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This second volume of the two-volumes work “Antimicrobials in Livestock” offers an in-depth look at the antimicrobials commonly used in veterinary medical care of the major food producing animals pigs, poultry and cattle as well as horses, bringing to readers'attention also pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of these drugs. The individual chapters also provide a brief description of preventive tools as well as alternatives to conventional treatment options that could help minimise the use of antibiotics and combat the problems caused by increasing antimicrobial resistance. The focus is on Europe, without neglecting the global context. The complete two-volumes provide an extensive review of various aspects related to the use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine. Volume I explores the use of antimicrobials in animals from the regulatory, practical as well scientific perspective and is targeted on EU policies and regulatory surroundings, providing also information on risks linked to the extensive use of antibiotics in livestock and highlighting importance of methods of laboratory testing for susceptibility and resistance, starting from phenotype tests and moving towards genetic analysis results providing molecular biology aspects. Each chapter confronts the reader with open questions to stimulate further discussions and future research on the topics covered. Volume II more specifically discusses medical aspects necessary for targeted, responsible, and evidence-based use of antimicrobials in cattle, pigs, poultry, and horses, as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as two of the most important factors necessary for proper dosing schedule setting of effective treatment. While the preface of the first volume started with questions, Volume II's preface ends with them, having the intention to provoke more in depth and innovative thinking and might be the start of a new era, which is needed to keep antimicrobials working and available for the future generations both in human and veterinary medicine.

As with the much-praised prior editions, the third edition of Strelkauskas'Microbiology: A Clinical Approach remains a comprehensive introductory textbook written specifically for pre-nursing, nursing and allied health students. Clinically relevant throughout, it uses the theme of infection as its foundation, fitting closely with the'One Health'approach that is considered increasingly central to the effective control of zoonoses and to combatting antimicrobial resistance. The third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the latest developments, including the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and associated COVID-19 pandemic. The book is accompanied by a robust instructor ancillary package that allows educators to incorporate readily the book's unique approach into their lectures and includes additional materials for students to supplement classroom learning and encourage and support study and self-reflection.Key Features: Student-focused, with all elements carefully designed to help students engage with and understand difficult concepts and to spark and hold interest Dedicated learning skill section introduces practical strategies for improving comprehension and retention Numerous text features further support learning and teaching, including chapter overviews, fast facts, case studies and human stories, and ‘why is this important?'highlights A variety of question-and-answer types for self-testing and reflection to support and assess basic learning, to challenge students to integrate important concepts and ask students to apply what they have just learned to a specific clinical setting or problem All supported by a comprehensive suite of online resources including lecturer support material and, for students, interactive questions, lecture notes, MicroMovies and the BugParade The book is an excellent resource to guide and support inter-professional education in the health sciences and an ideal entry-point to the subject for anyone coming from another discipline and invaluable supplementary reading for medical, microbiology and biomedical science students.

This fully updated second edition demonstrates the major impact that the gut microbiota has on human gastrointestinal health, with a special focus on children. The book also explores the potential use of probiotic microorganisms to protect or improve gastrointestinal health in children. Humans are not a single organism: We are a multi-organic structure composed of ourselves and our microbiota, living in close symbiosis since birth and even before. The enormous impact that the billions of microscopic cells in our gut have on our gastrointestinal and systemic health cannot be overstated. The tremendous progress that has been made in the last decade in our still very incomplete understanding of the gut microbiota opens the door to potential applications in human health that were simply unthinkable before. One of the most interesting aspects of this new scientific horizon is the fact that we can identify (or even create in the lab) many of these'friendly bacteria'and use themto protect or improve our health. Thus, strains of probiotic microorganisms are being identified and studied in a variety of clinical scenarios. One of the most studied areas for probiotics is pediatric gastrointestinal health. Topics covered in this book range from the development of the intestinal microbiota in the fetus and neonate to current and potential applications in various conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis or infectious or inflammatory diseases of the child. Written by an international group of preeminent experts in these fields in a rigorous, evidence-based manner, the book is intended for pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatricians, and medical scientists alike.

