Bacterial Infection: Close Encounters at the Host Pathogen Interface

✍ Scribed by C. P. Conner, D. M. Heithoff, M. J. Mahan (auth.), Peter K. Vogt Ph.D., Michael J. Mahan Ph.D. (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 175
• Series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 225
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

When it comes to bacterial disease, we are living in a state of false security. Antibiotics have indeed brought unprecedented health benefits, protection from and cure of bacterial diseases during the past 50 years. But there are ominous signs that the fortress and the defenses built on antibiotics are crumbling. They are crum­ bling because we wittingly or unwittingly created selective con­ ditions for the emergence of superior pathogens that can no longer be controlled by antibiotics. There are numerous warnings. After a long period of eclipse tuberculosis has now emerged as a serious threat unchecked by antibiotic treatment. Recent years have seen reports of cholera epidemics, of anthrax infections, of serious problems with Salmonella and even with E. coli, just to name a few. Mankind is in a race with microbial invaders. The challenge is to anticipate and respond to developments that affect the precarious balance between man and microbe. This will re­ quire new knowledge and it will take time for an effective appli­ cation of that knowledge.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages I-IX
In Vivo Gene Expression: Contributions to Infection, Virulence, and Pathogenesis....Pages 1-12
Anthrax Pathogenesis and Host Response....Pages 13-35
New Insights into the Genetics and Regulation of Expression of Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin....Pages 37-55
Identification of Virulence Determinants in Pathogenic Mycobacteria....Pages 57-79
Mechanisms of Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Superantigens....Pages 81-97
Intracellular Multiplication of Legionella pneumophila : Human Pathogen or Accidental Tourist?....Pages 99-112
Fe(III) Periplasm-to-Cytosol Transporters of Gram-Negative Pathogens....Pages 113-135
Molecular Pathogenesis of Urinary Tract Infections....Pages 137-164
Back Matter....Pages 165-173

✦ Subjects

Virology; Pathology; Molecular Medicine