Therapeutic regimens for visceral leishmaniasis (also Kala-azar, Dum-dum fever or black fever), caused by parasitic protozoa of the Leishmania genus, evolve at a pace never seen before. Spread by tiny and abundant sand flies, the parasite infects internal organs and bone marrow and if left untreated will almost always result in the death of the host. In developing countries successful diagnosis and treatment are complicated by asymptomatic cases, undernutrition and Kala-azar/HIV co-infections.

This book brings together world-renown experts writing state-of-arts review on the progress in diagnosis and treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, ultimately leading to the complete elimination of this fatal disease from South Asia. The chapters provide valuable information for disease control as well as therapy and the diagnostic improvements necessary for early treatment, subclinical detection and drug-resistant cases. The presented methods allow for points-of-care testing in the endemic area, enabling rapid detection in resource-poor settings with easy handling and low costs.

This book provides essential information for scientists, medical practitioners and policy makers involved in the diagnosis, treatment and elimination of Kala-azar.

The purpose of this review is to examine the potential role of molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 ((HTLV- 1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)). Comp- hensive reviews on the pathogenic mechanisms of HTLV-1-associated human diseases are available throughout the medical literature (Bangham 2000,, 2003; Barmak et al. 2003; Jacobson 2002; Levin and Jacobson 1997; Nagai and Osame 2003; Osame 2002). Approximately 25 years ago the ?rst human retrovirus, HTLV-1, was isolated (Poeisz et al. 1980). Subsequently, infection with HTLV-1 was shown to cause adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HAM/TSP (Gessain et al. 1985; McFarlin and Blattner 1991; Osame et al. 1986; Poeisz et al. 1980; Yoshida et al. 1987). HTLV-1 may infect up to 30% of people in endemic areas and 10-20 million people worldwide (Barmak et al. 2003; Edlich et al. 2000). However, only 1%-5% develop either ATL or HAM/TSP, the remainder being clinically asymptomatic carriers of HTLV-1 (Bangham 2000, 2003; Barmak et al. 2003; Jacobson 2002; Levin and Jacobson 1997; Nagai and Osame 2003; Osame 2002). Why infection with HTLV-1 causes ATL or HAM/TSP in some people while the vast majority of individuals are asymptomatic is largely - known. Some possible factors that may differentiate the asymptomatic from the diseased state include viral strain, human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA), viral load, and the immune response (Bangham 2000, 2003; Barmak et al. 2003; Jacobson 2002; Levin and Jacobson 1997; Nagai and Osame 2003; Nagai et al. 1998; Niewiesk et al. 1994; Osame 2002).

Technological advances, together with a better understanding of the molecular biology of infectious microorganisms, are creating exciting possibilities for a new generation of replicating vaccines. Historically, live vaccines have been either directly derived from a natural source or attenuated by empirical approaches using serial passages and host cell adaptation. Currently, we are witnessing a quantum leap in our technological capabilities to specifically modify the genetic make-up of viruses and bacteria, making it possible to generate improved live vaccines and to develop completely new types of replicating vaccines, such as vectored vaccines, single-round infectious vaccines and replicon vaccines. This book highlights some of the most exciting recent developments towards a new generation of replicating vaccines.

Course covers topics in infectious diseases in children and is intended for Pediatric Infectious disease trainees, trainers, and all those who manage children with infections.

Each of the chapters in this book is based on a lecture given at the sixth "Infection and Immunity in Children" course, held at the end of June 2008 at Keble College, Oxford.

Thus, it is the sixth book in a series that provides succinct and readable updates on just about every aspect of the discipline of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

More than 40,000 species of mites have been described, and up to 1 million may exist on earth. These tiny arachnids play many ecological roles including acting as vectors of disease, vital players in soil formation, and important agents of biological control. But despite the grand diversity of mites, even trained biologists are often unaware of their significance. Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour (2nd edition) aims to fill the gaps in our understanding of these intriguing creatures. It surveys life cycles, feeding behaviour, reproductive biology and host-associations of mites without requiring prior knowledge of their morphology or taxonomy. Topics covered include evolution of mites and other arachnids, mites in soil and water, mites on plants and animals, sperm transfer and reproduction, mites and human disease, and mites as models for ecological and evolutionary theories.