This book introduces the rapidly evolving field of multi-omics in understanding the human microbiome. The book focuses on the technology used to generate multi-omics data, including advances in next-generation sequencing and other high-throughput methods. It also covers the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to the analysis of multi-omics data, providing readers with an overview of the powerful computational tools that are driving innovation in this field. The chapter also explores the various bioinformatics databases and tools available for the analysis of multi-omics data. The book also delves into the application of multi-omics technology to the study of microbial diversity, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics. The book also explores the use of these techniques to identify and characterize microbial communities in different environments, from the gut and oral microbiome to the skin microbiome and beyond. Towards theend, it focuses on the use of multi-omics in the study of microbial consortia, including mycology and the viral microbiome. The book also explores the potential of multi-omics to identify genes of biotechnological importance, providing readers with an understanding of the role that this technology could play in advancing biotech research. Finally, the book concludes with a discussion of the clinical applications of multi-omics technology, including its potential to identify disease biomarkers and develop personalized medicine approaches. Overall, this book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of this exciting field, highlighting the potential for multi-omics to transform our understanding of the microbial world.

This book is a comprehensive guide for industrial bioprocess development, covering major aspects of microbial processes and their role in biotechnology. It provides a selection of hyperproducers, microbial products, and metabolic engineering strategies for industrial production. It covers high cell density cultivation techniques product formation kinetics measurement and limiting parameters in large-scale process development. The first and second section of the book focuses on biotechniques, including spectroscopic concepts of light, wave, and electromagnetic theory, as well as absorption, fluorescence, phosphorescence, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. It also covers the basic principles, concepts, biological applications, and other advanced techniques. The third section emphasizes microbial inventions and improvements in bioprocess development. It covers microbial products and recent developments in fermentation technology and also includes information on metabolic engineering. The fourth section related to microbial inventions and bioprocesses which include platforms for recombinant gene expression, as well as the development of recombinant heterologous expression systems such as E. coli, yeast, mammalian and insect cells, and plant cells used as biofactories. The fifth section of the book focuses on microbial product waste management in extreme environments, biomass waste management, bio-pulping, bio-bleaching, textiles, biofuels, and animal feed production. The book aims to provide a multidisciplinary opportunity on all aspects of microbial biotechnology. It covers recent international developments that have renewed interest in industrial microbiology and biotechnology. The book is suitable for teachers, researchers, graduate and post-graduate students, environmentalists, microbiologists, and biotechnologists.

This fully updated second edition outlines the currently available clinical, epidemiological and experimental data on Clostridioides difficile infections(CDI) with special emphasis on studies and results achieved in Europe. The incidence and severity of CDI has increased significantly over the last decade, and the book explains why C. difficile, recently reclassified as Clostridioides difficile, remains a significant challenge, also from economic perspective, to health care systems all over the world. The different reservoirs of this ubiquitous microorganism are reviewed as well as the different factors contributing to its virulence, such as toxins and biofilm formation. The rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance is clearly a concern and in a specific way can influence the CDI epidemiology. Additionally, new emerging strains and comparative genomics studies are taken into consideration for their relevance from epidemiological and evolutionary point of view. The book also gives an overview on diagnostics, therapy and surveillance, all of which are still challenging. Therefore, a closer look is taken on the effect of probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics, for prevention and treatment of CDI. Fecal transplantation from healthy donors, passive immunotherapies and vaccines for patients with recurrences are also discussed in dedicated chapters. New topics included sporulation and membrane vesicles in C. difficile. The book closes with a summary of the history and the achievements of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Study Group for Clostridium difficile (ESGCD) written by the current and past presidents of the Society. It is the aim of this book to raise awareness on CDI and to disseminate updated information on its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The fourth edition of “Textbook of Microbiology and Immunology” is an extensively revised edition, a healthy mixture of the old and the new contents. Many of the old traditional chapters have been retained with addition of new information along with the inclusion of new chapters more in line with the on-going changes in the syllabus and concepts in Medical Microbiology.While doing so, this book has blended the traditional organism-based learning and a syndrome based approach to infectious disease, together with the introduction of new and modified chapters incorporating the latest information in this field.The book provides an extensive coverage of fundamental topics in general and medical microbiology. The book also lays due emphasis on clinical microbiology with special focus on syndrome based approach to infectious diseases. It includes the basic concepts of microbiology as well as the recent updates and developments in the field of medical microbiology. All the topics havebeen incorporated in seven major sections: General microbiology, Immunology, Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, and Applied and Clinical Microbiology.The dynamic nature of medical sciences with new guidelines and new diagnostic methods coming into the arena necessitates the incorporation of new information in each new edition of a book. This facet has been addressed with the inclusion of recent information on the various aspects of microbiology, infectious diseases and immunology, in the fourth edition of the Textbook of Microbiology and Immunology,which makes it one of the most authoritative and informative textbooks in medical microbiology.The book is an effort to inform and engage a wide spectrum of readers including medical students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, and residents, and faculty. It aims to be a must-have companion book for graduate and advanced undergraduate as well as postgraduate students of medical microbiology, general and allied microbiology, and of immunology.

