Synopses & Reviews
The emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases, an increasing rate of antibiotic-resistant variants of pathogens, and the threat of bioterrorism underscore the importance of bacterial genomes and infectious diseases. Bacterial Genomes and Infectious Diseases presents major findings about bacterial genomes and their impact on strategy and approach for investigating mechanisms of pathogenesis of infectious diseases. This book imparts fundamental knowledge on the structure, organization, and evolution of bacterial genomes. The value and power of comparative genomics and proteomics, bioinformatics, microarrays, and knockout animal models in analyzing genomes, bacteria-host interactions and disease are demonstrated. Also discussed are the genomes of virulent and nonvirulent strains and species, origin and evolution of pathogens, different models of bacteria-host interactions, and diseases mechanisms.
Synopsis
The first bacterial genome, Haemophilus influenzae, was completely sequenced, annotated, and published in 1995. Today, more than 200 prokaryotic (archaeal and bacterial) genomes have been completed and over 500 prokaryotic genomes are in va- ous stages of completion. Seventeen eukaryotic genomes plus four eukaryotic chro- somes have been completed. The concept of achieving better understanding of an organism through knowledge of the complete genomic sequence was first demonstrated in 1978 when the first bacteriophage genome, X174, was sequenced. Complete genomic sequences of prokaryotes have led to a better understanding of the biology and evolution of the microbes, and, for pathogens, facilitated identification of new vaccine candidates, putative virulence genes, targets for antibiotics, new strategy for rapid diagnosis, and investigation of bacteria host interactions and disease mec- nisms. Recent increased interest in microbial pathogens and infectious diseases is largely attributed to the re-emergence of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, emergence of new infectious diseases like AIDS and severe acute respiratory syndrome, the problem of an increasing rate of emergence of antibiotic-resistant variants of pathogens, and the fear of bioterrorism. Microbes are highly diverse and abundant in the biosphere. Less than 1% of these morphologically identified microbes can be cultured in vitro using standard techniques and conditions. With such abundance of microbes in nature, we can expect to see new variants and new species evolve and a small number will emerge as pathogens to humans."
Synopsis
"...should serve well those seeking a general introduction and overview of both the principles and application of microbial genomics to the study of infectious disease. Clear explanations of what can often be viewed as a complex and confusing subject should make this a valuable resource in this important and rapidly advancing area of research." -Doody's Book Review, Weighted Numberical Score: 78 - 3 stars
Table of Contents
Microbial Genomes Voon Loong Chan Evolution and Origin of Virulence Isolates Voon Loong Chan, Philip M. Sherman, and Billy Bourke Genomic Approach to Understanding Infectious Disease Mechanisms Voon Loong Chan, Philip M. Sherman, and Billy Bourke Knockout and Disease Models in Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated Immunity Huey-Lan Huang and Wen-Chen Yeh Campylobacter: From Glycome to Pathogenesis John Kelly, Jean-Robert Brisson, N. Martin Young, Harold C. Jarrell, and Christine M. Szymanski Genomics of Helicobacter Species Zhongming Ge and David B. Schauer The Organization of Leptospira at a Genomic Level Dieter M. Bulach, Torsten Seemann, Richard L. Zuerner, and Ben Adler Listeria monocytogenes Keith Ireton Mycobacterial Genomes David C. Alexander and Jun Liu Mycoplasma Yuko Sasaki Genome Comparisons of Diverse Staphylococcus aureus Strains Martin J. McGavin Type III Secretion Systems in Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis James B. Bliska, Michelle B. Ryndak, and Jens P. Grabenstein Genomics and the Evolution of Pathogenic Vibrio cholerae William S. Jermyn, Yvonne A. O'Shea, Anne Marie Quirke, and E. Fidelma Boyd Future Directions of Infectious Disease Research Philip M. Sherman, Billy Bourke, and Voon Loong Chan Index