While we have a feeling that our 'thought experiment' could bear fruit, we are far from the idea that equivalent expressions by the brain and the immune function point to an axis of both systems. Al-though major players, they also depend on the regulation of the rest of the body. As we focus here rather on a social context, many more factors are to be accounted for. Shanty-towns, rather than being seen in a dismissive context, may provide clues to historical conditions, a tip off perhaps to update the idea of 'individualistic' immunity. Subjected to all kinds of inward and outward interferences, obviously, a historical approach is complex. Urban overcrowding, by replacing nomadic life, allowed multiple interacting brains to develop civilization and science. The fact that survival under prolonged siege had been recorded, filthy food and water supply notwithstanding, suggests that collective immune adaptation may not be out of question either. Fortunately, experimental evidence in mice and other animal comes in support to our hypothesis of collective immunity. As yet no consensus about immune stimulation or downplaying has been reached, our aim being the possibility of reciprocal immune influence as such.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, blue-green bacteria or cyanophyta, is a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis. They are a significant component of the marine nitrogen cycle and an important primary producer in many areas of the ocean, but are also found in habitats other than the marine environment; in particular, cyanobacteria are known to occur in both freshwater and hypersaline inland lakes. They are found in almost every conceivable environment, from oceans to fresh water to bare rock to soil. Cyanobacteria are the only group of organisms that are able to reduce nitrogen and carbon in aerobic conditions, a fact that may be responsible for their evolutionary and ecological success. Certain cyanobacteria also produce cyanotoxins. This new book presents a broad variety of international research on this important organism.

A bacteriophage is any one of a number of viruses that infect bacteria. The term is commonly used in its shortened form, phage. Typically, bacteriophages consist of an outer protein hull enclosing genetic material. The genetic material can be ssRNA (single stranded RNA), dsRNA, ssDNA, or dsDNA between 5 and 500 kilo base pairs long with either circular or linear arrangement. Bacteriophages are much smaller than the bacteria they destroy - usually between 20 and 200 nm in size. Phages are estimated to be the most widely distributed and diverse entities in the biosphere.[1] Phages are ubiquitous and can be found in all reservoirs populated by bacterial hosts, such as soil or the intestines of animals. One of the densest natural sources for phages and other viruses is sea water, where up to 9x108 virions per millilitre have been found in microbial mats at the surface, and up to 70% of marine bacteria may be infected by phages. They have been used for over 60 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. They are seen as a possible therapy against multi drug resistant strains of many bacteria. This book presents the latest research in this field from around the world.

This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.

1st Prize, 'New Authored Books' category, Royal Society of Medicine and Society of Authors Medical Book Awards 2008

""Overall, I am impressed by the up-to date information content and structure provided in Bacteriology of Humans. It is truly an ecological perspective helpful for undergraduate/graduate majors in microbiology and immunology."" -American Society for Microbiology, June 2009

""Wilson provides the reader with an up-to-date, comprehensive census of the indigenous microorganisms that inhabit the human body and in so doing contributes significantly to this rapidly advancing area of study. The narrative is clearly written; the index is excellent; there are numerous bibliographic citations. Each chapter is rich with tables, diagrams, color micrographs, and charts ... Highly recommended."" -Choice Reviews

""This comprehensive, yet accessible text... is an excellent and informative reference book... it should be on the shelf of every major science and medical library. The content, organization, and presentation make this book a unique resource."" -Doody's Book Reviews

Until recently, the indigenous microbiota of humans has been a relatively neglected area of microbiology with most attention being focused on those microbes that cause disease in humans, rather than on those that co-exist with us in the disease-free state. However, in the past decade research has shown that not only is the indigenous microbiota involved in protecting humans from exogenous pathogens but it is also involved in our development and nutrition. Consequently, interest has grown substantially among health professionals and scientists in analyzing and understanding these microbial (largely bacterial) communities.

This comprehensive, yet accessible text provides an up-to-date guide to the development, composition and distribution of indigenous microbial communities of humans. With the aid of abundant colour figures, diagrams, tables and maps, it establishes links between the physicochemical factors prevailing at an anatomical site and the types of microbes to be found there. The book includes an introduction to the human-microbe symbiosis as well as an in-depth look at the main systems and organs of the human body that have an indigenous microbiota. Each chapter includes a list of references for further study.

This is an excellent and informative reference book that is useful to anyone with an interest in microbiology, medical microbiology, microbial ecology, infectious diseases, immunology, human biology, medicine, dentistry, nursing, health sciences, biomedical sciences or pharmacy - it should be on the shelf of every major science and medical library.