A significant portion of basic and applied life science research requires microorganisms as study specimens. Managing Microorganisms aims to be the standard reference for anyone who works with microorganisms, primarily bacteria and fungi. It is applicable to researchers who maintain their own collections of strains, and those who use one of the many public service culture collections. The book includes coverage of: · methods of preservation and characterization for different groups of microorganisms; · best practice guidelines for culture collection management; · how to protect investment in research with microorganisms; · where to source authenticated microorganisms; · how to store, handle and distribute microorganisms effectively and safely; · the factors to consider in designing a sustainable business plan for a culture collection; · the consideration of health and safety issues, and the wider regulatory environment. Managing Microorganisms is an essential reference for anyone working with microorganisms and culture collections. In addition, it will be of great use for academic researchers and students in applied life sciences, especially those who are involved in sourcing and maintaining reference strains, whilst it also will provide a useful guide for consultants, biotechnologists and other members of bioindustry.

Kokken, Stäbchen, Pilze, Viren, Prionen, Parasiten und Co.? die Medizinische Mikrobiologie ist komplex und vielfältig. Aber keine Sorge, Ralf-Peter Vonberg und Christina Haese führen Sie Schritt für Schritt in die mikrobiologische Welt ein und erklären Ihnen alles, was Sie über pathogene Mikroorganismen und deren Bekämpfung wissen müssen. Dabei erläutern sie klar strukturiert das Wichtigste über Prävention, Diagnose und Behandlung von Infektionskrankheiten und richten sich dabei nach dem IMPP-Gegenstandskatalog.

Molecular Medical Microbiology, Third Edition presents the latest release in what is considered to be the first book to synthesize new developments in both molecular and clinical research. The molecular age has brought about dramatic changes in medical microbiology, along with great leaps in our understanding of the mechanisms of infectious disease. This third edition is completely updated, reviewed and expanded, providing a timely and helpful update for microbiologists, students and clinicians in the era of increasing use of molecular techniques, changing epidemiology and prevalence, and increasing resistance of many pathogenic bacteria. Written by experts in the field, chapters include cutting-edge information and clinical overviews for each major bacterial group, along with the latest updates on vaccine development, molecular technology and diagnostic technology. - Completely updated and revised edition of this comprehensive and accessible reference on molecular medical microbiology - Includes full color presentations throughout - Delves into in-depth discussions on individual pathogenic bacteria in a system-oriented approach - Includes a clinical overview for each major bacterial group - Presents the latest information on vaccine development, molecular technology and diagnostic technology - Provides more than 100 chapters on all major groups of bacteria

