The interactions of cells with their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a pivotal role in driving normal cell behavior, from development to tissue differentiation and function. At the cellular level, organ homeostasis depends on a productive communication between cells and ECM, which eventually leads to the normal phenotypic repertoire that characterize each cell type in the organism. A failure to establish these normal interactions and to interpret the cues emanating from the ECM is one of the major causes in abnormal development and the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. To recognize and act upon the biophysical signals that are generated by the cross talk between cells and ECM, the cells developed specific receptors, among them a unique set of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), known as the Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDRs). The DDRs are the only RTKs that specifically bind to and are activated by collagen, a major protein component of the ECM. Hence, the DDRs are part of the signaling networks that translate information from the ECM, and thus they are key regulators of cell-matrix interactions. Under physiological conditions, DDRs control cell and tissue homeostasis by acting on collagen sensors; transducing signals that regulate cell polarity, tissue morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and collagen deposition. DDRs play a key role in diseases that are characterized by dysfunction of the stromal component, which lead to abnormal collagen deposition and the resulting fibrotic response that disrupt normal organ function in disease of the cardiovascular system, lungs and kidneys, just to mention a few. In cancer, DDRs are hijacked by tumor and stromal cells to disrupt normal cell-collagen communication and initiate pro-oncogenic programs. Importantly, several cancer types exhibit DDR mutations, which are thought to alter receptor function, and contribute to cancer progression. Therefore, the strong causative association between altered RTK function and disease it is been translated today in the development of specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting DDRs for various disease conditions. In spite of the accumulating evidence highlighting the importance of DDRs in health and diseases, there is still much to learn about these unique RTKs, as of today there is a lack in the medical literature of a book dedicated solely to DDRs. This is the first comprehensive volume dedicated to DDRs, which will fill a gap in the field and serve those interested in the scientific community to learn more about these important receptors in health and disease.

This title highlights the current and topical areas of research in this rapidly growing field. Expert authors from around the world provide the latest insights into the mechanisms these fascinating organisms use to survive.

Extensively revised and updated, the new edition of this valuable reference work provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the current knowledge and new research in Bacillus molecular and cellular biology.

For courses in Microbiology Lab and Nursing and Allied Health Microbiology Lab A Flexible Approach to the Modern Microbiology Lab Easy to adapt for almost any microbiology lab course, this versatile, comprehensive, and clearly written manual is competitively priced and can be paired with any undergraduate microbiology text. Known for its thorough coverage, straightforward procedures, and minimal equipment requirements, the Eleventh Edition incorporates current safety protocols from governing bodies such as the EPA, ASM, and AOAC. The new edition also includes alternate organisms for experiments for easy customisation in Biosafety Level 1 and 2 labs. New lab exercises have been added on Food Safety and revised experiments, and include options for alternate media, making the experiments affordable and accessible to all lab programs. Ample introductory material, engaging clinical applications, and laboratory safety instructions are provided for each experiment along with easy-to-follow procedures and flexible lab reports with review and critical thinking questions.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of Alexander disease, a rare and devastating neurological disorder that often affects the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Its distinctive neuropathology consists of abundant Rosenthal fibers within astrocytes (one of the four major cell types of the central nervous system). Nearly all cases are caused by variants in the gene encoding the intermediate filament protein GFAP, but how these changes in GFAP lead to the widespread manifestations of disease is poorly understood. Astrocytes, while discovered over a century ago, are themselves still much of a mystery. They exhibit considerable diversity, defy precise definition, and yet actively regulate many aspects of nervous system functioning. We also have incomplete understanding of Rosenthal fibers, odd structures that contain GFAP as just one of many components. Whether they are toxic or protective is unknown. Moreover, Rosenthal fibers are not absolutely unique to Alexander disease, and are seen sporadically in a wide variety of other conditions, including brain tumors and multiple sclerosis. GFAP is the third unknown. It is an ancient protein, arising early in the evolution of vertebrates, but its role in normal biology is still a matter of debate. Yet Alexander disease shows, without a doubt, that changing just a single of its 432 amino acids can lead to catastrophe, not just in the astrocytes where GFAP is produced but also in the other cells with which astrocytes interact. Despite all of the unknowns, much has been learned in the past 20 years, and it is time to share this knowledge. This book is intended for recently diagnosed patients and families, as well as non-specialist researchers interested in this neurological disease. It covers historical origins, the state of current knowledge, and prospects for what lies ahead, with citations to the primary literature given throughout.

