This book series focuses on current progress in the broad field of medical microbiology, and covers both basic and applied topics related to the study of microbes, their interactions with human and animals, and emerging issues relevant for public health. Original research and review articles present and discuss multidisciplinary findings and developments on various aspects of microbiology, infectious diseases, and their diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The book series publishes review and original research contributions, short reports as well as guest edited thematic book volumes. All contributions will be published online first and collected in book volumes. There are no publication costs. Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health is a subseries of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, which has been publishing significant contributions in the field for over 30 years and is indexed in Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, BIOSIS, Biological Abstracts, CSA, Biological Sciences and Living Resources (ASFA-1), and Biological Sciences. 2018 Impact Factor: 2.126.

Acinetobacter details the clinical aspects of this bacterium responsible for many infections in hospitalized patients. This reference explains the importance of these organisms, both from the patient's viewpoint and the economic perspective, and provides clinicians with the knowledge they need to control these bacteria.

Authored by electron microscopists and leading members of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), the Atlas of Virus Diagrams includes chapters on virus classification. The diagrams, selected for content and historic and aesthetic value, illustrate vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant bacterial viruses taken from English, French, and German language virological literature. The book presents this information in three sections:
o Overviews, including vertebrate and plant viruses
o Viruses with cubic and helical symmetry
o Viruses with binary symmetry (tailed bacteriophages).

This volume describes the structure and function of bacterial toxins and presents a comprehensive review of virulence factors, providing recent information concerning cell physiology and biochemistry, as well as new toxin tools for experimental studies and clinical therapy. A wide variety of toxic proteins, including the toxins that cause diptheria, cholera, pertussis, shigellosis, tetanus, botulism and anthrax, are discussed.;The work is aimed at microbiologists, biochemists, endocrinologists, toxicologists, infectious disease specialists, pathologists, public health officials, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.

This multivolume handbook presents the most authoritative and comprehensive reference work on major zoonoses of the world. The Handbook of Zoonoses covers most diseases communicable to humans, as well as those diseases common to both animals and humans. It identifies animal diseases that are host specific and reviews the effects of various human diseases on animals. Discussions address diseases that remain important public and animal health problems and the techniques that can control and prevent them.
The chapters are written by internationally recognized scientists in their respective areas of disease, who work or have worked extensively in the most affected areas of the world. The emphasis for each zoonosis is on the epidemiology of the disease, the clinical syndromes and carrier states in infected animals and humans, and the most current methods for diagnosis and approaches to control. For infectious agents or biologic toxins, which may be transmitted by foods of animal origin, a strong focus is placed on food safety measures. The etiologic and therapeutic aspects of each disease important to epidemiology and control are identified.

There are three major types of human retroviruses, namely HIV, HTLV, and endogenous human retroviruses. This book presents the latest findings on the replication of these human retroviruses. This book is unique in that there has been no comparable book that integrates the findings from the three known classes of human retroviruses. Other books have focused on one of the three classes of human retroviruses individually.

An accomplished international team of contributing authors have combined their expertise to provide cutting-edge findings in this important field. The book will be a valuable reference for students, researchers and medical professionals.

This multivolume handbook presents the most authoritative and comprehensive reference work on major zoonoses of the world. The Handbook of Zoonoses covers most diseases communicable to humans, as well as those diseases common to both animals and humans. It identifies animal diseases that are host specific and reviews the effects of various human diseases on animals. Discussions address diseases that remain important public and animal health problems and the techniques that can control and prevent them.
The chapters are written by internationally recognized scientists in their respective areas of disease, who work or have worked extensively in the most affected areas of the world. The emphasis for each zoonosis is on the epidemiology of the disease, the clinical syndromes and carrier states in infected animals and humans, and the most current methods for diagnosis and approaches to control. For infectious agents or biologic toxins, which may be transmitted by foods of animal origin, a strong focus is placed on food safety measures. The etiologic and therapeutic aspects of each disease important to epidemiology and control are identified.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an enigmatic immune mediated disease of the central nervous system that affects about 350,000 individuals in the US, and many more around the world. The mechanism of this disease is largely unknown and there is no cure for it. However, there are several well-characterized experimental animal models that help us understand and speculate about potential mechanisms of pathology in this disease. Many of the experimental therapies designed for this disease rely on testing the drugs in animal models before using it in clinical trials. This book combines for the first time the different experimental models for MS (including immune-mediated and viral) under one roof, and highlights aspects that are different or shared among these experimental models. It 's aim is to improve our understanding of this devastating disease and help us think about potential additional therapies for it.