Hallmark Features: Provides a comprehensive, yet accessible, reference book on the human microbiotaLavishly illustrated with colour figures, diagrams, tables and mapsEach chapter provides a list of references to promote further studyEach chapter contains links to key websitesOffers an ecological approach that explains why certain organisms are associated with a particular anatomical site

Pathological bacteria are only 5% of the bacterial population. The other 95% promote the health and well-being of Earth. The digestive tract holds trillions of archaebacteria from over 4 1/2 billion years ago. When in danger, bacteria create shells for protection. Are humans evolved shells in order to protect the bacteria from atmospheric oxygen? Life forms are descended from prokaryote archaebacteria, for whom oxygen is unnecessary. After millions of years of evolution, can bacteria now direct humans to return the planet, through pollution, ozone depletion, or a nuclear disaster, to a more manageable level of oxygen from a present 21% to less than 1%? No bacteria reside in the cranial brain. Was the enteric nervous system the first brain? Are the archaebacteria within the gastrointestinal tract directing the actions of the body? Are the archaebacteria the architects and directors of evolution?

"Although most people are aware that bacteria are all around us, few would guess that they produce such distinctive and accessible signs. Whether you're walking on the beach, visiting a zoo or aquarium, buying groceries, looking for fossils, drinking beer, traipsing through a swamp, or cleaning scum from beneath a dripping outdoor faucet, you're surrounded by bacterial field marks. You don't need a laboratory or fancy equipment to find out what kind of bacteria are there—this guide will tell you how."—from the Introduction Bacteria are an integral aspect of every habitat in which they occur and affect the lives of humans, other animals, and plants in many ways. Too often, we equate "bacterium" with "pathogen" and think of bacteria as things to avoid. In a fascinating guide perfect for naturalists, students, teachers, and tourists alike, Betsey Dexter Dyer lets the reader know that it is possible to observe bacteria with all the senses. Many groups of bacteria can be easily identified in the field (or in the refrigerator) without a microscope. Written for curious souls of all ages, A Field Guide to Bacteria opens our eyes—and noses and ears—to this hidden (or neglected) world around us. Useful illustrations, including 120 color photographs, accompany Dyer's lively text throughout.

Functional Analysis of Bacterial Genes: A Practical Manual summarises the principles and the key methods used to analyse the function of genes in bacteria. Written by members of the Bacillus subtilis Functional Analysis Consortium, this book provides a guide to the many approaches for the systematic analysis of gene function.
Features include:

• In-depth discussion of the theory and application of the methods
• A step-by-step practical guide to each method
• Experimental examples to indicate expected results
• Contact information for suppliers and resource centres

"This volume, and the pioneering effort it represents, will be of interest not only to those of us who are specialists in B. subtilis but to all microbiologists and genome scientists who face the formidable task of uncovering the functions of the myriad uncharacterised genes that are emerging from large-scale sequencing." -Richard Losick , The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

The Archaea, or archaebacteria, constitute the fifth kingdom of living organisms, as distinct from true bacteria as from fungi, animals, and plants. They were very likely the first life forms, from which all other living things evolved, because they are naturally adapted to thrive in the anoxic extreme environments that prevailed when life originated on the earth. Less than 20 years ago they were discovered inhabiting hot springs, salt pans, animal rumens, deep sea vents, soils, and deeply buried sediments in environments in which other life forms could not survive. Their discovery has given a unique vantage on the principles of life, because they present unique life histories and metabolisms, in effect a novel, previously unrecognized type of life. Many of the Archaea are of significant commercial importance; for instance, PCR, which has revolutionized molecular biology, is based on enzymes found in a member of the Archaea that was originally found in a hot geyser pool in Yellowstone National Park.

A collection of 17 reproduced typescripts, most double spaced, without introduction or preface. The topics include a comparison of conventional typing with molecular typing of recent isolates of group B Streptococci from the UK, identifying a common structural binding domain in fibronectin-binding p

BACTERIAL ADHESION Molecular and Ecological Diversity Edited by Madilyn Fletcher

Over the last twenty years, research has revealed the enormous complexity underlying the phenomenon of bacterial adhesion. The initial research goal was to understand the mechanism of attachment and its effects on the bacteria as well as the host. As research progressed, however, it became evident that many different attachment mechanisms exist. These diverse forms of adhesion are the results of numerous evolutionary pressures, and each may be part of a larger behavioral strategy.

This comprehensive overview details how diversity in habitat and ecological requirements has led to enormous variety in adhesive cell components, underlying genetic determinants, and behavioral strategies. It presents the latest research on adhesion mechanisms and strategies found in diverse environments and microorganisms, including the new environment of biomaterials.

