Books in the Advances in Molecular and Cellular Microbiology series

Extensive evidence has accumulated that host genes are important determinants of the outcome of infection for many common pathogens. This book, written by leading authorities, summarizes advances which have been made in understanding the complexity of host genetic susceptibility.

Examining meningitis mainly from a bacterial perspective, but also including an overview of viral, fungal and chronic meningitis, this book describes the anatomy of the meninges and clinical signs and symptoms of meningitis.

This book documents the latest research, covering current and promising activities in four key areas: computational chemistry and chemoinformatics, High Throughput Screening (HTS), non-vertebrate model hosts and light and nano-based technologies.

Tuberculosis is a global health threat and this book features contributions from a range of experts that captures the latest developments in the advent of bacteriological, immunological and molecular tools for diagnosis and the development of new drugs.

Bacterial toxins are potent molecular poisons that are released by bacteria to cause disease. This 2005 book describes how toxins can enter cells to subvert cell function by interfering with the key processes involved in cell growth and division, and the ability of cells to differentiate into specialised cells.

Many bacteria survive infection of their host in a low growth state, including the classic persistent infectious bacteria, tuberculosis. This 2003 book will interest microbiologists, medical microbiologists and infectious disease clinicians who are interested in learning more about the fundamental science of bacterial dormancy in relation to disease.

When we think of bacteria our thoughts immediately turn to disease. However, scientists are increasingly likely to study how bacteria get along with us. This book is the first to discuss how bacteria cooperate with their animal hosts and how this cooperation can be beneficial to both bacteria and host.

This book is concerned with the mechanisms underlying recombination in bacterial DNA.

Written by leading experts in the field, this edited volume provides an overview of current knowledge relating to the evolution of microbial pathogenicity, identified by recent developments in genome sequencing and other genomic and proteomic techniques. Written for graduate students and researchers in mircobiology, molecular biology, genetics and infectious diseases.

Molecular interactions between bacteria and host cells is not unidirectional - both pathogens and host cells engage in a signalling cross-talk. This book details the remarkable variety of host-pathogen interactions, uniquely providing a comprehensive understanding of the host-bacterial interactions that occur at mucosal surfaces including the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital tracts.

An overview of current knowledge regarding the mechanisms of phagocytosis and how specific pathogenic bacteria avoid or exploit these mechanisms. The receptors and signal transduction events involved are discussed, followed by examples of specific bacterial pathogens and the strategies they use in confronting professional phagocytes.

Abedon provides the first text on phage ecology for almost 20 years. Written by leading experts, it emphasizes microbial population biology and distils cutting-edge research into basic principles. An essential resource for graduate students and researchers working in phage ecology and evolutionary biology.

Written by leading experts, this book summarises recent advances in the field of bacterial communication to allow students and researchers to keep abreast of the latest developments. The book describes how bacteria communicate and the relevance of these communication pathways to the disease process.

Leading researchers discuss key aspects of the biology of Salmonella enterica infections in this broad-ranging book. It will equip the reader with detailed and up-to-date knowledge of S. enterica, giving an integrated view of clinical, molecular and immunological aspects of these infections.

Bacterial adhesion to host cells/tissues is essential for maintaining normal, protective host microflora. It is also the crucial first stage in any infectious disease. The molecular mechanisms described in this book are therefore of great interest to microbiologists and those seeking means of preventing and treating bacterial infections.

Antimicrobial peptides are the only new class of antimicrobial agent discovered in recent years, and there is interest in them as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This book, drawing together contributions from many leading scientists, reviews the most significant recent advances in the field.

This book addresses an aspect of the processes by which bacteria can cause disease. Specifically, the ability of certain bacteria to gain entry within host cells is described. It is important to understand these invasion mechanisms in order to fully understand the disease process. Specific examples of invasive bacteria are discussed in detail.

Over the past decade researchers have shown that bacteria have evolved many ways of evading immunity and hence causing infection. Our present understanding of these mechanisms is described in this book, which will appeal to graduate students and researchers in microbiology, immunology, as well as in pharmacology and molecular medicine.