The discovery of the human T cell leukemia virus type I in the late 1970s heralded a new era in retrovirology. For the first time, it was demonstrated that a retrovirus could play a role in the development of a human disease, in this case adult T cell leukemia (ATL). Several years later, the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic began, and it was dem- strated that a retrovirus, originally designated the human T cell lymp- tropic virus type 3, was the causal agent of this syndrome. This virus, later named the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), has since been extensively studied in terms of its pathogenesis as well as its ability to elicit immune responses. In that time, a tremendous amount of information has been obtained about the virus. Although recent drug regimens have been useful in significantly lowering viral loads and perhaps maintaining an asymptomatic state among individuals infected with HIV-1, an established "cure" for AIDS eludes us. In addition, the effective drug therapies are very expensive, and are not available to infected people in the third world, where greater than 90% of new infections occur. Furthermore, the development of viral resistance against the drug therapies is an additional concern. Despite extensive study, no effective vaccine has been developed. One of the problems in developing an effective vaccine against HIV-1 is the ability of the virus, particularly in the immunogenic envelop glycoprotein, to undergo amino acid hypervariability.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been recognized in printed records dating from the sixteenth century, and since the eradication of rinderpest (cattle plague) in the early part of the twentieth century it has been rec- nized as the most important and feared disease of cattle and other dom- tic livestock. The beginning of the twenty-first century brought the worst outbreak of FMD ever experienced in England, which had been completely free of the disease for 33 years. This tragic epidemic, which spread to Northern Ireland, Scotland, France and the Netherlands with severe e- nomic consequences, emphasized the need for further research into better methods for the detection and control of the disease. FMD is caused by a small RNA virus which is highly contagious and can survive in meat and other animal products for long periods at normal pH levels. The virus typically infects cloven-hoofed animals, including c- tle, goats, pigs and sheep, as well as a wide range of non-domesticated a- mals in regions of the world where FMD virus is endemic, such as the Af- can continent. There are seven recognized serotypes of FMD virus, with numerous subtypes, and as a consequence vaccine production and administration is complex and a major debate surrounds every disease outbreak regarding the relative merits of vaccination as opposed to the slaughter of all infected animals.

Polymeric Nanoparticles of Chitosan Derivatives as DNA and siRNA Carriers, by Y. K. Kim, H. L. Jiang, Y. J. Choi, I. K. Park, M. H. Cho and C. S. Cho.- Chitosan and Its Derivatives for Drug Delivery Perspective, by T. A. Sonia and C. P. Sharma.- Chitosan-based Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy, by V.-K. Lakshmanan, K. S. Snima, J. D. Bumgardner, S. V. Nair, and R. Jayakumar.- Chitosan and Thiolated Chitosan, by F. Sarti and A. Bernkop-Schnurch.- Chitosan-Based Particulate Systems for Non-Invasive Vaccine Delivery, by S. Senel.- Multifunctional Chitosan Nanoparticles for Tumor Imaging and Therapy, by J. Y. Yhee, Heebeom Koo, Dong Eun Lee, Kuiwon Choi, Ick Chan Kwon and Kwangmeyung Kim.- Chitosan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Molecular Imaging and Drug Delivery, by H. Arami, Z. Stephen, O. Veiseh and M. Zhang.- Chitosan: Its Applications in Drug-Eluting Devices, by Mei -Chin Chen, Fwu -Long Mi, Zi -Xian Liao and Hsing -Wen Sung.-

This book covers the wide set of well-regulated virulence factors and defense mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa focusing on stress responses and the evolution of this opportunistic human pathogen. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for one out of ten hospital infections. Additionally, this Gram-negative bacterium is accountable for persistent infections in immunocompromised individuals and the leading cause of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. This book provides insight on the metabolic versatility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its mechanisms for biofilm formation that make this organism highly efficient in causing infections. The book invites the readers to learn more about the intrinsic ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to resist a wide variety of antimicrobial agents due to the concerted action of multidrug efflux pumps, antibiotic-degrading enzymes, and the low permeability of bacterial cellular envelopes. Particular focus is put on the evolutionary role of different types of protein-secretion systems in pathogenesis, flagella and their role in chemotaxis and surface sensing, and host-pathogen interactions. This book is a useful introduction to the field for junior scientists interested in the biology and pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is also an interesting read for advanced scientists and medical specialists working within this field, providing a broader view of the topic beyond their specific area of specialization.

