Since the publication of the last edition of Principles and Practice of Clinical Bacteriology, our understanding of bacterial genetics and pathogenicity has been transformed due to the availability of whole genome sequences and new technologies such as proteomics and transcriptomics. The present, completely revised second edition of this greatly valued work has been developed to integrate this new knowledge in a clinically relevant manner. Principles and Practice of Clinical Bacteriology, Second Edition, provides the reader with invaluable information on the parasitology, pathogenesis, epidemiology and treatment strategies for each pathogen while offering a succinct outline of the best current methods for diagnosis of human bacterial diseases. With contributions from an international team of experts in the field, this book is an invaluable reference work for all clinical microbiologists, infectious disease physicians, public health physicians and trainees within these disciplines.

Generally, in accordance with anatomical characteristics, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and in particular recurrent UTIs occur in women; in contrast, UTIs normally occur in men with different predisposing factors. There are several types of UTIs, including asymptomatic and symptomatic, complicated and uncomplicated, acute and chronic with a diversity of microbial pathogens. In pathogens, virulence factors and genes determine the type and severity of the UTIs. Obviously, UTIs are a huge problem in global public healthcare systems with a wide range of predisposing factors, including gender, microbial agent, the host's immune deficiencies, genetic diseases, catheterization, etc. The recent items determine the microbiology of UTIs. Accurate diagnosis and definitive treatment are the key to UTI reduction.

When two Vatican officials are murdered, retired CIA operative Vincent Traeger is called in to solve a mystery involving a Cold War adversary, the story of Our Lady of Fatima, and a billionaire who believes he is doing God's work.

Microbial virulence factors encompass a wide range of molecules produced by pathogenic microorganisms, enhancing their ability to evade their host defenses and cause disease. This broad definition comprises secreted products such as toxins, enzymes, exopolysaccharides, as well as cell surface structures such as capsules, lipopolysaccharides, glyco- and lipoproteins. Intracellular changes in metabolic regulatory networks, governed by protein sensors/regulators and non-coding regulatory RNAs, are also known to contribute to virulence. Furthermore, some secreted microbial products have the ability to enter the host cell and manipulate their machinery, contributing to the success of the infection. The knowledge, at the molecular level, of the biology of microbial pathogens and their virulence factors is central in the development of novel therapeutic molecules and strategies to combat microbial infections. The present collection comprises state of the art research and review papers on virulence factors and mechanisms of a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens for humans, animals, and plants, thus reflecting the impact of microorganisms in health and economic human activities, and the importance of the topic.

Principles of Bacterial Pathogenesis presents a molecular perspective on a select group of bacterial pathogens by having the leaders of the field present their perspective in a clear and authoritative manner. Each chapter contains a comprehensive review devoted to a single pathogen. Several chapters include work from authors outside the pathogenesis field, providing general perspectives on the evolution, regulation, and secretion of virulence and determinants. - Explains the basic principles of bacterial pathogenesis - Covers diverse aspects integrating regulation, cellular microbiology and evolution of microbial disease of humans - Discusses current strategies for the identification of virulence determinants and the methods used by microbes to deliver virulence factors - Presents authoritative treatises of the major disease microorganisms

This open access book offers the first comprehensive account of the pan-genome concept and its manifold implications. The realization that the genetic repertoire of a biological species always encompasses more than the genome of each individual is one of the earliest examples of big data in biology that opened biology to the unbounded. The study of genetic variation observed within a species challenges existing views and has profound consequences for our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning bacterial biology and evolution. The underlying rationale extends well beyond the initial prokaryotic focus to all kingdoms of life and evolves into similar concepts for metagenomes, phenomes and epigenomes. The book’s respective chapters address a range of topics, from the serendipitous emergence of the pan-genome concept and its impacts on the fields of microbiology, vaccinology and antimicrobial resistance, to the study of microbial communities, bioinformatic applications and mathematical models that tie in with complex systems and economic theory. Given its scope, the book will appeal to a broad readership interested in population dynamics, evolutionary biology and genomics.