This book examines the role of human microbiome in human health and diseases. The initial chapters present tools for genetic manipulation of gut microbiota and the therapeutic applications of engineered microbiota. They discuss the interaction between human microbiota and host in defining the prominent role of microbes in the development and progression of major human diseases. The book also summarizes the current applications and trends for the development, production and analytical characterization of recombinant therapeutic proteins in microbial systems. It also reviews the role of microbes in the production of vaccines and antibiotics. Further, the book presents bacterial products, including proteins, enzymes, immunotoxins and secondary metabolites, that target cancer cells and cause tumour regression. The chapters also discuss the critical role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease and in bowel-related diseases. Towards the end, the book exploresthe role of intestinal microbiota in metabolic health and the pathogenesis of common metabolic disorders. It presents state-of-the-art insights into important aspects of United Nations—Sustainable Developmental Goal 3.

The Latin American region has been at the forefront in combating infections caused by Escherichia coli strains in humans, animals, and the environment. The continuous emergence and evolution of pathogenic E. coli strains associated with human and animal infections have demonstrated that (i) groups of related pathogenic E. coli are responsible for most infections caused by this bacterial species; (ii) diverse virulence phenotypes expressed during infection defined each one of these pathogroups; (iii) the geographical distribution of pathogroups in Latin America and the evolution of new isolates was defined by the dominant pathogroup and presence of distinct virulence strains; (iv) acquisition of mobile elements or accumulation of point mutations accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance in some of these strains. The Latin American Coalition for Escherichia coli Research (LACER), a multidisciplinary network of over seventy research groups in eleven Latin American countries and the USA, was established in 2009 to apply One Health principles in defining and combating this pathogen. The previous edition of this text, Escherichia coli in the Americas (c. 2016) was the culmination of their wisdom about E. coli, from its role as a commensal bacterium to its characteristics as a pathogen causing disease in animals and humans. This new edition presents recent advances and contextualizes all aspects of E. coli in a One Health perspective, from the environment, to animals, to humans. It addresses E. coli interactions with host microbiota, CNS, and phages. It includes cutting edge insights on hybrid strains, molecular mechanisms of virulence and pathogenesis, resistance, domestic and wild reservoirs, disease surveillance in Latin America, genomic analysis, food safety, and new therapies. Crucially, it also provides translations and analysis of key reports on Escherichia colipublished in Spanish and Portuguese. This book serves as a critical resource for scientists in industry and academia, clinicians managing associated infections, and trainees and students studying basic and clinical aspects of E. coli pathogenesis.

This book series focuses on current progress in the broad field of medical microbiology, and covers both basic and applied topics related to the study of microbes, their interactions with human and animals, and emerging issues relevant for public health. Original research and review articles present and discuss multidisciplinary findings and developments on various aspects of microbiology, infectious diseases, and their diagnosis, treatment and prevention.The book series publishes review and original research contributions, short reports as well as guest edited thematic book volumes. All contributions will be published online first and collected in book volumes. There are no publication costs.Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health is a subseries of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, which has been publishing significant contributions in the field for over 30 years and is indexed in Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, BIOSIS, Biological Abstracts, CSA, Biological Sciences and Living Resources (ASFA-1), and Biological Sciences. 2020 Impact Factor: 2.622. 5 Year Impact Factor: 3.049; Cite Score: 3.9;Eigenfactor Score: 0.03583; Article Influence Score: 0.602

This timely book discusses antimicrobial drug resistance, specifically, the resistance against the beta-lactam class of antibiotics by Gram-Negative bacteria. The book is broadly divided into five sections. The first section describes the underlying mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. It gives an insight into the beta-lactamases, their types, classification, inhibitors, etc. The second section delves deep into the genetic basis of resistance. It talks about transposons, integrons, insertion sequences associated with antibiotic-resistant genes. The next section describes phenotypic and molecular methods to detect beta-lactam resistance. The fourth section talks about the epidemiology and prevalence of beta-lactamases in the environment. The last section of the book describes the various therapeutic options to combat this growing public threat of antimicrobial resistance. It talks about the current reserve drugs, as well as the newer antibiotic agents that are in the pipeline. This book is essential for clinical practitioners, students, and researchers in basic and medical microbiology.

