As more original molecular protocols and subsequent modifications are described in the literature, it has become difficult for those not directly involved in the development of these protocols to know which are most appropriate to adopt for accurate identification of bacterial pathogens. Molecular Detection of Human Bacterial Pathogens addresses this issue, with international scientists in respective bacterial pathogen research and diagnosis providing expert summaries on current diagnostic approaches for major human bacterial pathogens. Each chapter consists of a brief review on the classification, epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of an important pathogenic bacterial genus, an outline of clinical sample collection and preparation procedures, a selection of representative stepwise molecular protocols, and a discussion on further research requirements relating to improved diagnosis. This book represents a reliable and convenient reference on molecular detection and identification of major human bacterial pathogens; an indispensable tool for upcoming and experienced medical, veterinary, and industrial laboratory scientists engaged in bacterial characterization; and an essential textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in microbiology.

Infectious diseases are a global hazard that puts every nation and every person at risk. The recent SARS outbreak is a prime example. Knowing neither geographic nor political borders, often arriving silently and lethally, microbial pathogens constitute a grave threat to the health of humans. Indeed, a majority of countries recently identified the spread of infectious disease as the greatest global problem they confront. Throughout history, humans have struggled to control both the causes and consequences of infectious diseases and we will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. Following up on a high-profile 1992 report from the Institute of Medicine, Microbial Threats to Health examines the current state of knowledge and policy pertaining to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases from around the globe. It examines the spectrum of microbial threats, factors in disease emergence, and the ultimate capacity of the United States to meet the challenges posed by microbial threats to human health. From the impact of war or technology on disease emergence to the development of enhanced disease surveillance and vaccine strategies, Microbial Threats to Health contains valuable information for researchers, students, health care providers, policymakers, public health officials. and the interested public.

The first in a series of four books, this comprehensive work details the molecular detection of major human viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. Focusing on sample preparation and molecular detection procedures, each chapter presents a concise review of the pathogen concerned including its taxonomy, biology, epidemiology and pathogenesis; a description of clinical sample collection preparation procedures; a summary of molecular detection methods; representative molecular detection protocols; and a discussion on the challenges, limitations, and advantages for the current methods as well as further research required to improve diagnosis.

Bacteria are all around us. In our environment, on our bodies, and even in the air we breathe. While usually benign, their invasion into the bloodstream can pose severe risks to human health making detection of these microbes of the utmost importance. Typical bacterial detection techniques for clinical diagnostics are limited by long testing times, high rates of false positive and negative detection, and assumptions about the pathogen. This dissertation is centered around the development of a novel method based on digital PCR (dPCR) to accurately and agnostically detect, identify, and quantify bacteria for applications in clinical microbiology. In chapter 1, I developed a novel high-resolution melt (HRM)-based internal amplification control (IAC) strategy for dPCR to provide assurance that clinical specimens are successfully amplified and accurately quantified. I showed that detection of an exogenous IAC using digital HRM (dHRM) reduces the inclusion of false negative partitions, changing the calculated DNA concentration up to 52%. The integration of dHRM enabled classification of partitions that would otherwise be considered ambiguous "rain", which accounts for up to ~3% and ~10% of partitions in intercalating dye and hydrolysis probe dPCR respectively. The IAC was developed for use with a broad-based bacterial primer set for microbial profiling, but can be applied to any dPCR application. I then took these concepts and used them to develop a novel method to detect, quantify, and identify bacteria in human blood samples. This first involved optimizing the assay developed in chapter 1 to avoid interference from human DNA. I then developed a melt curve database for bacterial pathogens using dHRM, quantified the lower limit of detection for our method, and used the assay to quantify bacterial DNA in whole blood samples that were matched to blood culture positives. This study demonstrated that dHRM can be reliably used to differentiate blood culture positive and negative samples from patients with 90% concordance when compared with clinical adjudication. This work resulted in a technique that can be applied to a number of DNA profiling applications and advances the utility of dPCR in clinical applications where accurate quantification is imperative.

While the vast majority of our food supplies are nutritious and safe, foodborne pathogen-related illness still affects millions of people each year. Large outbreaks of foodborne diseases- such as the recent salmonella outbreak linked to various peanut butter products- continue to be reported with alarming frequency.All-Encompassing Guide to Detecti

Molecular Typing in Bacterial Infections covers common bacterial pathogenic agents, with the most effective methods for their identification and classification in the light of their specific epidemiology. The book will be a valuable resource for molecular typing of infectious diseases agents encountered in both the research and hospital clinical lab settings, as well as culture collections. Each chapter provides an overview of molecular approaches to typing bacterial pathogens. Part I gives a general overview of typing methods used in the traditional microbiology laboratory in comparison to molecular methods of epidemiology. In Part II, the relative strengths and weaknesses of the different methods applicable to the specific agents of infectious diseases are emphasized. Specific emphasis is placed on recent changes and updates in molecular typing.