Food is the first necessity for humans to survive with huge amounts of food consumed daily worldwide. Globalization of food industry results in an increasingly complex food chain, making food safety a universal issue. Many millions of people in the world become sick while hundreds of thousand die annually due to consumption of contaminated food. Pathogenic bacteria contaminate food at any stages in the food chain, including production, processing, supplying, and storage. The most commonly known bacterial pathogens associated with human foodborne diseases worldwide are Salmonella enterica, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii, Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This eBook includes publications on recent discoveries in genetic diversity, prevalence, resistance and novel transmission vectors; molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis; and new compounds and treatment strategies for better control of the human foodborne pathogenic bacteria. The information in the articles supports the urgent need for improving food safety and public health, particularly in globalization background.

The importance of processing and packaging food items so that they are safe for the consumer cannot be underestimated. Sensors have an important role to play in this, and sensing technologies have attracted the attention of the scientific community in view of increasing environmental and societal concerns. This edited volume presents a collection of ten chapters discussing the current trends of bio- and nano-sensing technologies for processing and packaging of food items. Starting with an overview chapter which introduces the field, the book goes on to discuss novel applications related to preservation, authenticity and safety of foods. Intelligent food packaging and nano-based sensing are covered, and the book finishes with a look towards the pros and cons of how this will revolutionise sensing throughout the food sector. It will be of benefit to scientists and practising professionals conducting research in the areas of food processing, contamination and food safety, and academic researchers and graduate students studying food technology or food engineering.

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 emergence of HIV disease and AIDS, the reemergence of tuberculosis, and the increased opportunity for disease spread through international travel demonstrate the critical importance of global vigilance for infectious diseases. This volume highlights risk factors for the emergence of microbial threats to health, warns against complacency in public health, and promotes early prevention as a cost-effective and crucial strategy for maintaining public health in the United States and worldwide. The volume identifies infectious disease threats posed by bacteria and viruses, as well as protozoans, helminths, and fungi. Rich in information, it includes a historical perspective on infectious disease, with focuses on Lyme disease, peptic ulcer, malaria, dengue, and recent increases in tuberculosis. The panel discusses how "new" diseases arise and how "old" ones resurge and considers the roles of human demographics and behavior, technology and industry, economic development and land use, international travel and commerce, microbial adaptation and change, and breakdown of public health measures in changing patterns of infectious disease. Also included are discussions and recommendations on disease surveillance; vaccine, drug, and pesticide development; vector control; public education and behavioral change; research and training; and strengthening of the U.S. public health system. This volume will be of immediate interest to scientists specializing in all areas of infectious dieseases and microbiology, healthy policy specialists, public health officials, physicians, and medical faculty and students, as well as anyone interested in how their health can be threatened by infectious diseases.

This plan addresses the need to improve our ability to identify infectious disease threats and respond to them effectively by improving the public health infrastructure at the local, state and federal levels. The goals of the plan are surveillance (detect, promptly investigate, and monitor emerging pathogens, the diseases they cause, and the factors influencing their emergence); applied research (integrate laboratory science and epidemiology to optimize public health practice); prevention and control (enhance communication of public health information about emerging diseases and ensure prompt implementation of prevention strategies); and infrastructure (strengthen local, state, and federal public health infrastructures to support surveillance and implement prevention and control programs).

Zoonotic diseases represent one of the leading causes of illness and death from infectious disease. Defined by the World Health Organization, zoonoses are "those diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man with or without an arthropod intermediate." Worldwide, zoonotic diseases have a negative impact on commerce, travel, and economies. In most developing countries, zoonotic diseases are among those diseases that contribute significantly to an already overly burdened public health system. In industrialized nations, zoonotic diseases are of particular concern for at-risk groups such as the elderly, children, childbearing women, and immunocompromised individuals. The Emergence of Zoonotic Diseases: Understanding the Impact on Animal and Human Health, covers a range of topics, which include: an evaluation of the relative importance of zoonotic diseases against the overall backdrop of emerging infections; research findings related to the current state of our understanding of zoonotic diseases; surveillance and response strategies to detect, prevent, and mitigate the impact of zoonotic diseases on human health; and information about ongoing programs and actions being taken to identify the most important needs in this vital area.