"Taenia solium" cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by the dissemination of the larval form of the pork tapeworm and affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide. It is endemic in several developing countries, including many in Central and South America, Africa and South Asia. Through increased immigration and international travel, it is also of emerging significance in developed countries such as the USA. This book, written by international leading experts in the field, covers the basic science and clinical aspects of "Taenia solium," its pathology, investigational aspects of neurocysticercosis, therapy and prevention

Busvine's introductory account of the evolutionary histories of insects and mites leads on to a fascinating study of human reactions to ectoparasites. It shows how the extent of man's curiosity about them and references to their prevalence provide a continuous commentary both on the history of biological science from Aristotle to the present day and on the modes and manners of ages past. Subjects of ribald verse, quack medicine and morbid imagination as well as literary symbols of piety, love and human insignificance, this is also the history of how medicine discovered that ectoparasites acted as transmitters for epidemic diseases.

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.

The Diverse Faces of Bacillus cereus elucidates all characteristics of this microorganism, from its environmental and ecologic relevance, to its veterinary involvement, its clinical settings, most common B. cereus associated food poisoning episodes, and the newest airway disease pictures mimicking the inhalation of anthrax. Due to its environmental distribution, B. cereus may cause serious, even fatal human diseases. The organism shows many diverse faces, as it is not only a veterinary pathogen, but also used as a biocontrol agent to control vegetable decay due to its natural antimicrobial properties. Once considered as a mere colonizer or contaminant, Bacillus cereus is nowadays acquiring increasing importance as an agent of nosocomial infections. The book's target audience is familiar with this opportunistic pathogen and will benefit from this clear compendium on the classical and molecular techniques and procedures that may be adopted or followed to correctly identify this intriguing multi-faceted microorganism.

Flaviviruses are a diverse group of small RNA enveloped viruses, many of which are important human and animal pathogens. The best known include dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and West Nile virus. These viruses are endemic in many tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Dengue virus alone infects over 100 million people annually. In recent years, research on flaviviruses has progressed at a remarkable rate, leading to significant advances in our understanding of virus biology. This should ultimately lead to the development of better vaccine and antiviral strategies. This up-to-date and cutting-edge anthology contains contributions from the leading experts in the flavivirus field. Chapters are balanced by contributions from established investigators who have dedicated their careers to flavivirus research with those from newcomers who have recently made significant contributions to the flavivirus field. The book is divided into two sections: Molecular Virology and Virus Prevention. The first section on Molecular Virology covers: virion structure * virus replication * the NS1 glycoprotein * the NS3 protein * the NS5 protein * innate immunity and flavivirus infection * host responses to flavivirus infection * flavivirus fitness and transmission. The Virus Prevention section includes: vaccines * antibody therapy * small molecule antiviral development * flavivirus diagnostics * vector-virus interactions * vector control. The book represents an important update of flavivirus research and will serve as a reference to flavivirus researchers at the graduate level and beyond. It is a recommended text for all virology libraries.

One of the greatest public health achievements during the 20th century was the dramatic reduction in the incidence of infectious diseases due to the development of improved hygiene, vaccines, and antimicrobial agents. However, new infectious diseases are emerging and bacteria-induced illnesses - such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, and typhoid fever - are still a major cause of global mortality. In recent decades, the development of molecular biology and genetic tools has led to extensive studies on the molecular and cellular aspects of the virulence properties of pathogenic bacteria. In this book, a group of distinguished scientists from eight different countries and three continents, under the expert guidance of the editors Camille Locht and Michel Simonet, overview the molecular and cellular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. The 15 chapters are organized into five sections: a) approaches to the study of bacterial pathogenesis; b) bacterial adhesion to the cell surface and extracellular matrix of host tissues; c) poisoning the host by toxins; d) cellular invasion by bacterial pathogens; and e) bacterial evasion of host defenses. The book comprehensively describe the most relevant and up-to-date information on pathogenic features across the bacterial world. Aimed at the entire scientific community from students to senior scientists and physicians, Bacterial Pathogenesis is relevant to a broad range of people interested in the mechanisms of bacterial infectious diseases and is a recommended text for all microbiology laboratories.