This book presents current recommendations for vaccination for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis in all suitable target populations and groups. It provides immunization guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for health care workers and others at occupational risk of exposure and for routine vaccinations by the Immune Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control.;Covering all aspects of the production, testing and applications of Hepatitis B vaccines, this book: lists all available vaccines worldwide; discusses all serological assays in the field; examines how the vaccine was tested in international clinical trials; describes new programmes for universal immunization of infants; and reveals how the vaccine may prevent some forms of hepatocellular carcinoma.;The book should be of interest to: infectious disease specialists, clinical virologists, immunologists, haematologists, oncologists, hepatologists and gastroenterologists, paediatricians, pharmacologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, biotechnologists, genetic engineers, occupational safety administrators and public health specialists; and upper level undergraduate, graduate and medical school students of these disciplines.

This reference spotlights the immunologic aspects of applying interferon-gamma to the treatment of infectious diseases - revealing the current knowledge of the biology and potential utility of interferon-gamma.;Written by more than 30 leading investigators in the field, Anti-Infective Applications of Interferon-Gamma: presents information according to specific patient populations and pathogens; focuses on only the most promising of emerging therapeutic agents; furnishes a detailed update of the pleiotropic role of interferon-gamma in host defense; and studies clinical and preclinical experiences in a broad variety of disease indications.;Containing over 900 bibliographic citations for further research, this book should be useful for infectious disease specialists, pharmacologists, immunologists, surgeons, pediatricians, parasitologists, hematologists, virologists, microbiologists, pathologists, oncologists and tropical medicine specialists.

This book provides essential worldwide reference information regarding rabies for public health officials, veterinarians, physicians, virologists, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, laboratory diagnosticians, and wildlife biologists. The book is divided into six main sections, covering topics such as the rabies virus, including antigenic and biochemical characteristics; pathogenesis, including the immune response to the infection, pathology, and latency; diagnostic techniques; rabies epidemiology in a variety of wild and domestic animals; rabies control, including vaccination of wild and domestic animals, as well as control on the international level; and finally a discussion of rabies in humans, local wound and serum treatment, and human post-exposure vaccination. Natural History of Rabies, First Edition has been the principal worldwide reference since 1975. The new Second Edition has been completely updated, providing current information on this historically deadly disease.

This fascinating book describes the history, and epidemiology in both man and animals, and clinical features of this zoonosis. It reveals detailed information pertaining to the basic science aspects of the interaction of Coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of Q (Query) fever, with the host and the immune response of the host to this unique pathogen. This one-of-a-kind work uses the rules of epidemiological evidence to determine whether or not Coxiella burnetii is a perinatal pathogen for man. This interesting, easy-to-understand text concludes with chapters dealing with the antibiotic susceptibility of Coxiella burnetii and the studies that resulted in a vaccine that now can be used to prevent this infection. This volume is an absolute must for all microbiologists, respirologists, infectious disease physicians and veterinarians.

To start with, we feel that we should explain why the book has been entitled Cholera Toxins. In fact, the enterotoxin secreted by Vibrio cholerae, which is p- marily responsible for causation of the disease, is conventionally known as or referred to as cholera toxin, or CT. By using the word "toxins" (in its plural form), we wanted to cover all of the different types of toxins-and not just CT-produced by V. cholerae. We could have used the title Toxins of Vibrio cholerae, but we believe that Cholera Toxins is simpler and equally as expressive. However, due to its relative importance, the story of CT covers most of this book. Also, compared to all other toxins of V. cholerae, CT has been investigated more extensively. This book was jointly written by us. It is not a multiauthor book in which each expert writes one chapter. In that respect our task is harder. On the other hand, it has given us the unique opportunity to present the entire subject in the way that we conceived it. Besides, our objective is to cater to the needs of not only active research scientists but also students from different disciplines-microbiology, molecular physiology and pharmacology, basic medicines, etc. -and as such, we have attempted to present the subject in a way that will be appreciated by general readers. Further, we have provided some information that students and predoctoral researchers may find useful at the end of the book.