This updated second edition of Molecular Typing in Bacterial Infections, presented in two volumes, covers both common and neglected bacterial pathogenic agents, highlighting the most effective methods for their identification and classification in the light of their specific epidemiology. New chapters have been included to add new species, as well as another view of how bacterial typing can be used. These books are valuable resources for the molecular typing of infectious disease agents encountered in both research and hospital clinical laboratory settings, as well as in culture collections and in the industry. Each of the 21 chapters provides an overview of specific molecular approaches to efficiently detect and type different bacterial pathogens. The chapters are grouped in five parts, covering respiratory and urogenital pathogens (Volume I), and gastrointestinal and healthcare-associated pathogens, as well as a new group of vector-borne and Biosafety level 3 pathogens including adescription of typing methods used in the traditional microbiology laboratory in comparison to molecular methods of epidemiology (Volume II). Comprehensive and updated, Molecular Typing in Bacterial Infections provides state-of-the-art methods for accurate diagnosis and for the correct classification of different types which will prove to be critical in unravelling the transmission routes of human pathogens.

Emerging and Reemerging Viral Pathogens: Applied Virology Approaches Related to Human, Animal and Environmental Pathogens, Volume Two presents new research information on viruses and their impact on the scientific community. It provides a reference book on certain viruses in humans, animals and vegetal, along with a comprehensive discussion on interspecies interactions. The book then looks at the drug, vaccine and bioinformatical strategies that can be used against these viruses, giving the reader a clear understanding of transmission. The book's end goal is to create awareness that the appearance of newly transmissible pathogens is a global risk that requires shared/adoptable policies for prevention and control. - Covers most emerging viral disease in humans, animals and plants - Provides the most advanced tools and techniques in molecular virology and the modeling of viruses - Creates awareness that the appearance of new transmissible pathogens is a global risk - Highlights the need to adopt shared policies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases

This first volume in a two-volume work enhances readers'understanding of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in selected bacterial species that cause diseases in major food producing animals. It provides an overview of the current legislation and policies seeking to regulate the authorisation, manufacturing, distribution and use of veterinary antimicrobials in practice in a way that helps to contain the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The focus is put on Europe, without neglecting the global context. Moreover, attention is paid to various uses of antimicrobials in livestock, considering both their risks and benefits, from the distant past to the present. Growth promotion, prophylaxis, metaphylaxis, diagnostics and treatment are discussed not only with regard to food production and animal health, but also considering the One Health concept, which combines public and animal health with environmental aspects. A summary of various systems for monitoring the use of antimicrobials is provided, as well as an overview of the diseases that European veterinarians most often treat with antimicrobials. In closing, the book addresses the complexity of recent measures that are of key importance for antimicrobial stewardship, e.g. biosecurity, vaccination and other preventive tools including the newest technologies like smart farming. The complete two-volume work provides an extensive review of various aspects related to the use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, especially considering major food producing species, their most common infectious diseases and causative pathogens, and mainly focusing on the situation in Europe, without ignoring the global context. While Volume I discusses more general aspects of antibiotic use such as regulatory, laboratory and practical issues from different perspectives, Volume II more specifically discusses medical aspects and the use of antimicrobials in cattle, pigs, poultry and horses, as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, two of the most important factors determining the success of treatment. In both volumes, each chapter confronts the reader with open questions to stimulate further discussions and future research on the topics covered.

