Infectious Disease – serie

Two prominent immunogerontologists review the major features and functions of the immune system that are most likely, or known, to be significantly altered by aging, and offer insightful analyses of the consequences for those aging subjects who must cope with infection. Topics of special interest include the demographics and theories of immunosenescence, the gradual breakdown of resistance to infection in the aged, and the effects of aging on selected mechanisms of both innate and adaptive immunity to infections. The Albrights also explain how advances may be made in understanding the basic biology, the newer methods of treatment and prevention, and the evaluation of such provocative ideas as lifespan extension and nutritional intervention to delay immunosenescence.

In Immunotherapy for Infectious Disease, Jeffrey M. Jacobson, MD, and a panel of leading researchers review the state-of-the-art for treating various infections - particularly HIV - by manipulating the immune system's response rather than by chemical drugs. The contributors synthesize the principles of immune defense on the molecular level (monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, methods of antigen presentation, and cytokines and cytokine antagonists), as well as on the cellular and clinical levels levels as a protection against infection. The review of the current state of anti-HIV immunotherapy covers HIV-specific passive and active immunization strategies, gene therapy, and host cell-targeted approaches for treating HIV infection and restoring immune function.

Philip Rosenthal, MD, and a panel of leading malaria experts drawn from academia, the military, and international health organizations survey the latest scientific understanding of antimalarial chemotherapy, emphasizing the molecular mechanisms of resistance and the description of important new targets. Their survey covers the current status of malarial and antimalarial chemotherapy, the relevant biology and biochemistry of malaria parasites, the antimalarial drugs currently available, new chemical approaches to chemotherapy, and possible new targets for chemotherapy. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Antimalarial Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action, Resistance, and New Directions in Drug Discovery clearly delineates all the basic and clinical research now addressing one of the world's major unresolved disease problems, work that is now powerfully driving the rapid pace of antimalarial drug discovery today.

World-renowned authorities address the most important aspects of the immunology of retroviruses, namely immune response, genetic and virologic factors modulating the response, and the HIV-specific humoral and cell-mediated responses. In addition to the basic concepts of immune restoration, key topics covered include immune restoration after antiviral therapy and vaccine-induced immune response. Up-to-date and authoritative, Retroviral Immunology: Immune Response and Restoration provides a much-needed critical synthesis of both the experimental and clinical aspects of retroviral infections, and lays the groundwork for developing effective restoration strategies for the many immune-compromised HIV and AIDS patients who suffer fatal opportunistic infections.

James J. Goedert and a team of leading experimental and clinical researchers provide critical, integrating surveys of those viruses, bacteria, and parasites that are now known to play a major role in cancer-work that opens the way toward novel therapeutic targets. The contributors focus on five types of human carcinogenic infection-herpesviruses, retroviruses, papillomaviruses, hepatitis viruses, and H. pylori-and review in depth the associated malignancies, as well as how these new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies may be implemented. Cutting-edge and cross-disciplinary, Infectious Causes of Cancer: Targets for Intervention provides clinical oncologists and infectious disease specialists, as well as clinical researchers, with insightful reviews of cancer induction by infectious diseases and the high promise of closely targeted new therapeutics and vaccines.

Modern vaccines are increasingly reliant upon administration with additional substances, termed adjuvants, in order to stimulate effective immune responses. The major biological activity of adjuvant is to mimic infections, binding to specific cellular receptors that recognize components of microbial invaders. This reference brings together new information and perspectives on vaccine adjuvants in a unified synthesis based upon immunological principles. It serves as an essential hand-book that provides continuity and clarity of preentation to a diverse audience of immunologists, vaccinologists, pharmacologists and infectious disease physicians.

A comprehensive review of what is known about the role of cytokines and chemokines in a variety of human infectious diseases, including gram-negative and -positive infections, listeriosis, mycobacterial infections, lyme arthritis, pneumonia, fungal infections, HIV, leishmaniasis, and sepsis. The authors demonstrate the different cytokine and chemokine production profiles in response to a wide variety of pathogens and the importance of host genetic factors in determining the type and magnitude of responses to a given microorganism. They also critically evaluate the use of cytokines and anticytokines in the treatment of infectious diseases and show how knowledge of cytokine pleiotropic effects, redundancy, and the complexity of the cytokine network has led to better design and better outcomes in cytokine-based therapies for specific infections.