Bacteria and fungi are able to aggregate together or on surfaces in densely packed microcolonies, facilitated by extracellular polymeric substances for cell protection and stability. These biofilms have proven to be extremely hard to eradicate and remove once established. In chronic infections, this condition can result in a high degree of morbidity and mortality as regular antibiotic treatments are ineffective against biofilms. In industrial facilities, the formation of biofilms can ruin production and result in enormous financial losses. In this book, the current state of antibiofilm research is presented by experts from around the world. Novel, cutting-edge techniques and new optimized strategies based on established methods are discussed in chapters focused on biofilm prevention, treatment and control for the application in clinical, industrial and veterinary settings. Antibiofilm strategies, such as chemical and enzymatic treatments, surface modification and coatings, quorum sensing inhibition and dispersal induction, phage therapy, cold plasma treatment, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and metal-based nanomedicine are covered, among many others. This book contributes to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being and is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, microbiologists, academics and for educators to inform curricula of universities and colleges.

Scientific research on dengue has a long and rich history. The literature has been touched by famous names in medicine- Benjamin Rush, Walter Reed, and Albert Sabin, to name a very few- and has been fertile ground for medical historians . The advances made in those early investigations are all the more remarkable for the limited tools available at the time. The demonstration of a viral etiology for dengue fever, the recognition of mosquitoes as the vector for transmission to humans, and the existence of multiple viral variants (serotypes) with only partial cross-protection were all accomplished prior to the ability to culture and characterize the etiologic agent. Research on dengue in this period was typically driven by circumstances. Epidemics of dengue created public health crises, although these were relatively short-lived in any one location, as the population of susceptible individuals quickly shrank. Military considerations became as a major driving force for research. With the introduction of large numbers of non-immune individuals into endemic areas, dengue could cripple military readiness, taking more soldiers out of action than hostile fire. Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, which assumed pandemic proportions during the latter half of the last century, have shown no indication of slowing their growth during this first decade of the twenty-first century. Challenges remain in understanding the basic mechanisms of viral replication and disease pathogenesis, in clinical management of patients, and in control of dengue viral transmission. Nevertheless, new tools and insights have led to major recent scientific advances. As the first candidate vaccines enter large-scale efficacy trials, there is reason to hope that we may soon "turn the corner" on this disease.

This detailed volume explores the application of multiplex biomarker methods in the critical area of COVID-19 research through state-of-the-art technologies in the fields of genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and imaging. The book features a series of protocols from labs across the globe employing multiplex molecular approaches, which can be applied to accelerate progress in the research of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious illnesses. 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 essential, Multiplex Biomarker Techniques: Methods and Applications for COVID-19 Disease Diagnosis and Risk Stratification serves as a vital resource for researchers in the areas of virology, metabolic diseases, respiratory disorders, as well as to clinical scientists, physicians, pharmacologists, and the healthcare services.

In the summer of 1984, both of us were working with Professor Yechiel Becker in the Laboratory for Molecular Virology at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical center in Jerusalem. During a discussion about the increasing number of specialized journals and monographs, Dr. Becker pointed out that none covered both the clinical and molecular aspects of neurotropic virus infections, and he urged us to develop such a book with the help of colleagues who were conducting highly-regarded research in their individual areas related to neurotropic viruses. The responses to our request were gratifying, and each contribution provided both a comprehensive clinical description of the neurologic disease produced by a specific virus and an up-to-date review of the current research in the pathogenesis of the disease, with particular attention given to molecular mechanisms. Most, but not all chapters were written by clinical neurologists who applied basic science strategies and methodologies to the question of how neurotropic viruses produce disease. other chapters were written by virologists known for their longstanding commitment and expertise in the analysis of the pathogenesis of neurotropic virus infections. Thus, this unique monograph should be valuable to all clinicians caring for patients with CNS viral diseases and to "neurovirologists" needing an update of the clinical and molecular pathogenesis of neurotropic virus infections. While this monograph was being prepared, a rapidly expanding literature indicated that the human lenteviruses, human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and HTLV-1 were highly neurotropic.