First published in 1990. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This book captures some of the essential developments, both historical and current, relating to the human retroviruses and the diseases they cause. It describes detailed molecular biology and epidemiology of human T-leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1).

This publication is a collection of essays on the biology of intracellular parasitisms where both bacterial and protozoan parasites are discussed. The juxtaposition of authors representing fields of research emphasizes the many common problems facing intracellular parasites and the hosts that harbor them. In addition, numerous illustrations of how different parasites and host attempt to solve these problems in different ways are provided. The book includes one or more chapters on Bdellovibrio, Chlamydia, Rickettsia, Coxiella, Legionella, Shigellae, Mycobacterium, Microsporidium, Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma. The authors frequently speculate and generalize on the subject matter discussed.

This informative text is divided into eight chapters, each of which presents a comprehensive review of natural and acquired host defense mechanisms in a major mycotic disease. The chapters are written by distinguished scientists whose studies have contributed significantly to the understanding of the immunology of the mycoses. This text should provide a valuable reference for researchers, practicing clinicians, and new investigators entering this expanding field.

Drug-resistant bacteria ― known as superbugs ― are one of the biggest medical threats of our time. Here, a doctor, researcher, and ethics professor tells the exhilarating story of his race to beat them and save countless lives.

When doctor Matt McCarthy first meets Jackson, a mechanic from Queens, it is in the ER, where he has come for treatment for an infected gunshot wound. Usually, antibiotics would be prescribed, but Jackson’s infection is one of a growing number of superbugs, bacteria that have built up resistance to known drugs. He only has one option, and if that doesn’t work he may lose his leg or even his life.

On the same day, McCarthy and his mentor Tom Walsh begin work on a groundbreaking clinical trial for a new antibiotic they believe will eradicate certain kinds of superbugs and demonstrate to Big Pharma that investment in these drugs can save millions of lives and prove financially viable. But there are seemingly endless hoops to jump through before they can begin administering the drug to patients, and for people like Jackson time is in short supply.

Superbugs is a compelling tale of medical ingenuity. From the muddy trenches of the First World War, where Alexander Fleming searched for a cure for soldiers with infected wounds, to breakthroughs in antibiotics and antifungals today that could revolutionise how infections are treated, McCarthy takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the history ― and future ― of medicine. Along the way, we meet patients like Remy, a teenage girl with a dangerous and rare infection; Donny, a retired firefighter with a compromised immune system; and Bill, the author’s own father-in-law, who contracts a deadly staph infection. And we learn about the ethics of medical research: why potentially life-saving treatments are often delayed for years to protect patients from exploitation.

Can McCarthy get his trial approved and underway in time to save the lives of his countless patients infected with deadly bacteria, who have otherwise lost all hope?

This outstanding overview sets a new standard for a methods book on pathogen detection. The first chapter provides an outline of currently used routine methods, including their background, strengths and weaknesses, as well as comparing them to newer methods. The following chapters then cover novel methods already in wide use and which are still more experimental for routine purposes. An invaluable resource for all medical laboratories and clinical institutions dealing with infectious diseases.

In this completely revised and updated second edition of DNA Vaccines: Methods and Protocols, W. Mark Saltzman presents a comprehensive collection of DNA vaccine protocols, written by leading experts in the groundbreaking field of DNA vaccination. Divided into five sections, this volume contains state-of-the-art and practical procedures on the latest DNA vaccine technology. Part I contains DNA vaccine design protocols, focusing on methods that achieve optimal expression in host cells. Part II is dedicated to presenting methods for DNA delivery, and covers both the range of administration methods available for vaccine administration and a variety of techniques for improving the efficiency of delivery into cells. Part III discusses current available methods, including adjuvant and prime-boost approaches, for enhancing the potency of DNA vaccines. Part IV describes several key areas of application in the field, including allergy, avoidance of autoimmunity, and neonate and infant vaccine response. DNA Vaccines: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition concludes with a review of protocols for vaccine production and purification, and applicable quality control methods.
This collection of up-to-date protocols demonstrates the tremendous progress that has been made in the field of DNA vaccination since the initial appearance of this new vaccination strategy. Given current enthusiasm for the magnificent potential for this technology among the scientific community, researchers will find tremendous value in this updated and enhanced molecular methods guide.