Though cholera is an ancient disease, its perennial occurrence in several parts of the world has attracted many researches to find ways and means to combat the disease. The prevailing seventh pandemic cholera is dominating since 1961, but the dimension of the disease has taken several silhouettes, as the genetic structure and functions of the Vibrio cholerae has changed to a great extent. Several recent studies have shown that transformation of the pathogen at the molecular level has ameliorated several cholera outbreaks and epidemics of with successive new clones of V. cholerae. This comprehensive compilation, written by eminent international researchers reviews the epidemiology of cholera in Africa, Asia, Russia and Latin Americas. The other chapters contributed by acclaimed authors cover various aspects on evolution, polysaccaharide biosynthesis, SXT element, integrons, small molecule signalling systems, flagellar synthesis, filamentous phages, pathogenic role of proteases and hemolysin, and other putative virulence factors. In addition, ecology of V. cholerae and management of cholera were also discussed in detail. This book will be good source of information to all researchers with interests in infectious diseases, microbiology and molecular biology.

James J. Goedert and a team of leading experimental and clinical researchers provide critical, integrating surveys of those viruses, bacteria, and parasites that are now known to play a major role in cancer-work that opens the way toward novel therapeutic targets. The contributors focus on five types of human carcinogenic infection-herpesviruses, retroviruses, papillomaviruses, hepatitis viruses, and H. pylori-and review in depth the associated malignancies, as well as how these new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies may be implemented. Cutting-edge and cross-disciplinary, Infectious Causes of Cancer: Targets for Intervention provides clinical oncologists and infectious disease specialists, as well as clinical researchers, with insightful reviews of cancer induction by infectious diseases and the high promise of closely targeted new therapeutics and vaccines.

In Immunotherapy for Infectious Disease, Jeffrey M. Jacobson, MD, and a panel of leading researchers review the state-of-the-art for treating various infections-particularly HIV-by manipulating the immune system's response rather than by chemical drugs. The contributors synthesize the principles of immune defense on the molecular level (monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, methods of antigen presentation, and cytokines and cytokine antagonists), as well as on the cellular and clinical levels levels as a protection against infection. The review of the current state of anti-HIV immunotherapy covers HIV-specific passive and active immunization strategies, gene therapy, and host cell-targeted approaches for treating HIV infection and restoring immune function.

The authors' cross-disciplinary approach, with expertise acquired from studying disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, reveals how sequence information from diverse pathogens has uncovered novel targets for drug discovery, antigenic determinants for vaccine development, as well as diagnostic tools.

The concept of innate immunity refers to the first-line host defense that serves to limit infection in the early hours after exposure to microorganisms.

The preparation of Aging, Immunity, and Infection has been a "labor of labor. " When we began, there existed a huge literature-but manage­ able, we thought, given our years of experience in the area often referred to as immunogerontology. However, in the time that we have been at work, the new relevant literature has increased at a prodigious rate. The more we read and tried to assimilate, the farther we fell behind. In order to have any hope of completing a book on this rapidly evolving topic, we have been forced to become increasingly selective in covering new and re cent publications. We dare to hope that many read­ ers will find the book useful and only a few will dweIl on the inevitable inadequacies. We consider the book a work in progress, and welcome suggestions for future editions. Five chapters cover several aspects of infection and the decline of immunity with age. The first chapter "Human Aging: Present and Future," is devoted to demographics and theories of senescence. Chap­ ter 2 outlines the gradual breakdown of resistance to infection in the aged individual. Chapters 3 and 4 cover changes in innate and acquired immunity. The final chapter, "Nutrition, Longevity, and Integrity of the Immune System," discusses such provocative ideas as life-span exten­ sion and nutritional intervention for the delay of immunosenescence.

In the best case, genetic analysis in the ‘biocrime’ sector can exclude sources, narrow the population of possible sources and support associations with potential sources.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH: Volume 2: Impact on Global Health covers the scientific aspects of the entire portfolio of NIAID, including microbiology and infectious disease, HIV/AIDS, and immunology and vaccines.

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance is divided into Volume 1 which has sections covering a general overview of drug resistance and mechanisms of drug resistance ?