Topics covered in this volume include gene survival in emergent genomes, evolution of prokaryotic pangenomes, horizontal-transfer of host-adaptibility systems and more.

This timely book discusses antimicrobial drug resistance, specifically, the resistance against the beta-lactam class of antibiotics by Gram-Negative bacteria. The book is broadly divided into five sections. The first section describes the underlying mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. It gives an insight into the beta-lactamases, their types, classification, inhibitors, etc. The second section delves deep into the genetic basis of resistance. It talks about transposons, integrons, insertion sequences associated with antibiotic-resistant genes. The next section describes phenotypic and molecular methods to detect beta-lactam resistance. The fourth section talks about the epidemiology and prevalence of beta-lactamases in the environment. The last section of the book describes the various therapeutic options to combat this growing public threat of antimicrobial resistance. It talks about the current reserve drugs, as well as the newer antibiotic agents that are in the pipeline. This book is essential for clinical practitioners, students, and researchers in basic and medical microbiology.

This volume covers a broad range of methods, technologies, and protocols on malaria. Chapters detail research on collecting parasites in the field, single molecule-level analyses of adhesive interactions, and focused studies aiming at disrupting the devastating disease. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Malaria Immunology: Targeting the Surface of Infected Erythrocytes aims to be a useful and practical guide to researches to help further their study in this field. Chapter Analysis of var gene transcription pattern using DBL -tags [Chapter 14] is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Public Health Microbiology: Methods and Protocols is focused on microorganisms that can present a hazard to human health in the course of everyday life. There are chapters dealing with organisms that are directly pathogenic to humans, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi; on organisms that produce toxins during growth in their natural habitats; on the use of bacteriocins produced by such organisms as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria; as well as several chapters on hazard analysis, the use of disinfectants, microbiological analysis of cosmetics, and microbiological tests for sanitation equipment in food factories. Additional chapters look at the use of animals (mice) in the study of the various characteristics of milk and their relationships with lactic acid bacteria in particular. Other chapters focus on special methods for determining particular components of milk. In particular, in Parts I and II, on bacterial and viral pathogens, special attention is given to methods for PCR detection of genes with resistance to tetracycline, as well as to Salmonella enterica; for identification and typing of Campylobacter coli; for detection of the abundance of enteric viruses, hepatitis A virus, and rotaviruses in sewage, and of bacteriophages infecting the O157: H7 strain of Escherichia coli. Part III offers methods for computerized analysis and typing of fungal isolates, for isolation and enumeration of fungi in foods, and for the determination of aflatoxin and zearalenone

Food Safety Management: A Practical Guide for the Food Industry, Second Edition continues to present a comprehensive, integrated and practical approach to the management of food safety throughout the production chain. While many books address specific aspects of food safety, no other book guides you through the various risks associated with each sector of the production process or alerts you to the measures needed to mitigate those risks. This new edition provides practical examples of incidents and their root causes, highlighting pitfalls in food safety management and providing key insights into different means for avoiding them. Each section addresses its subject in terms of relevance and application to food safety and, where applicable, spoilage. The book covers all types of risks (e.g., microbial, chemical, physical) associated with each step of the food chain, making it an ideal resource.

This book aims to cover the applications of nanotechnology against human infectious diseases. The chapters of the book discuss the role of nanotechnology in the efficient diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. It explicitly provides an overview of nanodiagnostics for infectious diseases from nanoparticles-based, nanodevice-based, and point-of-care platforms. The book also covers the state-of-the-art review of recent progress in biomimetic and bioengineered nanotherapies to treat infectious diseases. It also presents a nano carrier-based CRISPR/Cas9 delivery system for gene editing and its applications for developing interventional approaches against communicable diseases. Further, it reviews the recent developments in nanotechnology to engineer nanoparticles with desired physicochemical properties as a line of defense against multi-drug resistance micro-organisms. Cutting across the disciplines, this book serves as a guide for researchers in biotechnology, parasitology, and nanotechnology.

