Lantibiotics as alternative therapeutics
Explores alternative therapeutics, lantibiotics and other novel drugs. This book provides concrete information to readers regarding lantibiotics and various types of antimicrobial peptides with their mode of actions in treating various multidrug resistant organisms. It explains various techniques that are involved in analyzing antimicrobial peptides and their mode of actions. The development of antibiotic resistance has now reached a point of crisis where innovative methods and application of novel compounds and methods are required to prevent the spread of drug resistant infections.
La scuola dell’atopia = The school of atopy
The need to clarify the current concepts of atopy, which for too long have oscillated between a primitive purely clinical vision and a subsequent purely immunological one, had been ripe for some time. Understanding that the role of immunoglobulins E is not exhaustive and accepting the Solomonic division between intrinsic and extrinsic atopy were the first two fundamental steps. Recent discoveries of the role of innate immunity, and therefore of antimicrobial peptides, have opened fundamental spaces for understanding in atopy and beyond. What now appears clear is that atopy is not the disease of an organ but rather a defect in the membranes that delimit our "self". The fact that these membranes are called skin, intestines, conjunctiva, bronchi or whatever has artificially fragmented the understanding and treatment of a unitary phenomenon. This book seeks to summarize the different experiences but above all to be a stimulus to ensure that medicine focuses constructively on the same target. If this is the case, we will no longer see "religious wars" between scientists and practicing doctors or, even worse, between the different specialists vying for the patient. If atopy, as we believe, is a global problem, it can only be adequately addressed in a multidisciplinary context and in a collaborative atmosphere, not only between doctor and doctor but also between doctor and patient.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a disease associated with high morbidity and mortality, with at least one third of cases requiring hospitalization, exceeding the numbers admitted for myocardial infarction and stroke. Despite a broad armamentarium of antimicrobials available, it remains an important cause of death in industrialized countries. CAP is caused by a variety of pathogens with their order of importance dependent on the location and population studied. Despite the importance of CAP, reliable data and a recommended evidence-based therapy are lacking, and basic research must be improved. The goal of this volume is to present state-of-the-art knowledge on epidemiology, clinical presentation, immunology, pathology, and diagnosis including the identification of "new pathogens". Therapeutic approaches, antibiotics resistance, disease management and vaccination strategies are also covered. The volume is of interest to researchers and clinicians in virology, epidemiology and biomedicine.
Chitosan-based nanocomposite materials : fabrication, characterization and biomedical applications
Discovery in the use of chitosan-based nanocomposites in biomedical applications, including the scope to which these novel materials have been incorporated by the community. It provides an exceptional insight into the strategies for the synthesis and chemical modifications of chitosan, characterization techniques, their use as anticancer agents, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal agents, their role in the biomedical field, and applications in drug delivery, gene therapy, dentistry, orthopedics, etc. This book will also emphasize the challenges with previous signs of progress and way for further research, details relating to the current pioneering technology, and future perspectives with a multidisciplinary approach. Furthermore, it presents up-to-date information on the economics, toxicity, and regulations related to these novel materials.
Chemistry of Biologically Potent Natural Products and Synthetic Compounds
Several novel natural product derivatives, heterocyclic and other synthetic compounds, have been reported to have shown interesting biological activities including anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-glycemic, anti-allergy and antiviral etc. Provides up-to-date information on new developments and most recent medicinal applications of the natural products and derivatives, as well as the chemistry and synthesis of heterocyclic and other related compounds.
Biophysical characterization of functional peptides
Presents reproducible and step-by-step procedures for the peptide synthesis, their characterization and applications. The volume includes an introductory section on in silico modelling of new peptide molecules, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Docking, Electrostatic fingerprinting of peptides, and other modelling tools for peptide designing and optimization. Further, it covers protocols for the solid phase peptide synthesis, chromatographic and mass spectrometric characterization of peptides. Importantly, it covers methods for biophysical characterizations of peptides for their potential applications as drug delivery vehicles, peptide nano-assembly, bionanocatalysis, protein aggregation diseases, and peptide-based anti-bacterial.
Biochemistry and molecular biology of antimicrobial drug action
This stimulating new edition of the well-respected title Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Antimicrobial Drug Action primarily covers medically important antimicrobial agents, but also includes some compounds not in current medical use which have been invaluable as research tools in biochemistry.
Bioactives and pharmacology of medicinal plants : Vol.1
Bioctives and Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants, concisely presents an abundance of important information on the bioactive and pharmacological properties of medicinal plants. It provides valuable comprehensive research and studies on bioactive phytocompounds of over 68 important medicinal plants with beneficial properties. For each species included in the volume, a brief introduction is given along with their bioactive compounds and chemical structures, followed by their chief pharmacological activities that include antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and cardioprotective activities. A review of the published literature on pharmacological activities on each species is included also, providing a thorough resource on each of the plants covered in the volume.
Bioactives and pharmacology of Legumes
A variety of bioactives and therapeutics from the legume family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) are thoroughly detailed. For each species included in the volume, a brief introduction is given, the plant’s bioactive compounds are listed, and its chemical structures shown, followed by their pharmacological activities. Many of these plants have medicinal activities that include antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and cardioprotective. The biochemical characteristics of the 37 plants included, such as the type of starch, protein, and fibers, can be exploited as binders, excipients, thickeners, and dispersants in the formulation of various products in the pharmaceutical industry. The published literature on the pharmacological activities on each species is reviewed and presented in a concise and clear manner.