This book is a comprehensive text on the prophylaxis and treatment of opportunistic infections in a fast growing population of immunocompromised hosts. To this end, the array of diseases covered includes not only opportunistic infections exclusively associated with immunocompromised patients but also infectious diseases which even though benign and self-resolving in immunocompetent hosts, have the potential of becoming serious illnesses in immunocompromised patients. These diseases may quickly develop into fulminant or disseminated illness characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Opportunistic Infections: Treatment and Prophylaxis is organized into four major parts covering bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. In addition to well-known opportunistic pathogens, each part includes new and emerging species that may be either taxonomically related to a major disease-causing microorganism or microorganisms not until recently considered to be human pathogens. The information contained in this book will include widely accepted prophylactic and treatment regimens based on well-planned large-scale clinical trials, as well as reports from individual cases.To facilitate the quick and convenient access to this information, tables containing recommended prophylactic and therapeutic regimens are included, thus making this an essential resource for all physicians treating these infections.

Leading infectious disease researchers and pharmaceutical scientists comprehensively review the latest genomic technologies and their application to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The authors' cross-disciplinary approach, with expertise acquired from studying disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, reveals how sequence information from diverse pathogens has uncovered novel targets for drug discovery, antigenic determinants for vaccine development, as well as diagnostic tools. The authors also discuss the application of DNA micoarrays and the impact of genome sequencing comparisons on the discovery and choices of novel drug targets. The result is a better understanding how genomic information can reveal the fundamentals of microbial pathogenesis and how organisms interact with their host environment.

This book explores the host pathogen interaction in plants, insects, and mammals to elucidate the origins of the human defense system against infection. Bringing together the latest research in the field of innate immunity, the authors review four significant research areas: plant immunity, invertebrate host defense immunity, pattern recognition receptors in mammalian host defense, and the links between innate and adaptive immunity in mammals. They find that the similarities among insect, plant, and mammalian immunological systems shed light on the complex mechanisms involved in adaptive immunity, thereby increasing our understanding of mammalian host defense.

Prominent experts in biodefense research - many from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases - authoritatively delineate the universe of scientific, medical, and legal issues facing the biodefense research community. Regarding medical countermeasures and decontamination, the authors describe the treatment and pathogenesis of a variety of established pathogens (anthrax, plague, smallpox, Brucellosis, Glanders, and Coxiella burnettii) and review what is known about the aerosol route of infection and decontamination processes. They also examine how to discover the presence of these agents, or other previously unknown biological weapons, and detail the ongoing efforts to counter these agents, including proteomic and genomic analysis as a gateway to better diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccinations, genotyping, and forensics. Additional chapters discuss the development and use technology to identify and characterize these infectious organisms, emerging threats, and the development of countermeasures.

This collection of diverse articles by the pioneers of modern genomics takes stock of the current state of the field and elucidates the contribution that sequencing genomes has made to our understanding of microbial metabolism and evolution. Through twenty-eight thought-provoking chapters, the authors describe some of the most common computational methods and their applications to studying pathogenic microorganisms, show how genomics can be used to reconstruct the history and dynamism of the microbial world, and discuss issues as diverse as reconstruction of metabolic pathways, cell cycle processes, microbial evolution, metagenomics, and vaccine development. Additional chapters deal with microarrays and expression analysis and the role of genomic in drug discovery.

A comprehensive and cutting-edge review of how practicing physicians can best treat multiple drug resistance in bacterial, viral, protozoal, and helminthic infections. The authors focus on the major hospital and community-acquired pathogens, including S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, and M. tuberculosis, and on the management of such common problems as multiple drug-resistant urinary tract infections and gonorrhea. Among the resistant tropical organisms covered are Salmonella typhi, malaria, and Burkholderia pseudomalei. Resistance to such important antiviral classes as antiretrovirals and anticytomegalovirals is also discussed, as are those measures necessary to prevent the spread of infections patients.