This detailed new edition compiles fully updated practical methodologies and approaches for diagnosticians and researchers working toward a better understanding of animal coronaviruses. The book explores vital techniques in virus isolation, diagnostic approaches via the detection of viral nucleic acids or proteins, serology, disease-targeted animal species models, and next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics. Written for the invaluable Springer Protocols Handbooks series, chapters contain readily reproducible laboratory protocols as well as expert tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Thorough and hands-on, Animal Coronaviruses, Second Edition will help readers design and carry out their increasingly important projects in clinical research, diagnostics, disease surveillance, and epidemiological study involving this family of viruses.

This Springer Protocols manual is a practical guide to the application of key molecular biology techniques in microbiological research. The focus is on experimental protocols, which are presented in an easy-to-follow way, as step-by-step procedures for direct use in the laboratory. Notes on how to successfully apply the procedures are included, as well as recommendations regarding materials and suppliers. In addition to the practical protocols, important background information and representative results of experiments using the described methods are presented. Researchers in all areas applying microbial systems, such as in molecular biology, genetics, pathology, and agricultural research will find this work of great value.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), isolated in 1966, continues to draw worldwide attention as an important human pathogen. Its impor tance is largely related to the continuing accumulation of evidence that implicates EBV as an etiological factor for certain types of human cancer. More recent investigations on this virus have focused on the identity of the viral genes responsible for the different disease mani festations observed following viral infection. It is hoped that by thorough investigation of this virus, clues to how cancer develops from a normal cell will surface. In addition, many of the gene products are now being exploited for the development of new and more sensitive tests for the diagnosis and clinical management of individu als with EBV -associated diseases. Thus, studies on this virus continue to provide new information of importance to our understanding of the malignant process. In an effort to attract both basic and clinical scientists to the same meeting for purposes of scientific exchange and fostering a closer interaction between these individuals, a series of international symposia was initiated in 1984. The first meeting was held in Loutraki, Greece, and was attended by approximately 100 participants. The second international symposium was held in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1986, and was attended by approximately twice as many partici pants as attended the Loutraki meeting."

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a serious global pandemic in just one year. Nearly every country and territory in the world has been affected by the virus. The virulence and infection rate of the virus are profound, and has required extreme social distancing measures across the globe in order to prevent overwhelming the healthcare services and hospitals. COVID-19 appears to have the greatest effects on elderly individuals and those who have co-morbid diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. As the cases and death rate remain high, there are justified fears of this virus remaining for several months or years to come. To address this, a rapid and unprecedented worldwide mobilization effort has begun to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines. As these begin to be deployed and administered across the globe, many now feel the virus will be brought under control and lives will eventually return to normal. This new volume will increase readers' understanding of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through a series of chapters that address these concerns. Leading experts will discuss new treatment approaches, vaccine development, mental health aspects of the pandemic, and convey the results of survey studies. The book will be an excellent resource for researchers studying virology, metabolic diseases, respiratory disorders, and clinical scientists, physicians, drug companies, and healthcare services and workers.

This volume focuses on the roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in contexts ranging from human cancers to cardiovascular disease and ageing. The role of lncRNAs in X-inactivation and those lncRNAs derived from pseudogenes, past retroelements integrated within the human genome, as well as the role these pseudogene-derived lncRNAs play in cancer development are discussed in detail. Further, the book examines the function of lncRNAs in diseases such as diabetes, in smooth muscle formation, and in the modulation of nuclear receptors, as well as in connection with perspectives on the development of personalized therapeutics. It offers an appealing and insightful resource for scientists and clinicians alike.

Lawries' Meat Science, Ninth Edition continues to be a classic reference in the meat world. It has been used by numerous generations of meat professionals since its first edition in 1966. The new edition brings four new chapters and updated information related to the latest advances in meat animals breeding and technologies for meat preservation, processing, and packaging. In addition, new relevant aspects of nutritional value, quality and safety of meat as well as methodologies for authenticity and traceability are provided with a compilation of chapters written by a select group of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the meat field. This book covers essential information and latest advances and developments, from the initial meat animal's growth and development to the time of slaughter and to the processing technologies, packaging and distribution till consumption of its meat. Relevant aspects of its composition, nutritional value, eating quality, consumer acceptance, safety and sustainability issues are also covered.

