ASM Press
Enterobacter sakazakii.
The pathogen is implicated in the deaths largely of premature infants or those in intensive care units especially in poor countries where reconstituted powdered formula can easily be compromised by contaminated water or poor temperature control. The papers report the latest understanding of its taxonomy, isolation and identification, epidemiology, pathogenicity, the production and use practices of infant formula, and regulatory issues. Contributors are affiliated with hospitals and research centers in Europe, North America, and Asia; two are from Nestlč, a company with a significant stake in powdered formula products. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Evolutionary biology of bacterial and fungal pathogens.
Stemming from a Meeting of the Fundación Lilly held in Madrid in 2004, the articles of this volume discuss evolutionary biology in a variety of categories, including the microbial-host interaction and as it relates to drug resistance. Designed to alert clinical microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, and public health specialists to evolutionary thinking, the articles address larger issues as well as case studies, with topics that include human interventions on the evolution of host-bacterium interactions, mechanisms of variation in microbial pathogenesis, and the evolution of Salmonella and Salmonella infections. The articles were contributed by an international team of specialists working in genetics, microbiology, biology, and immunobiology, among other fields. A glossary of key words in evolutionary biology is included. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Germ proof your kids; the complete guide to protecting (without overprotecting) your family from infections.
Rotbart (University of Colorado School of Medicine; The Children's Hospital of Denver) offers parents and physicians the inside scoop on preventing children (and the rest of the family) from infection by germs and other nasties. Writing in an accessible, humorous style, he combines the latest scientific findings on disease prevention and treatment with the age-old wisdom of Mom and Grandma, explaining germs and germ routes, the body's natural immunity, and weapons in the war against germs: antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitics, and vaccines. He gives tips on personal, household, and community hygiene for preventing infections, weighs the benefits of nutritional supplements, and considers the role of sleep, stress, wardrobe, exercise, and weather in getting sick. A final chapter gives advice on balancing germ phobia with prudence. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Microbial risk analysis of foods.
Analyzing risk from microbes in food is a growing industry partly because there is new computer technology waiting to be sold, and partly because, with the triumph of corporate globalization, food could be carrying microbes from anywhere in the world. Contributors from the US Food and Drug Administration and from universities and other agencies in North America and Europe, consider theories, approaches, methodologies, basic science, and one case study. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Myxobacteria; multicellularity and differentiation.
These bacteria exhibit several behaviors considered rare within the bacterial world but commonplace in eukaryotes, including the title multicellular development and cellular differentiation. This collection of 30 papers covers those behaviors but also includes coverage of analogous behaviors seen in other organisms as well, to set myxobacterial biology in a greater context, and contributors include practical methods to guide researchers in setting up their own myxobacterial studies. General topics include myxobacterial biology (including their genome, ecology and evolution), development and motility (including early development events and chemosensory systems, regulatory mechanisms (including two-component signal transduction systems), structure and metabolism (including metabolic pathways in predation, signaling and development), genomics and postgenomics, the structural complexities of stigmatella and sorangium, analogous systems (such as Dictyostelium discoideum and methods, including applications of expression analysis and genetic tools. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Nidoviruses.
Perlman (U. of Iowa), Gallagher (Loyola U. Medical Center), and Snijder (Leiden U. Medical Center, The Netherlands) present the first book to cover the entire nidovirus order, including arteriviruses, toroviruses, roniviruses, and several recently identified human coronaviruses. Featuring 26 contributions by 52 international academics and researchers, the text provides current research findings on the basic microbiology of nidoviruses, their genetic replication, and immune system responses, with articles addressing the impact of recently developed systems for nidovirus reverse genetics, the unique mechanism of nidovirus RNA synthesis, virus-host cell interactions, emerging nidovirus infections, and potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Illustrated with b&w diagrams and charts, and eight color plates. For specialists and those interested in viral replication and pathogenesis. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