Bacterial Adhesion: Molecular and Ecological Diversity examines adhesion as a strategy for nutrient access and as a phase in the complex behavior of life cycle processes. It covers the latest research and innovative approaches in the field, including:

• Conceptual advances in research on the adhesion of bacteria to oral surfaces
• Enhancing colonization in a fluctuating environment
• The cellulosome: a cell-surface organelle for the adhesion to and degradation of cellulose
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa—versatile attachment mechanisms
• Sensing, response, and adaptation to surfaces
• Myxococcus coadhesion and role in the life cycle

Edited by a leading authority on bacterial adhesion and featuring contributions from the field's leading experts, this book speaks to researchers in all areas of microbiology, biotechnology, environmental technology, and environmental science, as well as urology, immunology, and infectious diseases.

Bacterial Adhesion: Molecular and Ecological Diversity is the latest addition to the Wiley Series in Ecological and Applied Microbiology. Recent books in the series include:

• Microbial Transformation and Degradation of Toxic Organic Chemicals edited by Lily Y. Young and Carl E. Cerniglia
• Wastewater Microbiology by Gabriel Bitton
• Environmental Microbiology edited by Ralph Mitchell
• Biotechnology in Plant Disease Control edited by Ilan Chet
• Antarctic Microbiology edited by E. Imre Friedmann
• Effects of Acid Rain on Forest Processes edited by Douglas L. Godbold and Aloys Hüttermann

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) are a heterologous group of microorganisms that have been isolated from numerous ecological niches, including fermented foods, plants, and the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Because of their "generally regarded as safe" status (GRAS), there has been great interest in using these microorganisms in food production, as probiotic microorganisms or as biotechnological tools. This book describes some of the many benefits of LAB including i) their use in foods where advances in the fight against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in foods, their thermotolerance, their microencapsulation, and responses to osmotic challenges will be discussed; ii) their capacity to produce beneficial compounds including bioactive peptides, biosurfactants, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and antimicrobial products such as organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, bacteriocins, and peptidoglycan hydrolases; and iii) their effect on health and other applications such as their use as a DNA vaccine delivery system, bile-salt hydrolase, and exopolysaccharides production as well as the use of spore forming LAB. This new book is a compilation of topics that have been written by experts from all over the world (Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Mexico, and Thailand) who work in different research settings offering varying viewpoints on the most up-to-date information currently available on the uses and many benefits of Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Foodborne illnesses continue to be a major public health concern. All members of a particular bacterial genera (e.g., Salmonella, Campylobacter) or species (e.g., Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii) are often treated by public health and regulatory agencies as being equally pathogenic; however, this is not necessarily true and is an overly conservative approach to ensuring the safety of foods. Even within species, virulence factors vary to the point that some isolates may be highly virulent, whereas others may rarely, if ever, cause disease in humans. Hence, many food safety scientists have concluded that a more appropriate characterization of bacterial isolates for public health purposes could be by virotyping, i.e., typing food-associated bacteria on the basis of their virulence factors. The book is divided into two sections. Section I, "Foodborne Pathogens and Virulence Factors," hones in on specific virulence factors of foodborne pathogens and the role they play in regulatory requirements, recalls, and foodborne illness. The oft-held paradigm that all pathogenic strains are equally virulent is untrue. Thus, we will examine variability in virulence between strains such as Listeria, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Cronobacter, etc. This section also examines known factors capable of inducing greater virulence in foodborne pathogens. Section II, "Foodborne Pathogens, Host Susceptibility, and Infectious Dose" , covers the ability of a pathogen to invade a human host based on numerous extraneous factors relative to the host and the environment. Some of these factors include host age, immune status, genetic makeup, infectious dose, food composition and probiotics. Readers of this book will come away with a better understanding of foodborne bacterial pathogen virulence factors and pathogenicity, and host factors that predict the severity of disease in humans.

A valuable handbook containing reviews, practical methods and standard operating procedures. * A valuable and practical working handbook containing introductory and specialist content that tackles a major and growing field of environmental, microbiological and ecotoxicological monitoring and analysis * Includes introductory reviews, practical analytical chapters and a comprehensive listing of almost thirty Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) * For use in the laboratory, in academic and government institutions and industrial settings

Bacteria are a large group of unicellular micro-organisms. Most bacteria have a single circular chromosome that can range in size. DNA is organised into chromosomes and, in organisms other than bacteria, it is found only in the cell nucleus. Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses. Their main role is the long-term storage of information. DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints or a code, since it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells. This book presents current research on bacterial DNA, DNA polymerase and DNA helicases.

More than eighty years ago, before we knew much about the structure of cells, Russian botanist Boris Kozo-Polyansky brilliantly outlined the concept of symbiogenesis, the symbiotic origin of cells with nuclei. It was a half-century later, only when experimental approaches that Kozo-Polyansky lacked were applied to his hypotheses, that scientists began to accept his view that symbiogenesis could be united with Darwin's concept of natural selection to explain the evolution of life. After decades of neglect, ridicule, and intellectual abuse, Kozo-Polyansky's ideas are now endorsed by virtually all biologists.

