Louis M. Weiss – författare

This 2e of Toxoplasma gondii reflects the significant advances in the field in the last 5 years, including new information on the genomics, epigenomics and proteomics of T. gondii as well as a new understanding of the population biology and genetic diversity of this organism. T. gondii remains the best model system for studying the entire Apicomplexa group of protozoans, which includes Malaria, making this new edition essential for a broad group of researchers and scientists.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a one-celled protozoan parasite known as T. gondii. The infection produces a wide range of clinical syndromes in humans, land and sea mammals, and various bird species. Most humans contract toxoplasmosis by eating contaminated, raw or undercooked meat (particularly pork), vegetables, or milk products; by coming into contact with the T. gondii eggs from cat feces; or by drinking contaminated water. The parasite damages the ocular and central nervous systems, causing behavioral and personality alterations as well as fatal necrotizing encephalitis. It is especially dangerous for the fetus of an infected pregnant woman and for individuals with compromised immune systems, such as HIV-infected patients.

Microsporidia: Pathogens of Opportunity provides a systematic overview of the biology of microsporidia. Written by leading experts in the field, the book combines background and basic information on microsporidia with descriptive methods and resources for working with the pathogen.

Newly revised and updated for its second edition, Microsporidia will continue to be the standard text reference for these pathogenic protists, and is an indispensable research resource for biologists, physicians and parasitologists.

This new edition of this publication provides systematic reviews of the biology of this pathogen by leading experts in the field, and will be combined with descriptions of the methods and resources for working with this pathogen.

• Provides a comprehensive summary of literature on microsporidia and microsporidiosis

• The long-awaited update to the standard microsporidia reference text The Microsporidia and Microsporidiosis • Written by an international team of authors representing each of the main research groups working on microsporidia

• Chapters provide comprehensive overviews of general methodology as well as special techniques related to these organisms

Microsporidia: Pathogens of Opportunity provides a systematic overview of the biology of microsporidia. Written by leading experts in the field, the book combines background and basic information on microsporidia with descriptive methods and resources for working with the pathogen.

Newly revised and updated for its second edition, Microsporidia will continue to be the standard text reference for these pathogenic protists, and is an indispensable research resource for biologists, physicians and parasitologists.

This new edition of this publication provides systematic reviews of the biology of this pathogen by leading experts in the field, and will be combined with descriptions of the methods and resources for working with this pathogen.

• Provides a comprehensive summary of literature on microsporidia and microsporidiosis

• The long-awaited update to the standard microsporidia reference text The Microsporidia and Microsporidiosis • Written by an international team of authors representing each of the main research groups working on microsporidia

• Chapters provide comprehensive overviews of general methodology as well as special techniques related to these organisms

This book provides an up-to-date overview on the biology of microsporidia, focusing on areas where significant progress has been made in recent years. 

In particular, our understanding of the evolutionary position and the role of genome reduction in the biology of these enigmatic intracellular pathogens is discussed. This book also offers important updates on the mechanisms used by these organisms to modify the host cell biology of mammals, insects, nematodes, and aquatic animals, as well as the mechanisms controlling infection and host specificity. Readers gain a detailed overview of the structure and function of the polar tube, the unique invasion apparatus of microsporidia, as well as the physics and dynamics of spore firing. Particular attention is given to chronic infections in mammals caused by microsporidia, as well as common immune responses.

Written by an international team of authors representing the main research groups working on microsporidianbiology, this book is a valuable resource for health management professionals, experienced microbiologists, and early career scientist alike who want to learn more about these fascinating parasites. The ideas and latest finding covered in this book contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.  

Chapter “Impact of Genome Reduction in Microsporidia“ is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.