Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease is a concise, yet comprehensive, clinical resource highlighting must-know information on rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever from a global perspective. Covering the major issues dominating the field, this practical resource presents sufficient detail for a deep and thorough understanding of the latest treatment options, potential complications, and disease management strategies to improve patient outcomes. - Divided into four distinct sections for ease of navigation: Acute Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Population-Based Strategies for Disease Control, and Acute and Emergency Presentations. - International editors and chapter authors ensure a truly global perspective. - Covers all clinical aspects, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and treatment. - Includes key topics on population-based measures for disease control for effective primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. - Consolidates today's available information and guidance into a single, convenient resource.
This volume details Group A Streptococcus (GAS) research and provides the reader with an extensive collection of research protocols within this important field. Chapters guide readers through standard genetic protocols such as whole genome sequencing, transcriptome analyses, proteome analysis, application of GAS-derived molecular tools, and methods that are crucial for the evaluation of novel GAS vaccines and GAS virulence factors, including bactericidal assays and animal infection models. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Group A Streptococcus: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.
This plan addresses the need to improve our ability to identify infectious disease threats and respond to them effectively by improving the public health infrastructure at the local, state and federal levels. The goals of the plan are surveillance (detect, promptly investigate, and monitor emerging pathogens, the diseases they cause, and the factors influencing their emergence); applied research (integrate laboratory science and epidemiology to optimize public health practice); prevention and control (enhance communication of public health information about emerging diseases and ensure prompt implementation of prevention strategies); and infrastructure (strengthen local, state, and federal public health infrastructures to support surveillance and implement prevention and control programs).
Streptococcal Infections: Clinical Aspects, Microbiology, and Molecular Pathogenesis offers an in-depth examination of the spectrum of hemolytic streptococcal infections and their complications. Additionally, the volume incorporates and discusses aspects of pneumococcal, entrococcal, and oral streptococcal disease. The recent resurgence of rheumatic fever, concomitant outbreaks of severe systemic group A streptococcal infections (often accompanied by toxic shock), an increasing incidence of multiple antibiotic resistance among streptococcal species, and an intensified effort to develop effective streptococcal vaccines have brought renewed attention to the continuing role of streptococci for causing significant medical and public health problems in both industrialized and developing countries. Addressing clinical and epidemiological aspects, and microbiological and other approaches of the research scientist, this volume is the first to comprehensively address these clinically important organisms in many years. The contributors are internationally recognized for their expertise, making this book invaluable for infectious disease physicians, (internists, pediatricians, and family physicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and basic scientists with an interest in streptococcal infections and their complications.
Lactic Acid Bacteria Biodiversity and Taxonomy Lactic Acid Bacteria Biodiversity and Taxonomy Edited by Wilhelm H. Holzapfel and Brian J.B. Wood The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a group of related microorganisms that are enormously important in the food and beverage industries. Generally regarded as safe for human consumption (and, in the case of probiotics, positively beneficial to human health), the LAB have been used for centuries, and continue to be used worldwide on an industrial scale, in food fermentation processes, including yoghurt, cheeses, fermented meats and vegetables, where they ferment carbohydrates in the foods, producing lactic acid and creating an environment unsuitable for the survival of food spoilage organisms and pathogens. The shelf life of the product is thereby extended, but of course these foods are also enjoyed around the world for their organoleptic qualities. They are also important to the brewing and winemaking industries, where they are often undesirable intruders but can in specific cases have desirable benefits. The LAB are also used in producing silage and other agricultural animal feeds. Clinically, they can improve the digestive health of young animals, and also have human medical applications. This book provides a much-needed and comprehensive account of the current knowledge of the LAB, covering the taxonomy and relevant biochemistry, physiology and molecular biology of these scientifically and commercially important microorganisms. It is directed to bringing together the current understanding concerning the organisms’ remarkable diversity within a seemingly