Bacteriocins : Ecology and Evolution
Microbes produce an extraordinary array of defense systems. These include bacteriocins, a class of antimicrobial molecules with narrow killing spectra, produced by bacteria. The book describes the diversity and ecological role of bacteriocins of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, presenting a new classification scheme for the former and a state-of-the-art look at the role of bacteriocins in bacterial communication. It discusses the molecular evolution of colicins and colicin-like bacteriocins, and provides a contemporary overview of archaeocins, bacteriocin-like antimicrobials produced by archaebacteria. Furthermore, various modeling (in silico) studies elucidate the role of bacteriocins in microbial community dynamics and fitness, delving into rock-paper-scissors competition and the counter-intuitive survival of the weakest. The book makes compelling reading for a multi-faceted scientific audience, including those working in the fields of biodiversity and biotechnology, notably in the human and animal health domain.
Bacterial Fish Pathogens : Disease of Farmed and Wild Fish
This completely revised and updated edition of Bacterial Fish Pathogens is a comprehensive discussion of the biological aspects of the bacterial taxa which cause disease in fish. Since the 3rd edition was published in 1999, much has changed in the control of disease of farmes and wild fish. New pathogens such as Pasteurella skyensis have been described, and antimicrobial compounds for the control of disease have been replaced by alternative methods, such as probiotics. Consideration is given to all the bacterial taxa which have at some time been reported as fish pathogens, whether they are secondary invaders of already damaged tissues or serious, primary pathogens.
Bacterial Biofilms
This volume tends to focus on the biology of biofilms that affect human disease. It opens with chapters that provide the reader with current perspectives on biofilm development, physiology, environmental and regulatory effects, the role of quorum sensing, and resistance/phenotypic persistence to antimicrobial agents during biofilm growth. The next chapters are devoted to common problematic biofilms, those that colonize venous and urinary catheters. The final series of chapters examines biofilm formation by four species that are important pathogens and well studied models, one of which, Yersinia pestis, cleverly adopts a biofilm state of growth within its insect vector to promote disease transmission to mammalian hosts.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Implications for the Twenty-First Century
This new volume of the Emerging Infectious Diseases of the 21st Century series is a collection of chapters by leading world authorities on antimicrobial resistance of common, important bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens. This unique book should be in the possession of anyone interested in the field of infectious diseases, microbiology, infection control & public health. The chapters, which are written by reknown experts, provide a wealth of contemporary information on microbiology, molecular mechanisms, epidemiology, clinical relevance, treatment, and prevention
Antimicrobial peptides and human disease
Microbes are in our midst soon after birth. Thankfully, the number of harmless (and often beneficial) microbes far outnumber those that would do us harm. Our ability to ward-off pathogens in our environment, including those that can colonize our exterior and/or interior surfaces, depends on the integrative action of the innate and adaptive immunity systems. This volume of CTMI, entitled Antimicrobial Peptides and Human Disease, is dedicated to the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the innate host defense system of homo sapiens.
Antibiotics : Methods and protocols
Provides state-of-the-art and novel methods on antibiotic isolation and purification, identification of antimicrobial killing mechanisms, as well as methods for the analysis and detection of microbial responses and adaptation strategies. Antibiotics: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition, guides readers through updated and entirely new chapters on production and design, mode of action, and response and resistance. 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.
Antibiotic policies : Theory and practice
This unique book assembles contributions from experts around the world concerned with responsible use of antibiotics and the consequences of overuse. For the first time, it provides up to the minute texts on both the theoretical aspects of antibiotic stewardship and the practical aspects of its implementation, with consideration of the key differences between developed and developing countries
Antibiotic Policies : Fighting Resistance
This book addresses many of the key issues taxing our society and hospitals in an era of epidemic resistance and shortage of new antibiotics. Written by internationally renowned experts in the field, this volume will provide practical advice and inform control strategies for the most urgent of problems related to antibiotic resistance epidemic for years to come. Antibiotic Policies: Fighting Resistance is an ideal volume for health professionals with an interest in this field.
Advanced Techniques in Diagnostic Microbiology
The book is divided into two sections. The first techniques section covers the principles and characteristics of techniques ranging from rapid antigen testing, to advanced antibody detection, to in vitro nucleic acid amplification techniques, and to nucleic acid microarray and mass spectrometry. Sufficient space is assigned to cover different nucleic acid amplification formats that are currently being used widely in the diagnostic microbiology field. Within each technique, examples are given regarding its application in the diagnostic field. Commercial product information, if available, is introduced with commentary in each chapt
Composite and polymeric materials for dentistry: enhancing antimicrobial and mechanical properties
Focuses on enhancing antimicrobial and mechanical properties of polymeric materials and composites for dentistry. In recent years, special attention has been focused on the possibility of giving materials new or improved properties by the introduction of nano or submicron size additives, fibers or whiskers. Another area of research is the application of antibacterial monomers, which can be copolymerized in resins to kill oral pathogenic microflora. In addition, we are currently looking for new data regarding colonization of dental materials by pathogenic microbes and their influence on the other properties. Further, there are many new commercially available materials which should be investigated to verify their properties, which is important from the point of view of clinical practice. Original new research and reviews related to any of the topics mentioned above indicate the current directions of development of dental materials.
Bioactive Materials in Dentistry : Remineralization and Biomineralization
Addresses the use of different bioactive materials in dentistry, considering the performance of these biomaterials in the hard tissues of the tooth, and the response of the dental pulp, as well as the influence of the composition of these materials and of the individual’s systemic alterations in bioactivity and in antimicrobial activity. The several in vivo and in vitro tests to evaluate the bioactivity of a biomaterial will also be addressed.



















