Bøger i Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology serien

In this issue of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology the authors present a unique range of examples of the regenerative response and the role of stem cells from the amphibian to human. It seems that all roads lead to cells that have the plasticity to become something else, not only in the amphibian but also in the mammal.

For the first time a compilation of chapters that depict the biological bases underlying the development of lentiviral vectors, the techniques involved in the manufacture of this new gene delivery tool, and its most promising applications.

An early view of eukaryotic chromosomes was that of static structures, which stored DNA not in use within a given cell type. The picture of chromosomes that is emerging is that of dynamic breathing organelles actively regulating the flow of genetic information from the genome.

However, to the editor's knowledge, genuine human foamy viruses do not exist, but several trans-species transmissions of different simian foamy viruses from monkeys and apes to human hosts.

Novel molecular motifs named Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Inhibition Motifs (ITIMs) have recently been recognized in the intracytoplasmic domains of a still-increasing number of receptors which control cell activation and proliferation.

The death toll from malaria is still growing, with malaria-specific mortality in young African children estimated to have doubled during the last twenty years.

A review of our current understanding of Reoviridae entry, disassembly/assembly and egress in addition to updating high resolution structures of virus proteins and capsids from three different genera of the family.

This volume brings together contributions from experts in the field of Pasteurella research. Its covers areas such as comparative genomics, pathogenic mechanisms, bacterial proteomics, as well as a detailed description and analysis of PMT and its interaction with host tissues, cells, immune system, and signalling pathways.

This volume explores in detail the molecular biology, genetics and immunology of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori that causes serious gastric diseases such as gastric cancer. The book provides in-depth insights into the mechanisms of H. pylori-induced pathogenicity, gives an overview of how the bacterium colonizes the human gut, how it manages to persist in the body and which factors play a role in the development of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer. Furthermore, the interaction between the Gram-negative bacterium and the human gut microbiome is explored, and clinical management and treatment strategies to combat gastric cancer are discussed.Helicobacter pylori is an extremely successful pathogen that persistently colonizes the gut of about 50% of the world¿s population. H. pylori and its human host share a long co-evolutionary relationship that dates back for at least last 100,000 years and possibly longer. Infection by thisbacterium is a high-risk factor for the development of gastric diseases, including gastric cancer. Gastric cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality and represents the 5th most common malignant tumour and the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. H. pylori is the first bacterium that has been classified as a type-I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Recent research progress identified crucial bacterial, host and environmental factors which control H. pylori-induced gastric malignancy. New studies also suggest that specific human germline mutations and other genetic aberrations have an important impact on H. pylori-induced pathology. In this volume, all these recently discovered mechanisms are reviewed in the light of gastric cancer development, and H. pylori epidemiology, virulence factors, immune evasion, pathophysiology, cancer signalling and novel therapeutic protocols are presented. This volume is aimed at researchers in the fields of immunology, genetics, microbiology and medicine who are interested in the detailed mechanisms of the pathogenicity of this carcinogenic stomach bacterium.

This meeting will bring together scientists from different backgrounds to discuss how understanding inositol signaling may be used to target complex human diseases that manifest themselves when inositol signaling is deregulated.

The references brought in support of a given point are often intentionally varied,including both reports of original work and reviews, very recent observa tions and contributions that gave initial impetus to investigations, in an attempt to exemplify the pertinent literature;

Nevertheless, some com mon components of genetic resistance are discernible and largely comprise natural killer cells, macrophages, and interferon These and additional factors would seem to constitute a first line of de fense in host resistance against both viruses and tumors.

All but one* of the following articles represent comprehensive reports on a workshop held between 7 and 9 May 1981 at the Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Wfuzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.

First, systems biology is an inter-disciplinary approach, requiring the combined talents of biologists, mathematicians, and computer scientists. Second, systems biology is holistic, with the goal of obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the workings of biological systems.

Deficiencies in any of the defense mechanisms of the host can lead to severe microbial infections; Broad up-to-date knowledge in this field allows identification of many unspecific as well as highly specific defense reactions involved in the struggle against infectious diseases.

This volume contains seven chapters, based on papers presented at a Symposium on Insect Viruses, held in conjunction with the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in New York, N.

Until relatively recently, interest in complex carbohydrates focussed on their structural role in the extracellular matrix/ cell wall of animal, plant, and microbial cells and on their role as energy sources (e.g., starch and glycogen) and struc tural components (e.g., cellulose) in natural products.

The discovery of NK receptors specific for MHC class I molecules, and the study of the role of co-stimulatory and adhesion molecules have led to an understanding of how NK cells recognize tumor and virally infected cells that have lost expression of MHC class I molecules or have altered distribution of normal cell surface molecules.

The penultimate chapter rounds up the in formation on intracellular distribution of proteasomes in yeast and mammalian cells, while the last contribution highlights proteasome inhibitors, tools which proved to be very valuable for dissecting the cellular roles of the proteasome and which might turn out to be of pharmacological importance.