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 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).
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.
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.
Bacterial pili play important roles as environmental sensors, in host colonization and in biofilm formation, enabling bacteria to interact with the environment, with surfaces and with other bacteria and host cells. Most bacteria, both Gram positive and Gram negative, and almost all bacterial pathogens, are piliated. This book discusses the synthesis, structure, evolution, function and role in pathogenesis of these complex structures, and their basis for vaccine development and therapeutics for Streptococcus pathogens. It is an invaluable resource for researchers and students of medical microbiology.
Streptococcus Pneumoniae: Molecular Mechanisms of Host-Pathogen Interactions provides a comprehensive overview of our existing knowledge on Streptococcus pneumoniae antibiotic resistance, dissemination, and pathogenesis, including immunology. It presents a state-of-the-art overview of the implications of existing data, along with the areas of research that are important for future insights into the molecular mechanisms of pneumococcal infections and how to combat these infections. Users will find a timely update on the topic, as the dramatic increase in antibiotic resistance pneumoniae cases and limitations of the currently available pneumoniae vaccines are creating new concerns on these gram-positive bacteria that are endowed with a high virulence potential, and are the most common etiologic agent of respiratory and life-threatening invasive diseases. - Provides an updated overview of our existing knowledge on Streptococcus pneumoniae antibiotic resistance, dissemination, and pathogenesis, including immunology - Helps strengthen interdisciplinary networking and the focus of scientific resources by targeting epidemiology, vaccines, genetics, antibiotic resistance, clonal dissemination, Streptococcus pneumoniae biology, functional genomics, inflammasome, biomarkers, and more - Multi-authored by leaders in the field who present a state-of-the-art overview of what the implications are of existing data, and the areas of research that are important for future insights into the molecular mechanisms of pneumococcal infections - Supports combinatory networking in order to find new solutions in clinical therapies - Reflects the most topical pneumococcal research trends
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.
Bacteria in various habitats are subject to continuously changing environmental conditions, such as nutrient deprivation, heat and cold stress, UV radiation, oxidative stress, dessication, acid stress, nitrosative stress, cell envelope stress, heavy metal exposure, osmotic stress, and others. In order to survive, they have to respond to these conditions by adapting their physiology through sometimes drastic changes in gene expression. In addition they may adapt by changing their morphology, forming biofilms, fruiting bodies or spores, filaments, Viable But Not Culturable (VBNC) cells or moving away from stress compounds via chemotaxis. Changes in gene expression constitute the main component of the bacterial response to stress and environmental changes, and involve a myriad of different mechanisms, including (alternative) sigma factors, bi- or tri-component regulatory systems, small non-coding RNA’s, chaperones, CHRIS-Cas systems, DNA repair, toxin-antitoxin systems, the stringent response, efflux pumps, alarmones, and modulation of the cell envelope or membranes, to name a few. Many regulatory elements are conserved in different bacteria; however there are endless variations on the theme and novel elements of gene regulation in bacteria inhabiting particular environments are constantly being discovered. Especially in (pathogenic) bacteria colonizing the human body a plethora of bacterial responses to innate stresses such as pH, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species and antibiotic stress are being described. An attempt is made to not only cover model systems but give a broad overview of the stress-responsive regulatory systems in a variety of bacteria, including medically important bacteria, where elucidation of certain aspects of these systems could lead to treatment strategies of the pathogens. Many of the regulatory systems being uncovered are specific, but there is also considerable “cross-talk” between different circuits. Stress and Environmental Regulation of Gene Expression and Adaptation in Bacteria is a comprehensive two-volume work bringing together both review and original research articles on key topics in stress and environmental control of gene expression in bacteria. Volume One contains key overview chapters, as well as content on one/two/three component regulatory systems and stress responses, sigma factors and stress responses, small non-coding RNAs and stress responses, toxin-antitoxin systems and stress responses, stringent response to stress, responses to UV irradiation, SOS and double stranded systems repair systems and stress, adaptation to both oxidative and osmotic stress, and desiccation tolerance and drought stress. Volume Two covers heat shock responses, chaperonins and stress, cold shock responses, adaptation to acid stress, nitrosative stress, and envelope stress, as well as iron homeostasis, metal resistance, quorum sensing, chemotaxis and biofilm formation, and viable but not culturable (VBNC) cells. Covering the full breadth of current stress and environmental control of gene expression studies and expanding it towards future advances in the field, these two volumes are a one-stop reference for (non) medical molecular geneticists interested in gene regulation under stress.
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.