Witness the fascinating relationship between complex human systems and the microscopic world with MICROBIOLOGY FOR SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS, 2nd Edition! In addition to understanding and preventing disease transmission in perioperative settings, you will explore viruses, bacteria, and other common infections and their sources, as well as their connections to the body's systems. Health and safety discussions are also important, particularly those measures that protect you and your patients from harmful microorganisms in the operating room. MICROBIOLOGY FOR SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS, 2nd Edition organizes content logically according to microbial characteristics, while highlighting the relationships between microbiology departments, pathology departments, and surgical technologist responsibilities in the workplace. Plus, special features such as case studies, amusing anecdotes, and contemporary media discussions make learning fun, adding interest to every chapter while helping you prepare for an exciting career as a surgical technologist.

By integrating knowledge from pharmacology, microbiology, molecular medicine, and engineering, researchers from Europe, the U.S. and Asia cover a broad spectrum of current and potential antimicrobial medications and treatments. The result is a comprehensive survey ranging from small-molecule antibiotics to antimicrobial peptides and their engineered mimetics, from enzymes to nucleic acid therapeutics, from metallic nanoparticles to photo- and sonosensitizers and to phage therapy. In each case, the therapeutic approaches are compared in terms of their mechanisms, likelihood to induce resistance, and their efficiency in a global healthcare context. Unrivaled knowledge for professionals in fundamental research, pharmaceutical development and clinical practice.

This stunningly illustrated book provides a rare window into the amazing, varied, and often beautiful world of viruses. Contrary to popular belief, not all viruses are bad for you. In fact, several are beneficial to their hosts, and many are crucial to the health of our planet. Virus offers an unprecedented look at 101 incredible microbes that infect all branches of life on Earth--from humans and other animals to insects, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Featuring hundreds of breathtaking color images throughout, this guide begins with a lively and informative introduction to virology. Here readers can learn about the history of this unique science, how viruses are named, how their genes work, how they copy and package themselves, how they interact with their hosts, how immune systems counteract viruses, and how viruses travel from host to host. The concise entries that follow highlight important or interesting facts about each virus. Learn about the geographic origins of dengue and why old tires and unused pots help the virus to spread. Read about Ebola, Zika, West Nile, Frog virus 3, the Tulip breaking virus, and many others--how they were discovered, what their hosts are, how they are transmitted, whether or not there is a vaccine, and much more. Each entry is easy to read and includes a graphic of the virus, and nearly every entry features a colorized image of the virus as seen through the microscope. Written by a leading authority, this handsomely illustrated guide reveals the unseen wonders of the microbial world. It will give you an entirely new appreciation for viruses.

Eleven years ago the circular DNA of a novel single-stranded virus has been cloned and partially characterized by Nishizawa and Okamoto and their colleagues. According to the initials of the patient from whom the isolate originated, the virus was named TT virus. This name has been subsequently changed by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) into Torque teno virus, permitting the further use of the abbreviation TTV. Although initially suspected to play a role in non A E hepatitis, subsequent studies failed to support this notion.

Within a remarkably short period of time it became clear that TT viruses are widely spread globally, infect a large proportion of all human populations studied thus far and represent an extremely heterogeneous group of viruses, now labelled as Anelloviruses. TT virus-like infections have also been noted in various animal species. The classification of this virus group turns out to be difficult, their DNA contains between 2200 and 3800 nucleotides, related so-called TT-mini-viruses and a substantial proportion of intragenomic recombinants further complicate attempts to combine these viruses into a unifying phylogenetic concept. "

The Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health Series will provide microbiologists, hygienists, epidemiologists and infectious diseases specialists with well-chosen contributed volumes containing updated information in the areas of basic and applied microbiology involving relevant issues for public health, including bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, zoonoses and anthropozoonoses, environmental and food microbiology. The increasing threat of the multidrug-resistant microorganisms and the related host immune response, the new strategies for the treatment of biofilm-based, acute and chronic microbial infections, as well as the development of new vaccines and more efficacious antimicrobial drugs to prevent and treat human and animal infections will be also reviewed in this series in the light of the most recent achievements in these fields. Special attention will be devoted to the fast diffusion worldwide of the new findings of the most advanced translational researches carried out in the different fields of microbiological sciences, with the aim to promote a prompt validation and transfer at clinical level of the most promising experimental results.