Molecular Basis of Viral and Microbial Pathogenesis

✍ Scribed by H. L. Sänger, B. Haas (auth.), Professor Dr. Rudolf Rott, Professor Dr. Werner Goebel (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 193
• Series: Colloquium der Gesellschaft fur Biologische Chemie 9.–11. April 1987 in Mosbach/Baden 38
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Elucidation of the mechanisms of pathogenesis underlying the diseases caused by viruses and bacteria has fascinated scientists for many years in two ways. Firstly, these pathogenic agents represent relatively sim­ ple biological systems for the study of basic biological processes such as replication, gene regulation, genetic variability and host-pathogen interactions. Secondly, process in this field is valuable in a practi­ cal sence, since it can help in the control of these diseases. The avail­ ability of new genetic and immunological techniques, especially recom­ binant DNA methods and monoclonal antibody technology, has provided powerful tools for unravelling the genetic, biochemical and immunologi­ cal basis of viral and microbial pathogenesis. Molecular cloning has allowed the isolation of single genes or groups of genes related to phenotypes which appear to be immunologically important for pathogene­ sis. The specific elimination of such genes from the complex genomes of the pathogens can now be achieved with similar genetic techniques. These genetic studies have provided additional information on the role played by specific phenotypic traits in pathogenesis, especially when combined with relevant animal model systems. Furthermore, the struc­ tural analysis of important virulence factors and surface antigens may allow the prediction of antigenic domains suitable for the development of new vaccines. The 38th Mosbacher Colloquium focuses on the molecular basis of viral and microbial pathogenesis. The virology part begins with the well­ studied plant viroids. The unusual structure of their genome, as well as knowledge about their replication and pathogenicity, are presented.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages I-IX
Correlation Between Viroid Structure and Pathogenicity....Pages 1-20
Antigenicity of the Influenza Haemagglutinin Membrane Glycoprotein....Pages 21-24
Viral Glycoproteins as Determinants of Pathogenicity....Pages 25-38
Virus Genes Involved in Host Range and Pathogenicity....Pages 39-50
Molecular Heterogeneity of Pathogenic Herpes Viruses....Pages 51-59
Recombination of Foreign (Viral) DNA with the Host Genome Studies in Vivo and in a Cell-Free System....Pages 60-72
Disorders of Cellular Neuro-Functions by Persistent Viral Infections....Pages 73-84
Pathogenetic Aspects of Measles Virus-Persistent Infections in Man....Pages 85-90
Analysis of the Dual Lineage Specificity of E26 Avian Leukemia Virus....Pages 91-94
Mx Gene Control of Influenza Virus Susceptibility....Pages 95-101
Shiga and Shiga-Like Toxins: A Family of Related Cytotoxins....Pages 102-108
Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenicity in Shigella flexneri ....Pages 109-113
Antigenic Variation of Proteins on the Surface of Pathogenic Neisseriae ....Pages 114-122
Molecular and Antigenic Architecture of the Antiphagocytic Group A Streptococcal M Protein....Pages 123-131
Bacterial Cytolysins that Form Transmembrane Pores....Pages 132-140
Bacterial Cytolysins — Extracellular Proteins and Virulence Factors....Pages 141-150
Iron as a Signal in Bacterial Infections....Pages 151-159
Clostridial Neurotoxins — The Search for a Common Mode of Action....Pages 160-175
Stage-Specifically Expressed Antigens and Genes in Trypanosoma cruzi ....Pages 176-185

✦ Subjects

Virology; Microbiology; Cancer Research; Cell Biology; Internal Medicine; Medical Microbiology