Richard Lucius – författare

This book unravels in an easily understandable way the exciting molecular connections between our gut microbiome, i.e. the collective microorganisms that we carry in our digestive system, nutrition and the immune system, and how an imbalance can lead to the development of inflammatory diseases. The totality of these gut microorganisms forms a complex ecosystem within us, consisting of hundreds of different species of bacteria.The author, microbiologist Professor Richard Lucius, introduces the historical context of microbiome research, discusses how our lives have changed in recent decades, and explains the composition and function of the microbiome and its connection to the gut and immune system. The book explains in detail and supported with appealing illustrations how allergies, chronic intestinal inflammation, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and coeliac disease develop. Further chapters deal with the effects of nutrition on our intestinal flora and provide tips on building and maintaining a healthy microbiome. An intact bacterial community utilizes food residues that humans cannot digest and in return provides energy and vital substances. Only together with our inhabitants do we form a well-functioning "superorganism".Our immune system, which has developed over millions of years, is calibrated for a meagre, natural life. Under the influence of our modern way of life, the "Western lifestyle", our inner ecosystem is suffering from a loss of species, similar to our external environment. Highly processed foods, the influence of medication, lack of exercise and little contact with environmental bacteria are promoting this erosion process, which in the long term increases the risk of inflammatory diseases and obesity. As a result, more than 25% of people in modern societies suffer from allergies, autoimmune diseases and food intolerances that hardly existed in the past. This development can be counteracted by a healthy lifestyle that strengthens and diversifies the microbiome.This book is aimed at anyone who wants to understand the complex interplay between our gut microbiome, the immune system, nutrition and disease.The English translation of this volume, originally published in German language, was facilitated by artificial intelligence. A language editor has subsequently revised the text further in an endeavor to refine the work stylistically. The content was later revised by the author for accuracy.

This heavily illustrated text teaches parasitology from a biological perspective. It combines classical descriptive biology of parasites with modern cell and molecular biology approaches, and also addresses parasite evolution and ecology.Parasites found in mammals, non-mammalian vertebrates, and invertebrates are systematically treated, incorporating the latest knowledge about their cell and molecular biology. In doing so, it greatly extends classical parasitology textbooks and prepares the reader for a career in basic and applied parasitology.

Die 3. vollständig überarbeitete Auflage dieses Buches führt in die Biologie parasitärer Einzeller, Würmer und Arthropoden ein. Im einführenden Kapitel stellen die Autoren Konzepte der Parasitologie vor. Ausführlich gehen sie dann auf wichtige Infektionserreger, wie die der Malaria, der Toxoplasmose oder von Wurminfektionen ein, wobei die molekularen Aspekte ihrer Biologie erläutert werden. Außerdem werden Parasiten als Krankheitsüberträger dargestellt und wichtige Parasitosen, die bei Tieren vorkommen, besprochen. Daher wendet sich dieses Buch sowohl an Biologen, als auch an Veterinärmediziner und Mediziner. In den einzelnen Kapiteln kommen die Anpassungen an die parasitische Lebensweise zur Sprache. Anhand häufiger Vertreter werden exemplarisch typische Lebenszyklen, die Immunreaktionen und die resultierenden Krankheitsbilder erklärt. Viele Abbildungen veranschaulichen dabei den Text. Die Prüfungsfragen am Ende eines jeden Kapitels helfen, den Lerninhalt zu rekapitulieren und zu verinnerlichen.