This book presents an overview of the most important current developments in the pre-analytical handling of tissue. It addresses in particular potential ways to improve the situation whereby methods employed in the pre-analytical phase - the period from surgical removal of tissue to the start of pathological processing - have remained essentially unchanged for decades with only modest standardization. It is examined how the pre-analytical period can be optimized, resulting not only in an increase in diagnostic quality but also in a reduction in processing time and costs. Among the key topics examined are the so-called cold ischemia time between tissue removal and fixation, the potential superiority of vacuum-based preservation over immediate formalin fixation, two-temperature fixation, molecular analysis methods, and the pre-analytics of specimens from particular tissues. Readers will find this book to be an important update that reveals the full importance of the pre-analytical phase for quality of pathological work-up.

This book highlights cutting-edge studies in the development of cell-inspired biomaterials and synthetic materials that manipulate cell functions and provide the next generation with contemporary tools for treating complex human diseases. It explores the convergence of synthetic materials with cell and molecular biology and surveys how functional materials, when patterned with spatial and temporal precision, can be used effectively to maintain cell proliferation and phenotype in vitro, to trigger specific cell functions, and to redirect cell-fate decisions. Human stem cells are a frequently discussed subject in this book. This is an ideal book for students, cell biologists, researchers interested in interdisciplinary research, and biomedical engineers. This book also: Highlights successfully developed technologies in cell engineering that make possible new therapeutic development for previously untreatable conditions Covers topics including bio-inspired micro patterning, DNA origami technology, synthetic NOS inspired by compartmentalized signaling in cells, and light-induced depolarization of the cell membrane Illustrates in detail the use of stem cells and synthetic scaffolds to model ethically sensitive embryonic tissues and organs

Endotoxins are potentially toxic compounds produced by Gram-negative bacteria including some pathogens. Unlike exotoxins, which are secreted in soluble form by live bacteria, endotoxins are comprised of structural components of bacteria. Endotoxins can cause a whole-body inflammatory state, sepsis, leading to low blood pressure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. This book brings together contributions from researchers in the forefront of these subjects. It is divided into two sections: the first dealing with how endotoxins are synthesized and end up on the bacterial surface. The second discussed how endotoxins activate the Toll-like receptor TLR4 and, in turn, how TLR4 generates the molecular signals leading to infectious and inflammatory diseases. The way endotoxins interact with the host cells is fundamental to understanding the mechanism of sepsis, and recent research on these aspects of endotoxins has served to illuminate previously undescribed functions of the innate immune system. This volume presents a description of endotoxins according to their genetic constitution, structure, function and mode of interaction with host cells.

This volume describes the mechanisms which bacteria have created to secure their survival, proliferation and dissemination by subverting the actin cytoskeleton of host cells. Bacteria have developed a veritable arsenal of toxins, effector proteins and virulence factors that allow them to modify the properties of the intracellular actin cytoskeleton for their own purposes. Bacterial factors either modify actin directly as the main component of this part of the cytoskeleton or functionally subvert regulatory or signalling proteins terminating at the actin cytoskeleton. In short, this volume provides an overview of the various tricks bacteria have evolved to "act on actin" in order to hijack this essential host cell component for their own needs. As such, it will be of interest to scientists from many fields, as well as clinicians whose work involves infectious diseases.

Continuous genetic variation and selection of virus subpopulations in the course of RNA virus replications are intimately related to viral disease mechanisms. The central topics of this volume are the origins of the quasispecies concept, and the implications of quasispecies dynamics for viral populations.

