to improve public health decisions will require a concerted effort to generate data, make use of existing data, and study data in new waysâ€"an effort requiring funding, interagency coordination, and data management strategies.




Bacterial Signaling


Book Description

Providing a comprehensive insight into cellular signaling processes in bacteria with a special focus on biotechnological implications, this is the first book to cover intercellular as well as intracellular signaling and its relevance for biofilm formation, host pathogen interactions, symbiotic relationships, and photo- and chemotaxis. In addition, it deals in detail with principal bacterial signaling mechanisms -- making this a valuable resource for all advanced students in microbiology. Dr. Krämer is a world-renowned expert in intracellular signaling and its implications for biotechnology processes, while Dr. Jung is an expert on intercellular signaling and its relevance for biomedicine and agriculture.




Signal Transduction and Human Disease


Book Description

This book uniquely relates the broad impact of signal transduction research on the understanding and treatment of human disease. There have been significant advances in the area of signaling in disease processes, yet no resource presently connects these advances with understanding of disease processes and applications for novel therapeutics. Given the emphasis on translational research and biological relevance in biotechnology, and, conversely, the importance of molecular approaches for clinical research, it is evident that a single resource bridging signaling research and human disease will be invaluable.




Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment


Book Description

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment reviews advances made during the last 10-15 years in fields such as developmental biology, molecular biology, and genetics. It describes a novel approach for how these advances might be used in combination with existing methodologies to further the understanding of mechanisms of developmental toxicity, to improve the assessment of chemicals for their ability to cause developmental toxicity, and to improve risk assessment for developmental defects. For example, based on the recent advances, even the smallest, simplest laboratory animals such as the fruit fly, roundworm, and zebrafish might be able to serve as developmental toxicological models for human biological systems. Use of such organisms might allow for rapid and inexpensive testing of large numbers of chemicals for their potential to cause developmental toxicity; presently, there are little or no developmental toxicity data available for the majority of natural and manufactured chemicals in use. This new approach to developmental toxicology and risk assessment will require simultaneous research on several fronts by experts from multiple scientific disciplines, including developmental toxicologists, developmental biologists, geneticists, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians.




Cellular Signal Transduction in Toxicology and Pharmacology


Book Description

Covering a key topic due to growing research into the role of signaling mechanisms in toxicology, this book focuses on practical approaches for informatics, big data, and complex data sets. Combines fundamentals / basics with experimental applications that can help those involved in preclinical drug studies and translational research Includes detailed presentations of study methodology and data collection, analysis, and interpretation Discusses tools like experimental design, sample handling, analytical measurement techniques




The Comprehensive Sourcebook of Bacterial Protein Toxins


Book Description

This book describes the major achievements and discoveries relevant to bacterial protein toxins since the turn of the new century illustrated by the discovery of more than fifty novel toxins (many of them identified through genome screening). The establishment of the three-dimensional crystal structure of more than 20 toxins during the same period offers deeper knowledge of structure-activity relationships and provides a framework to understand how toxins recognize receptors, penetrate membranes and interact with and modify intracellular substrates. - Edited by two of the most highly regarded experts in the field from the Institut Pasteur, France - 14 brand new chapters dedicated to coverage of historical and general aspects of toxinology - Includes the major toxins of both basic and clinical interest are described in depth - Details applied aspects of toxins such as therapy, vaccinology, and toolkits in cell biology - Evolutionary and functional aspects of bacterial toxins evaluated and summarized - Toxin applications in cell biology presented - Therapy (cancer therapy, dystonias) discussed - Vaccines (native and genetically engineered vaccines) featured - Toxins discussed as biological weapons, comprising chapters on anthrax, diphtheria, ricin etc.




Mechanistic Toxicology


Book Description

A thorough understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the individual expression of toxic effects provides an important tool for assessment of human health risk. New aspects, major advances, and new areas in molecular and cellular biology and toxicology demand updated sources of information to elucidate the functional mechanics of human toxicology. Mechanistic Toxicology: The Molecular Basis of How Chemicals Disrupt Biological Targets, Second Edition retains the accessible format of the original to present the general principles that link xenobiotic-induced toxicity with the molecular pathways that underlie these toxic effects. Extensively illustrated, this book forms a conceptual bridge between multiple events at the molecular level and the determinants of toxicity at the physiological and cellular level. Specific examples of drugs, environmental pollutants, and other chemicals are carefully chosen to illustrate and highlight the fundamental mechanisms of toxicity at different toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic levels. The book includes references and review articles at the end of each chapter, as well as boxed text for relevant review information on biological, biochemical, molecular, and toxicological background. Linking molecular pathways to more general biomedical contexts, the author ensures that the reader is not lost in the details and instead receives a broad understanding of the processes underlying xenobiotic toxicity. New in the Second Edition Updated chapters Types of toxic responses Disruption of signal transduction by xenobiotics Disruption of mitochondrial function Novel mechanisms derived from systems toxicology