Over the past fifty years cells and mediators involved in our immune defences have been painstakingly identified. However, it is only relatively recently that the ability of microorganisms to evade immunity has been recognized and investigated. This volume introduces the mechanisms used by bacteria to evade both humoral and cellular immune responses, using systems ranging in complexity from the simple quorum sensing molecules (acyl homoserine lactones) to the supramolecular syringe-like devices of type III secretion systems.

Understanding the molecular basis of bacterial invasion and of host cell adaptation to intracellular bacteria will provide fundamental insights into the pathophysiology of bacteria and the cell biology of the host. This book details specific examples of bacteria that are masters of manipulation of eukaryotic cell signaling and relates these events to the broader context of host-pathogen interaction. Written by experts in the field, it will be of interest to researchers and graduate students in microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry, as well as in molecular medicine and dentistry.

This book draws together contributions from many leading scientists and reviews the most significant recent advances in the development of mammalian host defense peptides. These short, cationic single gene products have been isolated from a vast array of higher and lower organisms, and the conservation of function across so many species is an indication of their importance. Antimicrobial peptides are also the only new class of antimicrobial agent discovered in recent years, and there is interest in them as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

Ninety percent of the cells in the human body are bacteria, and humans may be host to many thousands of different species of bacteria. These striking statistics are part of a new paradigm in microbiology in which bacteria are no longer viewed as disease-causing killers but more as lifelong partners which are often essential for the survival of their host. This book brings together a group of diverse scientists - evolutionary biologists, immunologists, molecular biologists, microbiologists, pathologists and mathematicians - to discuss the evolution and mechanisms of bacteria-host interactions...

This book provides up-to-date information on the crucial interaction of pathogenic bacteria and professional phagocytes, the host cells whose purpose is to ingest, kill, and digest bacteria in defense against infection. The introductory chapters focus on the receptors used by professional phagocytes to recognize and phagocytose bacteria, and the signal transduction events that are essential for phagocytosis of bacteria. Subsequent chapters discuss specific bacterial pathogens and the strategies they use in confronting professional phagocytes. Examples include Helicobacter pylori,...

Many bacterial diseases are caused by organisms growing together as communities or biofilms. These microorganisms have the capacity to coordinately regulate specific sets of genes by sensing and communicating amongst themselves utilizing a variety of signals. This book examines the mechanisms of quorum sensing and cell-to-cell communication in bacteria and the roles that these processes play in regulating virulence, bacterial interactions with host tissues, and microbial development. Recent studies suggest that microbial cell-to-cell communication plays an important role in the pathogenesis...

An emerging theme in molecular and cellular microbiology has been the ability of many pathogens to usurp the host cell and eventually colonize the host. This interaction between bacteria and host is not unidirectional - both pathogens and host cells engage in a signalling cross-talk. Research focused on this cross-talk and discussed in this volume, reveals not only novel aspects of bacterial pathogenesis, but also key information about epithelial biology with broader implications in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Written by leading researchers in this field, this book...

Salmonella enterica encompasses a diverse range of bacteria that cause a spectrum of diseases in many hosts. However, advancements in the prevention and treatment of its infections have been hampered by limited research efforts and lack of multidisciplinary approaches. This book covers a diverse range of relevant topics, including epidemiological and clinical aspects, molecular pathogenesis, and immunity to disease and vaccines. The book's up-to-date information on key aspects of salmonellosis in humans and animals, will interest graduate students and researchers, as well as clinicians.

Horizontal gene transfer is a major driving force in the evolution of many bacterial pathogens. The development of high-throughput sequencing tools and more sophisticated genomic and proteomic techniques in recent years has resulted in a better understanding of this phenomenon. Written by leading experts in the field, this edited volume is aimed at graduate students and researchers and provides an overview of current knowledge relating to the evolution of microbial pathogenicity. This volume provides an overview of the mechanisms and biological consequences of the genome rearrangements...

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms and biological consequences of genome rearrangements in bacteria. Genome rearrangements are a result of the actions of discrete genetic elements such as conjugative transposons, plasmids, phage, and non-conjugative transposons. Bacteria also contain systems to mediate genetic rearrangements such as the general recombination pathway and specialized endogenous recombination mechanisms. The biological effects of these rearrangements are far-reaching and impact on bacterial virulence, antibiotic resistance and the ability of bacteria to...