Kozo-Polyansky's seminal work is presented here for the first time in an outstanding annotated translation, updated with commentaries, references, and modern micrographs of symbiotic phenomena.

Dieses Lehrbuch bietet Antworten auf Fragen wie "Wie funktioniert diese mikrobiologische Methode ganz praktisch? Wie kann ich meine Forschung um eine sinnvolle Methode erweitern?" Vergleichbar einem Kochbuch sind Zutaten und einzelne Handgriffe ubersichtlich aufgelistet und mit praktischen Tipps und Gefahrenhinweisen versehen. Ob zu Fluoreszenzmikroskopie, Genomik oder Isolierung und Kultivierung von Bakterien, Archaeen und Pilzen - erfahrene MikrobiologInnen finden hier ebenso schnelle Hinweise wie Quereinsteiger, die ihr Arbeitsgebiet mikrobiologisch erweitern wollen. Die fachkundigen PraktikerInnen Astrid Brandis-Heep, Erika Kothe und Timo Zimmermann haben ubersichtlich praktische Methoden und Ratschlage fur den Laboralltag zusammengestellt, die - mikrobiologisches Grundwissen vorausgesetzt - Masterstudierenden, Doktoranden, Postdocs und fortgeschrittenen Arbeitsgruppen sowohl im Alltag als auch fur eine Neuausrichtung Ihrer Forschung entscheidende Hinweise geben.

A lethal germ is unleashed in the U.S. mail. A chain of letters spreads terror from Florida to Washington, D.C., from New York to Connecticut, from the halls of Congress to the assembly lines of the U.S. Postal Service. Five people die, and ten thousand more line up for antibiotics to protect against exposure. The government, already outsmarted by the terrorist hijackers of 9/11, leaves its workers vulnerable and a diabolical killer on the loose.

Based on hundreds of hours of interviews and a review of thousands of pages of government documents, "The Killer Strain is the definitive account of the year in which bioterrorism became a reality in the United States. Revealing the little-known victims and unsung heroes in the anthrax debacle, investigative reporter Marilyn Thompson also examines the FBI's slow-paced investigation of the crimes and the unprecedented scientific challenges posed by the case.

"The Killer Strain, more than just a thrilling read, is also a clarion wake-up call. It shows how billions of dollars and a decade of elaborate bioterror dress rehearsals meant nothing in the face of a real attack -- and how we may still be at risk.

The Handbook of Laboratory Animal Bacteriology, Second Edition provides comprehensive information on all bacterial phylae found in laboratory rodents and rabbits to assist managers, veterinary pathologists and laboratory animal veterinarians in the management of these organisms. The book starts by examining the general aspects of bacteriology and how to sample and identify bacteria in animals. It then describes the most relevant species within each phylum and discusses the impact they may have on research. Emphasizing those bacteria known to interfere with research protocols, the book offers methods for isolation and differentiation among related bacteria. It discusses where to purchase reagents for rodent bacteriology and outlines standards for safety in a bacteriological laboratory. Highlights of the second edition: Focuses on modern sequencing techniques based on molecular identification Reorganizes content according to modern systematics based on new identification methods Presents new chapters on mechanisms behind bacterial impact on animal models and on the systematic classification of bacteria Provides information on a range of bacteria interfering with animal models for human disease, not only for those bacteria which cause disease in laboratory animal colonies Includes new figures in color and with enhanced resolution The book is essential reading for those interested in the management of organisms known to interfere with the colony health of rabbits and rodents used in research protocols-including facility managers, clinical veterinarians, veterinary pathologists, and researchers.

Bacterial surface or secreted polysaccharides are molecules that can function as barriers to protect bacterial cells against environmental stresses, as well as act as adhesins or recognition molecules. In some cases, these molecules are immunodominant antigens eliciting a vigorous immune response, while in other cases the expression of polysaccharides camouflages the bacteria from the immune system. Until recently, most studies on the enzymatic steps and regulation of these molecules were performed on the enteric gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. With the advent of modern bacterial genetics, techniques such as construction and characterization of polysaccharide mutants, cloning of genes and complementation of these mutations, and expression of polysaccharides in heterologous bacterial hosts has prompted investigations into the roles and functions of these molecules for many different bacteria. Here, we present the genetic analysis of polysaccharides from a number of bacteria pathogenic to humans and one symbiotic with plants in hopes that similarities in the experimental approaches as well as finding s from such investigations may lead to a general understanding of polysaccharide synthesis and regulation in various bacteria. Features