MRI Atlas of Pituitary Imaging focuses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of pituitary disorders, since it provides a detailed anatomy of the pituitary gland and surrounding structures, particularly the soft tissues. A basic understanding and interpretation of MRI is important for many clinicians outside of the field of radiology, especially endocrinologists who may receive limited formal training in such areas. This concise Atlas includes a brief review of the principles of magnetic resonance imaging and then reinforces these principles by utilizing a case-based approach to review various pituitary pathologies. The Atlas serves as a strong clinical teaching aid for endocrinologists, radiologists, and neurosurgeons in training. It also serves as a great reference for physicians who are currently in practice.

This book compiles the latest research on the multifarious roles of microbial enzymes, and provides an overview of microbial enzymes and biotechnologies. It discusses the use of microbial enzymes in innovative areas like nanomedicine and synthetic biotechnology, as well as the use of starch digesting enzymes and bioactive proteins as biotherapeutics, all of which have applications in modern drug discovery processes. The book also examines the concept of microbial biotransformation and protein engineering, and covers topics such as the immobilization of therapeutic enzymes, bioengineering of enzymes for bioactive compounds, the production of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes from plant raw materials, and prebiotics and probiotics. Given its multidisciplinary scope, this book will appeal to researchers and industry experts in the fields of microbiology, biotechnology and molecular medicine.

As bacterial antibiotic resistance continues to exhaust the supply of effective antibiotics, a global public health disaster appears likely. Poor financial investment in antibiotic research has exacerbated the situation. A call to arms - raised by several prestigious scientific organizations a few years ago - rallied the scientific community and now the scope of antibacterial research has broadened considerably. Multi-disciplinary approaches have yielded a wealth of new data on areas ranging from the identification of novel antibacterial targets to the use of biological agents for antibacterial therapy. In this book, respected international experts summarize the most important concepts and pioneering strategies currently being used to develop novel antibacterials. The book opens with chapters on cellular processes that could be used as novel antibacterial targets. Examples include cell division, efflux pumps, metabolite-sensing riboswitches, and bacterial secretion systems. These are followed by excellent chapters on the identification of new, naturally occurring antibacterial agents, including phage and biosynthetically engineered compounds. Understanding the host-microbe interaction and microbial communities and how they can be exploited to develop new antibacterial strategies is discussed in subsequent chapters. Other topics include antibacterial vaccines adjuvants, host defense peptides, antibodies, within-host models, and diagnostics.

This edited volume explores Campylobacter species, which are some of the most important foodborne pathogens. Above all, contaminated poultry meat can cause human gastroenteritis in both developed and developing countries. The respective contributions reveal how these infections can also increase the risk of generalized paralytic diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, Miller-Fisher syndrome, and Chinese paralytic syndrome. Due to their influence on the nervous system, circulatory system, and various organs, Campylobacter infections represent a serious public health concern. Campylobacter can be effectively combated by addressing the hygienic conditions in both food production and human lifestyles. Accordingly, the authors put forward a One Health perspective, which provides readers with essential insights into the basic biology of Campylobacter, as well as practical guidance on aspects ranging from food production to the clinical treatment of infections. Chapters 'Population Biology and Comparative Genomics of Campylobacter Species' and 'Natural Competence and Horizontal Gene Transfer in Campylobacter' are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Paramyxoviruses are a diverse family of non-segmented negative strand RNA viruses that include many important human, animal, and zoonotic pathogens. Despite their enormous importance, the nature of the viral genome had proved an obstacle to research, with the result that paramyxoviral research had lagged behind that of other viruses. The advent of reverse genetics in recent years has changed this, enabling great strides in the understanding of the genomics, molecular biology, and viral pathogenesis. This book provides a timely and comprehensive review of current knowledge of all paramyxoviruses and is written by renowned scientists who have made seminal contributions in their respective paramyxovirus fields of expertise. Topics include: mumps virus * simian virus 5 * parainfluenza viruses * Newcastle disease and related avian paramyxoviruses * Sendai virus * Hendra virus * Nipah virus * measles virus * canine distemper virus * rinderpest virus * peste des petits ruminants virus * human respiratory syncytial virus * metapneumoviruses * new and emerging paramyxoviruses. Each chapter covers current knowledge on history, genome organization, viral proteins, reverse genetics, epidemiology, pathogenesis, immunity, diagnosis, prevention, and control and future challenges. This book is an invaluable reference source of timely information for virologists, microbiologists, immunologists, physicians, veterinarians, and scientists working on paramyxoviruses. It is also strongly recommended for all medical and veterinary school libraries.