This volume aims to enhance the current understanding of clinical features, treatment and pathogenic aspects in necrotizing soft tissue infections. Various representative case studies are discussed to enhance the readers'understanding of these complex diseases. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rapidly spreading infections that may cause extensive soft tissue or limb loss, multiorgan failure and are associated with a considerable fatality rate. It is undisputed that rapid diagnosis and prompt intervention is directly related to survival. The initial presentation may be limited to unspecific symptoms such as tenderness, swelling, erythema and pain. Thus, diagnosis and management are challenging due to heterogeneity in clinical presentation, in co-morbidities, in microbiological aetiology, as well as in the pathogenic mechanisms. An international and multidisciplinary consortium, INFECT, has for the last 6 years been pursuing research aimed to advance the understanding of the clinical and pathogenic aspects of these infections. A central part has been to create a comprehensive clinical registry and associated biobank which have also formed the basis for the experimental studies. Using the INFECT patient cohort, as well as an integrated systems biology approach in patients and clinically relevant experimental models, an advanced insight of diagnostic features, causative microbial agents, treatment strategies, and pathogenic mechanisms (host and bacterial disease traits and their underlying interaction network) has been obtained.

This book focuses on the application of microbes in all fields of biology. There is an urgent need to understand and explore new microbes, their biological activities, genetic makeup and further opportunities for utilizing them. The book is divided into sections, highlighting the application of microbes in agriculture, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, bioremediation, industry, medicine and forensic sciences, and describing potential future advances in these fields. It also explores the potential role of microbes in space and how they might support life on a different planet.

This book outlines the currently available clinical, epidemiological and experimental data on Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) with special emphasis on studies and results achieved in Europe. The incidence and severity of CDI has increased significantly over the last decade, and the book explains why C. difficile, recently reclassified as Clostridioides difficile, remains a significant challenge, also from economic perspective, to health care systems all over the world. The different reservoirs of this ubiquitous microorganism are reviewed as well as the different factors contributing to its virulence, such as toxins and biofilm formation. The rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance is clearly a concern and in a specific way can influence the CDI epidemiology. Additionally, new emerging strains and comparative genomics studies are discussed for their relevance from epidemiological and evolutionary point of view. The book also givesan overview on diagnostics, therapy and surveillance, all of which are still challenging. Therefore, a closer look is taken on the effect of probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics, for prevention and treatment of CDI. Fecal transplantation from healthy donors, passive immunotherapies and vaccines for patients with recurrences are also discussed in dedicated chapters. The book closes with a summary of the history and the achievements of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Study Group for Clostridium difficile (ESGCD) written by the current and past presidents of the Society. It is the aim of this book to raise awareness on CDI and to disseminate updated information on its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Medizinische Mikrobiologie Auf Konfrontation mit der Infektion: Wie Sie die Bazillen killen Kokken, Stäbchen, Pilze, Viren, Prionen, Parasiten und Co. – die medizinische Mikrobiologie ist komplex und vielfältig. Aber keine Sorge, Ralf-Peter Vonberg und Christina Haese führen Sie Schritt für Schritt in die mikrobiologische Welt ein und erklären Ihnen alles, was Sie über pathogene Mikroorganismen und deren Bekämpfung wissen müssen. Dabei lernen Sie, auf dem IMPP-Gegenstandskatalog beruhend, das Wichtigste über Prävention, Diagnose und Behandlung von Infektionskrankheiten. Sie erfahren Wie Sie Blutausstriche, Agarplatten oder Objektträger präparieren Wie Sie Bakterien mittels Katalase, bunter Reihe oder PCR unterscheiden können Welche Viren Tollwut, Mumps oder einen Schnupfen auslösen

Methods in Microbiology, Volume 44 presents the latest volume in the most prestigious series devoted to techniques and methodology in the field, with updated chapters that cover Metabolomics and the vaginal microbial ecosystem and health, Esophageal microbiome, Bioinformatics methods, Evolution of biomolecules, genomes and communities, and Gut microbial metabolism or the acquisition of the gut microbiome. Established for over 30 years, this comprehensive series provides ready-to-use recipes, the latest emerging techniques, and novel approaches on tried, tested and established methods. - Written by recognized leaders and experts in the field - Provides a comprehensive and cutting-edge review of current and emerging technologies in the field of clinical microbiology - Presents discussions on newly emerging technologies