Diagnosis of Congenital and Perinatal Infections provides essential information on infections that are transmitted in utero, during the birth process, and shortly after birth (through breastfeeding). The book discusses approaches to the diagnosis of specific micro-oraganisms that may cause congenital or perinatal infections. The discussion includes both an approach to the pregnant women who is at risk for infection and the approach to the diagnosis of her fetus (if applicable) and infant. The first five chapters discuss the epidemiology of these infections, including the scope of the problem, and the routes by which transmission occurs. In the first chapter, there is specific section about micro-organisms that may be transmited through breast feeding. The next two chapters focuses on a general discussion of serologic and other assays used for diagnosis of infection including antigen assays and PCR. The last two chapters provide information prenatally and a discussion of how placenatal pathology may be essential primer for all obstetricians, neonatologists, pediatricians and family physicians treating patients with perinatal infections.

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance is the first major comprehensive reference to antimicrobial drug resistance. The first volume of the book is devoted to the biological basis of drug resistance and effective avenues for drug development. The second volume is devoted to the clinical aspects of drug resistance.

In Foodborne Diseases, leading authorities present a broad overview of the microbial pathogens and toxins associated with foodborne illness while discussing pathogenicity, clinical epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The chapters of this volume cover a wide variety of bacterial pathogens, viruses, protozoans, and parasites, as well as microbial toxins, and also address alternatives to antibiotics, risk assessment, irradiation and other sanitation procedures, and molecular techniques for detecting foodborne pathogens. Additionally, the acclaimed authors discuss pathogen control strategies and look toward future innovations in food safety technology. Covering essential foodborne pathogens, assessment and treatment, Foodborne Diseases is an essential reference for infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, and industrial and research-based scientists in food safety.

A magisterial survey of all aspects of the reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) used to treat HIV/AIDS, including drug discovery, pharmacology, development of drug resistance, toxicity, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

A major portion of all of acute child neurology involves the neurological complications of infectious diseases. However, none of the currently available excellent texts on inf- tious disease focus specifically on the neurological aspects. Drs. Neil R. Friedman and Leslie L. Barton have filled this important void with a superb, multi-authored text, addressing directly “the neurological manifestations of pediatric infectious diseases and immunodeficiency syndromes. ” The book is organized logically according to the responsible microorganisms and addresses sequentially a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, fungi, rickettsiae, spirochetes, mycobacteriae, and parasites, as well as cat-scratch disease and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The chapters are consistently similar in organization and begin with an introduction that provides a synopsis and perspective. The substance of the chapters follows in sections devoted to epidemiology, pathog- esis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and references. The discussions of epidemiology are particularly informative and current. The sections on pathogenesis include valuable neuropathology and critical distinctions among disorders caused by primary infection by the microorganism and those related to parainfectious and postinfectious immunological phenomena. The sections on clinical manifestations emphasize the neurological features and often are subdivided into specific neurolo- cal syndromes. Results of modern brain imaging are illustrated, and tables highlight neurological and other features. Sections on diagnosis are especially valuable and emphasize the value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and related means of identifying microbial nucleic acids and proteins. The discussions of treatment areespecially current and valuable.

Combining the disciplines of biological, physical and chemical science, microbial forensics has a rapidly rising profile in a world increasingly troubled by the threat of ‘biocrime’ and ‘bioterrorism’. This valuable resource is a major addition to a body of literature reckoned to lack sufficient breadth. It presents a variety of phenotypic and trace signature methodologies associated with cultured microorganisms that, despite being genetically identical, may be characterized by differing cultural environments. One of the central challenges faced by those working in this field is the sheer diversity of potentially harmful agents, which in themselves total more than 1000 viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites. Their numerous additional variants render the process of ‘fingerprinting’ biological agents notoriously difficult, especially when the limitations of genetic analysis are factored in. Attribution of crime is relatively easy through human DNA, but lacking the genetic individuation of humans and animals, microbial forensics has to complement phylogenetic techniques with chemical and physical ones.  In the best case, genetic analysis in the ‘biocrime’ sector can exclude sources, narrow the population of possible sources and support associations with potential sources. To complement these genetic techniques, chemical and physical methods can be used to compare ‘signatures’ imparted to microbial samples by environments in which they are grown and processed. Collating a range of microbiological fingerprinting techniques in one volume, and covering everything from statistical analysis to laboratory protocols, this publication furthers the aim of forensic investigators who need robust and legally admissible forensic evidence to present in a courtroom.

A resource indicating appropriate, evidence-based antimicrobial treatment of infectious diseases encountered in both the hospital and outpatient settings would be of significant value to practicing clinicians.