This accessible book examines poisoning in various contexts of international conflict. It explores the modern-day use of poison in warfare, terrorism, assassination, mass suicide, serial poisoning within healthcare, and as capital punishment. It examines a broad range of international cases from the Americas, Europe, Japan, India and more in relation to Situational Crime Prevention and its theoretical precursors, in order to explore potential prevention strategies and the ways in which perpetrators circumvent them. Case studies include analysis of attempts on the lives of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, the Tokyo subway attacks, the crimes of Dr. Harold Shipman and the Heaven's Gate and Jonestown cults. For each, the means, motive, opportunity, location, and perpetrator-victim relationship is examined. This accessible book speaks to students of criminology and those interested in penology, careers in criminal justice, homicide detectives, anti-terrorism personnel, forensic pathologists and toxicologists.

This volume looks at the different aspects involved in controlling microbial growth and the techniques employed in obtaining sterile surfaces. It covers research on coatings, nano-materials, herbal materials, naturally occurring antimicrobials in designing antimicrobial surfaces. It discusses issues of antibiotic resistance, synthesis techniques, toxicity, and current and potential applications of antimicrobial surfaces, and this book will serve as a useful reference to a broad range of scientists, industrial practitioners, graduate and undergraduate students, and other professionals in the fields of polymer science and engineering, materials science, surface science, bioengineering and chemical engineering.

While a pattern approach to diagnosis is taught and practiced with almost every other tissue or organ in the body, the lymph node remains a mystery to most residents starting out in pathology and those pathologists with limited experience in the area. A Pattern Approach to Lymph Node Diagnosis demonstrates that a systematic approach to lymph node examination can be achieved through recognition of morphological patterns produced by different disease processes. It presents a combination of knowledge-based assessment and pattern recognition for diagnosis covering the major primary neoplastic and non neoplastic diseases and metastatic tumors in lymph nodes. This volume demonstrates that lymph node compartments can be recognized histologically especially with the aid of immunohistological markers and how this knowledge can be employed effectively to localize and identify pathological changes in the different compartments in order to facilitate histological diagnosis. It also defines histological features that, because of their pathological occurrence in lymph nodes, are useful pointers to specific diagnoses or disease processes. The volume is organized in accordance with the primary pattern of presentation of each diagnostic entity. Differential diagnosis is discussed and each diagnostic entity is accompanied by color illustrations that highlight the diagnostic features. Immunohistochemistry, clinical aspects, relevant cytogenetics and molecular information of each entity is provided by authors who are experts in lymphoproliferative diseases. An algorithmic approach to diagnosis is adopted at the end of each section by listing a set of questions that help to consider diagnostic entities that can present with the morphological features observed. A Pattern Approach to Lymph Node Diagnosis will be of great utility to residents and fellows in pathology and general pathologists making first hand lymph node diagnoses as well as to hematologists and physicians who treat patients with lymphoprolifeative diseases.

This two-volume work covers the molecular and cell biology, genetics and evolution of influenza viruses, the pathogenesis of infection, resultant host innate and adaptive immune response, prevention of infection through vaccination and approaches to the therapeutic control of infection.. Experts at the forefront of these areas provide critical assessments with regard to influenza virology, immunology, cell and molecular biology, and pathogenesis. Volume I provides overviews of the latest findings on molecular determinants of viral pathogenicity, virus entry and cell tropism, pandemic risk assessment, transmission and pathogenesis in animal species, viral evolution, ecology and antigenic variation, while Volume II focuses on the role of innate and adaptive immunity in pathogenesis, development of vaccines and antivirals.

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 new volume on Cryptosporidium and Cryptosporidiosis discusses all relevant aspects of the biology, molecular biology, host-parasite interaction, epidemiology as well as diagnosis and treatment of these widespread parasites. It represents a useful guide for physicians, microbiologists, veterinarians and water professionals seeking advanced knowledge and guidance about these important parasitic pathogens. A section on practical lab procedures discusses step-by-step guidelines for sample preparation and lab procedures. The new book may further serve as a reference work for graduate students in medical and veterinary microbiology.