Microbiology and Molecular Diagnosis in Pathology: A Comprehensive Review for Board Preparation, Certification and Clinical Practice reviews all aspects of microbiology and molecular diagnostics essential to successfully passing the American Board of Pathology exam. This review book will also serve as a first resource for residents who want to become familiar with the diagnostic aspects of microbiology and molecular methods, as well as a refresher course for practicing pathologists. Opening chapters discuss issues of laboratory management, including quality control, biosafety, regulations, and proper handling and reporting of laboratory specimens. Review chapters give a quick overview of specific clinical infections as well as different types of bacteria, viruses, fungal infections, and infections caused by parasites. Following these, coverage focuses on diagnostic tools and specific tests: media for clinical microbiology, specific stains and tests for microbial identifications, susceptibility testing and use of antimicrobial agents, tests for detecting antibodies, antigens, and microbial infections. Two final chapters offer overviews on molecular diagnostics principles and methods as well as the application of molecular diagnostics in clinical practice. - Takes a practical and easy-to-read approach to understanding microbiology at an appropriate level for both board preparation as well as a professional refresher course - Covers all important clinical information found in larger textbooks in a more succinct and easy-to-understand manner - Covers essential concepts in microbiology in such a way that residents, fellows, and clinicians understand the methods and tests without having to become specialists in the field - Offers a quick overview of specific clinical infections as well as different types of bacteria, viruses, fungal infections, and infections caused by parasites

The Manual of Commercial Methods in Clinical Microbiology 2nd Edition, International Edition reviews in detail the current state of the art in each of the disciplines of clinical microbiology, and reviews the sensitivities, specificities and predictive values, and subsequently the effectiveness, of commercially available methods – both manual and automated. This text allows the user to easily summarize the available methods in any particular field, or for a specific pathogen – for example, what to use for an Influenza test, a Legionella test, or what instrument to use for identification or for an antibiotic susceptibility test. The Manual of Commercial Methods in Clinical Microbiology, 2nd Edition, International Edition presents a wealth of relevant information to clinical pathologists, directors and supervisors of clinical microbiology, infectious disease physicians, point-of-care laboratories, professionals using industrial applications of diagnostic microbiology and other healthcare providers. The content will allow professionals to analyze all commercially available methods to determine which works best in their particular laboratory, hospital, clinic, or setting. Updated to appeal to an international audience, The Manual of Commercial Methods in Clinical Microbiology, 2nd Edition, International Edition is an invaluable reference to those in the health science and medical fields.

The molecular age has brought about dramatic changes in medical microbiology, and great leaps in our understanding of the mechanisms of infectious disease. Molecular Medical Microbiology is the first book to synthesise the many new developments in both molecular and clinical research in a single comprehensive resource.This timely and authoritative three-volume work is an invaluable reference source of medical bacteriology. Comprising more than 100 chapters, organized into 17 major sections, the scope of this impressive work is wide-ranging.Written by experts in the field, chapters include cutting-edge information, and clinical overviews for each major bacterial group, in addition to the latest updates on vaccine development, molecular technology and diagnostic technology. Topics covered include bacterial structure, cell function, and genetics; mechanisms of pathogenesis and prevention; antibacterial agents; and infections ranging from gastrointestinal to urinary tract, centrtal nervous system, respiratory tract, and more. - The first comprehensive and accessible reference on molecular medical microbiology - Full color presentation througout - In-depth discussion of individual pathogenic bacteria in a system-oriented approach - Includes a clinical overview for each major bacterial group - Presents the latest information on vaccine development, molecular technology, and diagnostic technology - More than 100 chapters covering all major groups of bacteria - Written by an international panel of authors who are experts in their respective disciplines

The aim of this book is to provide readers with a wide overview of the main healthcare-associated infections caused by bacteria and fungi able to grow as biofilm. The recently acquired knowledge on the pivotal role played by biofilm-growing microorganisms in healthcare-related infections has given a new dynamic to detection, prevention and treatment of these infections in patients admitted to both acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities. Clinicians, hygienists and microbiologists will be updated by leading scientists on the state-of-art of biofilm-based infections and on the most innovative strategies for prevention and treatment of these infections, often caused by emerging multidrug-resistant biofilm-growing microorganisms.