This volume covers the most important parasitic protists that are known to infect humans. The pathogens discussed cause diseases like toxoplasmosis, malaria, cryptosporidiosis, leishmaniasis, amoebiasis, trichomoniasis, and giardiasis. Readers from microbiology will appreciate the special focus on protist cell biology. As demonstrated in several of the chapters, these parasites are characterized by peculiar structures and organelles that cannot be found in mammalian cells - even though both are eukaryotic. The book employs light and electron microscopy to display the changing morphology in various stages of parasitic development. In turn, the results are supplemented by transcriptome and proteome profiles that help to describe how these changes take place on a molecular level. Both researchers and clinicians from tropical medicine will find essential and practically applicable background information on these increasingly important pathogens.

This book discusses recent developments in several laboratories studying leishmaniasis. Sequencing of the human genome, as well as of the leishmania genome, has led to significant advances in our understanding of host-immune responses against leishmania, and mechanisms of infection-induced pathology, which is responsible for morbidity and mortality. Pathogenesis of Leishmaniasis focuses on the latest basic research into leishmaniasis, but also addresses how advances in understanding can be applied to prevention, control and treatment of what the WHO has classified a neglected tropical disease.

It goes almost without saying that there has been a marked increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases throughout the world in the past two to three decades. Indeed, despite the progress that has been made in methods of diagnosis and treatment, the sexually transmitted diseases as a whole are the most common communicable diseases and as such constitute an important health problem. The increase in incidence may be accounted for by changes in sexual behaviour, the introduction of contraceptives and the increasing mobility of the population. In addition, during the same time period, the number of infectious agents recognized as being sexually transmitted has increased considerably. These include Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B virus. Indeed, some are as dependent on sexual transmission as the agents which cause the traditional venereal diseases and collectively they cause morbidity which has out-stripped that caused by gonorrhoea and syphilis. It could almost be said that to know the sexually transmitted diseases is to know micro biology. However, the approach taken in this book has not been to consider individual infectious agents and evaluate what they do and do not cause but to consider clinical conditions and what might be responsible for them. To cover the complete spectrum of the sexually transmitted diseases in a comprehensive way now takes a text book of massive proportion."

This research volume examines the available alternative, complementary, pharmaceutical and vaccine methods for treating, mitigating, or preventing COVID-19. Coverage includes traditional Chinese medicine, herbal remedies, nutraceutical/dietary options, and drug/vaccine therapies. All the methods discussed will be critically examined to provide readers with a full, unbiased overview that includes pros/cons of each method. While the nature of COVID-19 is still being studied, and new research and theories are being published daily, this book endeavors to provide readers with a comprehensive summary of current research on alternative and mainstream treatment and prevention methods.

This book presents a comprehensive view on mycotoxins of agricultural as well as non-agricultural environments and their health effects in humans and animals. Mycotoxins have immunosuppressive effects; but some of them can cause cancers, mutagenicity, neurotoxicity, liver and kidney damage, birth defects, DNA damage and respiratory disorders. The problem of mycotoxins is long-lasting and their direct or indirect exposures to humans and animals must be further discussed. The first chapter will cover the historical perspective of mycotoxins along with timeline while the second one will provide overview including classification of mycotoxins and mycotoxicoses. The comprehensive information/ literature on traditional, emerging and mushroom mycotoxins will be given in chapters 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Chapter 6 will deal with mycotoxins co-occurrence poisoning whereas new and masked mycotoxins will be described in chapter 7. The important aspects of mycotoxin studies like extraction, characterization and analysis and management strategies will be summarized in 8 and 9 chapters. The last chapter of the book will cover the recent developments in toxicokinetic studies of mycotoxins. The book will have the most up-to-date information and recent discoveries to deliver accurate data and to illustrate essential points to a wide range of readers including mycologists, clinicians, agricultural scientists, chemists, veterinarians, environmentalists and food scientists.