This comprehensive, up-to-date volume defines the issues and offers potential solutions to the challenges of antimicrobial resistance. The chapter authors are leading international experts on antimicrobial resistance among a variety of bacteria, viruses including HIV and herpes, parasites and fungi. The chapters explore the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance, the immunology and epidemiology of resistance strains, clinical implications and implications on research and lack thereof, and prevention and future directions.

A decade has passed since Drs. Hoch and Silhavy edited their comprehensive work entitled Two-Component Signal Transduction. This fascinating book encour- aged many microbiologists and students to enter the new worldofsignal transduction in microbiology. In 2003, Dr. Inouye edited Histidine Kinase in Signal Transduc- tion, which focused on histidine kinases and presented the wealth ofinformation accumulated on this protein family. Bacteria usually possess a numberofTwo-Component Systems (TCSs), rang- ing from a few to over 100. InE. coli, 29 histidine kinases, 32 response regulators, and 1histidine-containing phosphor transmitter (HPt) domain have been found by analyses ofthe K-12 genome. Several examples ofin vitro and in vivo cross-talks and signal transductioncascadesbetweenTCSs inE. coli have beenreported,which suggests the existence ofa TCS network (Chapter 1). Interactions among different TCSs enable one system to respond to multiple signals, which is important for bacteria to minutely adjust themselves to complex environmental changes. Such interactions are found or predicted in various bacteria in this book. Many ofthese interactions might be connected by small proteins such as B1500(Chapter 1)and PmrD (Chapter2). More examplesofsuch proteins should be identified in the near future in order to fill-in the missing parts ofthe bacterial signal transduction network, a new paradigm that is increasingly recognized as the signal transduction pathway in bacterial cells. For drug discovery, this pathway is consideredas important as the signal transductionpathway in animal cells (Chapters 15 and 16).

Astroviruses were first identified in the feces of children in 1975. Since then, they have been found in 3 to 20% of children with diarrhea. Given that serological studies have demonstrated that up to 90% of children have been exposed to at least one strain of astrovirus by age 9, the prevalence of infection may be much higher. Supporting this are studies demonstrating that astroviruses can also be isolated in a subset of asymptomatic individuals, suggesting that a proportion of infected individuals shed the virus asymptomatically or for some time after the resolution of other symptoms of infection. Asymptomatic carriers may be a major reservoir for astroviruses in the environment and could contribute to dissemination of the virus. Astroviruses are extremely stable in the environment and can be transmitted nosocomially, directly from infected individuals and potentially animals, and through contaminated food and water. Although typically an acute disease, astrovirus infection in premature infants may be associated with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis and in new-onset celiac disease in children. Immunocompromised children are even more susceptible often developing persistent infections that lead to wasting or even systemic infections associated with fatal encephalitis. In spite of its importance, little is known about astrovirus pathogenesis, molecular biology, epidemiology, or cell biology. The goal of this book is to provide the latest and most up-to-date information on this medically important and rapidly evolving group of viruses. It will include sections on the history of astroviruses and their disease in humans; information on viral replication and immune responses; new information on how astroviruses induce disease including the expression of a viral enterotoxin regulating intestinal epithelial cell tight junctions, the isolation and identification of new astrovirus genotypes in mammals including humans, and astroviruses of veterinary importance. Finally, the book will also introduce the complexity of astrovirus epidemiology and potential as an important new zoonotic disease, and its role in food-borne disease. This will be the first book of its kind and will be of great interest to microbiologists, virologists, infectious disease specialists, immunologists, pediatricians, public health and food safety experts, veterinarians, poultry industry specialists, and researchers and clinicians interested in enteritis. "

This second edition expands upon the previous volume with additional emphasis on recent innovation in basic renal research and has a more holistic approach on associated disorders such as complications associated with peritoneal dialysis, ischemic acute kidney injury, the sympathetic nervous system, and vascular calcification. The book is divided into five parts: Part I provides a number of in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models of kidney disease and associated complications; Part II looks at recent advances in imaging techniques; Part III covers recent developments in studying metabolism in renal ischemia and reperfusion; Part IV addresses study and measurement of vascular calcification; and Part V explores analytical techniques that are both topical and of widespread relevance to the study of experimental renal disease. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, 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 cutting-edge, Kidney Research: Experimental Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable collection of protocols useful to new and experienced researchers who are interested in the field of Nephrology.