This text is an essential study guide for undergraduates studying microbiology modules on degree courses in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences. Written by two pharmacists each with over 30 years experience of teaching, research and publishing in pharmaceutical microbiology, it distills the subject down into the essential elements that pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists need to know in order to practice their profession, and it covers all the microbiology components of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's indicative syllabus that is at the heart of every UK pharmacy degree. Much of the applied microbiology that a pharmacist or pharmaceutical scientist needs to know is unique: topics like the manufacture of microbiologically sterile medicines and their subsequent protection against microbial contamination and spoilage, the detection of hazardous microorganisms in medicines and antibiotics'manufacture and assay are all covered here. Essential Microbiology for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Students displays material in an easy to-digest format and concepts are explained using diagrams, tables and pictures wherever possible. The book contains an extensive self-assessment section that includes typical multiple choice, short answer and essay-style examination questions, and a companion website to further test your knowledge from a selection of questions along with further links to relevant sites.

Presenting the basic concepts and clinical implications of respiratory infection, with special emphasis on the role of the immune system, the field's leading researchers contribute detailed chapters on most of the major pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Their work will stimulate new research by microbiologists and immunologists, teach clinicians the interaction between microorganisms and the host, and provide health professionals with information necessary to evaluate public health procedures.

1 2 MARCEL B. ROBERFROID AND GLENN R. GIBSON 1 Universite Catholique de Louvain, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Avenue Mounier 73, B-1200 Brussels, BELGIUM 2 Food Microbial Sciences Unit, Department of Food Science and Technology, The University of Reading, Reading, UK It is clear that diet fulfils a number of important human requirements. These include the provision of sufficient nutrients to meet the requirements of essential metabolic pathways, as well as the sensory (and social) values associated with eating. It is also evident that diet may control and modulate various body functions in a manner that can reduce the risk of certain diseases. This very broad view of nutrition has led to the development of foodstuffs with added'functionality'. Many different definitions of functional foods have arisen. Most of these complicate the simple issue that a functional food is merely a dietary ingredient(s) that can have positive properties above its normal nutritional value. Other terms used to describe such foods include vitafoods, nutraceuticals, pharmafoods, foods for specified health use, health foods, designer foods, etc. Despite some trepidation, the concept has recently attracted much interest through a vast number of articles in both the popular and scientific media.

The International Committee on Microbial Ecology (ICOME) sponsors both the Interna­ tional Symposium on Microbial Ecology, held in various parts of the world at three-year intervals, and the publication of Advances in Microbial Ecology. Advances was estab­ lished to provide a vehicle for in-depth, critical, and even provocative reviews in microbial ecology and is now recognized as a major source of information for both practicing and prospective microbial ecologists. The Editorial Board of Advances nor­ mally solicits contributions from established workers in particular areas of microbial ecology, but individuals are encouraged to submit outlines of unsolicited contributions to any member of the Editorial Board for consideration for pUblication in Advances. Chapters in Volume 11 of Advances in Microbial Ecology include those on micro­ bial transformations of chitin by G. W. Gooday, organic sulfur compounds by D. P. Kelly and N. A. Smith, and phosphorus, including its removal in waste water treatment plants, by D. F. Toerien, A. Gerber, L. H. Lotter, and T. E. Cloete. The importance of diffusion processes in microbial ecology is discussed by A. L. Koch, and 1. I. Prosser reviews the application of mathematical modeling to nitrification processes. Considera­ tions of particular ecosystems include the Antarctic by D. D. Wynn-Williams and Australian coastal microbial mats by G. W. Skyring and 1. Bauld. Other chapters include the regulation of N2 fixation by H. W.

From the slippery covering on rocks in a stream, to the clogging slime in a bathtub drain, biofilms are present in everyday life in a variety of forms. This seemingly harmless build-up also accounts for 80 percent of all microbial infections. With chapters authored by experienced contributors from academia and industry, Applied Biomedical Microbiol