rather constrained compass. The genera now identified as proper members of the LAB are treated in dedicated chapters, and the species properly recognized as members of each genus are listed with detailed descriptions of their principal characteristics. Each genus and species is described using a standardized format, and the relative importance of each species in food, agricultural and medical applications is assessed. In addition, certain other bacterial groups (such as Bifidobacterium) often associated with the LAB are given in-depth coverage. The book will also contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of the role of LA B in the various ecosystems and ecological niches that they occupy. In summary, this volume gathers together information designed to enable the organisms’ fullest industrial, nutritional and medical applications. Lactic Acid Bacteria: Biodiversity and Taxonomy is an essential reference for research scientists, biochemists and microbiologists working in the food and fermentation industries and in research institutions. Advanced students of food science and technology will also find it an indispensable guide to the subject. Also available from Wiley Blackwell The Chemistry of Food Jan Velisek ISBN 978-1-118-38384-1 Progress in Food Preservation Edited by Rajeev Bhat, Abd Karim Alias and Gopinadham Paliyath ISBN 978-0-470-65585-6
Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. have not only got pathogenic isolates, but also non-pathogenic isolates. Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. that are Gram positive cocci are the main pathogens in several infections. Virulence factors such as usual and unusual surface proteins encoded by resistance genes are the main causes of pathogenesis. Multidrug-resistant pathogens that are the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide have the ability to synthesize a number of destructive enzymes encoded by resistance genes such as ?-lactamases. Resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group A, and Group B Streptococcus have emerged throughout the world. To eliminate these resistant pathogens that cause untreatable, acute, and chronic infections, different new antimicrobials must be developed and used. The goal of this book is to provide the latest information about the above topics.
On the occasion of the European Congress on Wound Healing and Skin Physiology (Bochum, Germany, November 1992), an international team of scientists and clinicians discussed the core topics in this important field of dermatological and surgical research. Themes include morphology and physiology, microcirculation and angiogenesis, biochemistry and immunology, microbiology and wound infection, non-invasive measurement techniques, wound repair, surgical treatment, dressings, and agents that promote wound healing.
This book describes the major achievements and discoveries relevant to bacterial protein toxins since the turn of the new century illustrated by the discovery of more than fifty novel toxins (many of them identified through genome screening). The establishment of the three-dimensional crystal structure of more than 20 toxins during the same period offers deeper knowledge of structure-activity relationships and provides a framework to understand how toxins recognize receptors, penetrate membranes and interact with and modify intracellular substrates. - Edited by two of the most highly regarded experts in the field from the Institut Pasteur, France - 14 brand new chapters dedicated to coverage of historical and general aspects of toxinology - Includes the major toxins of both basic and clinical interest are described in depth - Details applied aspects of toxins such as therapy, vaccinology, and toolkits in cell biology - Evolutionary and functional aspects of bacterial toxins evaluated and summarized - Toxin applications in cell biology presented - Therapy (cancer therapy, dystonias) discussed - Vaccines (native and genetically engineered vaccines) featured - Toxins discussed as biological weapons, comprising chapters on anthrax, diphtheria, ricin etc.
This book provides ample knowledge and better understanding of Streptococcus pyogenes and their superantigens. Many illustrations make this a highly informative book. This book elucidates briefly Streptococcus pyogenes as a strict human pathogen possessing an array of virulence factors. These help in evading host immune responses such as by the activation of non-specific T-cell subpopulations by producing superantigens. This book mainly focuses on streptococcal superantigens and explains how they are different from conventional antigens. Moreover, it elaborates those diseases in which superantigens are actively involved. Useful aspects of superantigens and different therapeutic interventions to eradicate superantigens induced diseased are also discussed.
This book is the only single volume to deal with all aspects of gram–positive pathogens. It addresses the mechanisms of gram–positive bacterial pathogenicity, including the current knowledge on gram–positive structure and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Emphasizing streptococci, staphylococci, listeria, and spore–forming pathogens, Gram–Positive Pathogens includes chapters written by many of the leading researchers in these areas. The chapters systematically dissect these organisms biologically, genetically, and immunologically in an attempt to understand the strategies used by these bacteria to cause human disease.