Spirochetes comprise a fascinating group of bacteria. Although diverse in terms of their habitat, ecology and infectivity for vertebrate and non-vertebrate hosts, they are often considered together because of their similar cellular morphologies. This volume brings together an international group of experts to provide essential insights into spirochete biology, with an emphasis on recent advances made possible by the availability of genome sequences. As such, it offers a valuable resource for microbiologists and other scientists with an interest in spirochete biology.

A cutting-edge collection of basic and state-of-the-art methods optimized for investigating the molecular biology of this class of retrovirus. These readily reproducible techniques range from methods for the isolation and detection of human retroviruses to cutting-edge methods for exploring the interplay between the viruses and the host. Here, the researcher will find up-to-date techniques for the isolation and propagation of HIV, HTLV, and foamy virus from a variety of sources. There are also assays for determining the cell tropism of HIV-1, the coreceptor usage of HIV-1, and human gene expression with HIV-1 infection by microarrays, as well as for phenotyping HIV-1 infected monocytes and examining their fitness. Highlights include the detection and quantification of HIV-1 in resting CD4+, a new cloning system for making recombinent virus, cDNA microarrays, and the determination of genetic polymorphisms in two recently identified HIV-1 co-factors that are critical for HIV-1 infection.

Milton Taylor, Indiana University, offers an easy-to-read and fascinating text describing the impact of viruses on human society. The book starts with an analysis of the profound effect that viral epidemics had on world history resulting in demographic upheavals by destroying total populations. It also provides a brief history of virology and immunology. Furthermore, the use of viruses for the treatment of cancer (viral oncolysis or virotherapy) and bacterial diseases (phage therapy) and as vectors in gene therapy is discussed in detail. Several chapters focus on viral diseases such as smallpox, influenza, polio, hepatitis and their control, as well as on HIV and AIDS and on some emerging viruses with an interesting story attached to their discovery or vaccine development. The book closes with a chapter on biological weapons. It will serve as an invaluable source of information for beginners in the field of virology as well as for experienced virologists, other academics, students, and readers without prior knowledge of virology or molecular biology.

The aim of Avian Influenza Virus, Second Edition is to provide the essential methods used in working with animal influenza viruses, and to compile more advanced information that will guide the user in designing influenza studies. Influenza A viruses are among the most important pathogens for humans, food animals and companion animals. Research and diagnostics with animal influenza viruses are critical to animal health and it should be recognized that the needs and goals of animal agriculture and veterinary medicine are not always the same as those of public health. This volume sorts out the differences in the structure of the poultry, swine and equine industries, the biological differences of influenza virus from each animal group, and provides host, strain and lineage specific guidance and procedures. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and accessible, Avian Influenza Virus, Second Edition seeks to serve both professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies in an effort to further our knowledge of these important pathogens.

Molecular Diagnostics in Dermatology and Dermatopathology presents the basics of molecular biology and molecular diagnostic methods most commonly used in the clinical laboratory, with an emphasis on the concepts and testing most relevant to dermatological diseases. Topics include the integration of newer diagnostic and prognostic techniques with traditional histologic approaches, and discussions of regulatory, ethical, legal, economic issues and newer technologies. This important diagnostic tool outlines the clinically relevant uses (i.e.; diagnostic, staging and/or prognostic) applications of these techniques in the field of dermatology. Molecular studies that investigate the pathogenesis of skin diseases will be excluded, unless they also have a direct diagnostic utility. The book will be of interest to practicing pathologists, dermatology and pathology residents, dermatologists, and dermatopathologists."