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Neglected tropical diseases and phytochemicals in drug discovery
Neglected Tropical Diseases and Phytochemicals in Drug Discovery delivers a comprehensive exploration of the drug discovery process as it pertains to neglected tropical diseases. The book covers recent advancements in drug discovery, as well as druggable targets and new challenges facing the industry. It offers readers expansive discussions of specific diseases, including protozoan, helminth, bacterial, viral, fungal, and ectoparasitic infections.
Myosins : A Superfamily of Molecular Motors
Application of state-of-the-art cellular and molecular biological, structural biological, genetic, biochemical and biophysical techniques has provided and continues to provide critical information regarding the structure–function relationship; and the cellular roles of various myosins in organisms as diverse as protozoa, yeast, plants and higher animals. The association of myosins with diseases including neurological disorders, immu- deficiencies, cardiomyopathies, hearing and vision loss testify to the importance of understanding the biochemical properties and cellular roles of myosins. The 16 chapters in this volume summarize the tremendous progress made in studying members of the myosin superfamily in recent years and offer critical insight into what future research will yield.
Monograph of the Urostyloidea (Ciliophora, Hypotricha)
This monograph is the second of a series treating the hypotrichs, a major part of the spirotrichous ciliates. The urostyloids are characterised by a zigzag-arrangement of the ventral cirri. Like the first part of the series, the Oxytrichidae, it summarises the morphological, morphogenetic, faunistic, and ecological data from the past 230 years, scattered in more than 1300 references from all over the world. Dichotomous keys lead to 36 genera and subgenera comprising 153 species illustrated by more than 2100 figures, including original ones. The treatise offers taxonomists, cell biologists, and ecologists a thorough and up-to-date revision because for each species a detailed list of synonyms, a discussion of the nomenclature and systematics, and an extensive description of the morphology and ecology, including almost all published faunistic records, are provided. With the monographs of the Urostyloidea and the Oxytrichidae the interested scientist can identify more than 320 species of hypotrichs, which are an important component of the eukaryotic microbial life in limnetic, marine, and terrestrial habitats.
Molecular Mechanisms of Parasite Invasion
All of the parasitic organisms highlighted in this new book represent medically important human pathogens that contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. As such there is intense interest in understanding the molecular basis of infection by these pathogens—not only with regard to their clinical relevance but also the fascinating biology they reveal. For most of the parasites discussed here the ability to penetrate biological barriers and/or to establish intracellular residence is critical to survival of the pathogen in the mammalian hosts. For other parasites, a tissue invasive phenotype is a key virulence determinant. In the ensuing 18 chapters, select members of this diverse set of protozoan parasites, as well as some examples of the extremely reduced fungal parasites classified as Microsporidia, are discussed within the context of the fascinating molecular strategies employed by these organisms to migrate across biological barriers and to establish residence within target host cells.
Molecular Basis of Symbiosis
Symbiotic associations involving prokaryotes occur ubiquitously and are ecologically highly significant. In symbiotic associations, co-evolution of the partner organisms has led to specific mechanisms of signal exchange and reciprocal regulation, and resulted in novel physiological capabilities of the association as compared to those of the individual partners. Symbiosis research has recently entered an exciting era because molecular biology techniques are available for studying partner organisms in association and in a culture-independent manner. It is the goal of this book to contribute towards a broader perspective and an understanding of the function of symbiotic systems. 14 different model systems have been chosen, comprising well known symbioses as well as novel experimental systems which have only recently become amenable to experimental manipulation.
Foodborne Parasites
Microbiologists are being challenged as foodborne outbreaks are increasingly being observed worldwide. Most of these outbreaks are associated with viral and bacterial pathogens such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and lately Escherichia coli O157:H7.Foodborne Parasites examines the two major parasite groups that are transmitted via water or foods: the protozoa, which are single celled organisms, and the helminths. The helminths are classified in three sub groups: cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (round worms), and trematodes (flukes). To better understand their significance, each chapter covers the biology, mechanisms of pathogenesis, epidemiology, treatment, and inactivation of these parasites.
Foodborne Diseases
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.
Drug interactions in infectious diseases : Antimicrobial drug interactions
Delivers a quick clinical resource that distills relevant drug interactions by antimicrobial drug class. The book provides informative tables on specific drug-drug interactions that include the degree and severity of the expected interaction. A mechanistic basis for drug-drug interactions is also provided to link observed interactions to pharmacologic characteristics of key drug classes. This complete resource is organized by major antibacterial, antimycobacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarial, and antiprotozoal class. In line with current innovations in antimicrobial drug development, a distinct chapter on the pharmacologic management of drug interactions in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related infections is included. Two new chapters are dedicated to the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug-drug interactions given the breadth of antiretroviral class-specific effects. This comprehensive review of known drug interactions and strategies to manage them is an invaluable resource to all health care practitioners.
Curcumin : clinical uses, health effects and potential complications
Curcumin is a natural product with polyphenolic structure. It is used in therapeutic remedies alone or in combination with other natural substances. Many researchers are investigating it because of its biological activities such as: anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-protozoal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and has been found to be effective for treatment of Alzheimer, depression, headaches, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, water retention, worms and kidney problems etc. It is an active ingredient in dietary spice, turmeric. It has reactive functional groups: a diketone moiety and two phenolic groups. Despite its unique biological activities, it suffers from some shortcomings which include: gastrointestinal problems, poor bioavailability due to its poor absorption, short half-life, poor solubility in aqueous solutions, rapid systemic elimination and antithrombotic activity which can interfere with blood clotting. The first chapter of this book reviews the different delivery systems used for incorporation of curcumin and its derivatives, release kinetics and up to date in vivo results. Chapter two discusses curcumin nano and microencapsulation and its implications on clinical uses.
Markell & Voge's Medical Parasitology
An updated and fresh look that highlights the comprehensive material students have trusted for over 40 years. Completely redrawn line drawings and improved halftones provide visual examples related directly to the textual material. The content explores the etiologic agents of human disease belonging to the animal kingdom: protozoa, helminths (worms), and arthropods (insects and spiders), all of which are a significant cause of, or link to illness encountered both in tropical and temperate environments.
Malaria disease and modern treatments
Some population groups are at considerably higher risk of contracting malaria and developing severe disease: infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as people with low immunity moving to areas with intense malaria transmission such as migrant workers, mobile populations and travellers. Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat. P. falciparum is the deadliest malaria parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
Adaptation to Life at High Salt Concentrations in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya
This book complements “Halophilic Microorganisms”, edited by A. Ventosa and published by Springer-Verlag (2004), “Halophilic Microorganism and their Environments” by A. Oren (2002), published by Kluwer Academic Publishers as volume 5 of “Cellular Origins, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology” (COLE), and “Microbiology and Biogeochemistry of Hypersaline Environments” edited by A. Oren, and published by CRC Press, Boca Raton (1999).
