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Sepsis is a serious condition that is associated with high mortality despite advanced modern medical treatment. Recent years have witnessed novel paradigms describing host responses in sepsis. In particular, the delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions has been subject to intense research. This volume in the book series ‘Contributions to Microbiology'presents the state of the art in this rapidly expanding field of research. Leading international experts have contributed with reviews on the most relevant topics in the field such as clinical aspects, pathways of sepsis and pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms as well as their regulation. The book will be a valuable source of up-to-date information for clinicians, microbiologists, immunologists, and students with an interest in the complex regulation of host responses during microbial sepsis.

The last decade has witnessed the delineation of innate immunity - a new area which has revolutionized our understanding of host-parasite interactions and their impact on defense mechanisms in infectious and noninfectious diseases. This volume of the book series'Contributions to Microbiology'provides an update of the current knowledge of this expanding field of research and highlights some of its most important aspects. In eleven state-of-the-art articles, eminent international experts in the field address topics such as the innate immune system in mammals and insects, microbial protein ligands, antimicrobial peptides, complement, antibacterial chemokines, the role of neutrophils and monocytes, oxidative innate immune defenses and the effect of aging on innate immunity. The book will be a valuable resource for microbiologists, immunologists, students, scientists of other related disciplines, and clinicians with an interest in infectious or immunological diseases.

The last decade of intensive research in the field of infectious diseases has resulted in a better conceptual understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the host-parasite interactions that lead to establishment and progression of the disease. However, with the discovery of an increasing number of species-specific virulence mechanisms and novel host defense strategies, the picture is becoming more and more complex. This volume of the book series Contributions to Microbiology presents a number of selected articles dealing with bacterial and viral pathogens and the resulting host response to infection with these microorganisms. As novel therapeutic anti-bacterial and anti-viral strategies are primarily focused on significant pathophysiological mechanisms, this publication will not only attract the interest of scientific and medical professionals, but will also be of importance for students in the field of microbiology, infectious diseases, cell biology and immunology.