Brucella is a genus of Gram-negative, facultative, intracellular bacteria that are highly pathogenic for a variety of mammals, including humans. Recently, the World Health Organization cited brucellosis to be the world's most widespread zoonosis. An important feature of the pathogenicity of these organisms is their ability to survive and replicate within the host macrophages. However, the mechanism for this is unclear. In addition, none of the classical bacterial virulence factors found in other bacterial pathogens have been found in the genomes of the 40 Brucella species and biovars analyzed to date. Nevertheless, the application of systems biology approaches in recent years has transformed research, permitting fascinating new insights into Brucella molecular biology and genomics. Written by highly acclaimed Brucella scientists, this book comprehensively reviews the most important advances in the field. The opening chapters focus on genetic diversity within Brucella, covering both classical and new species. Particular emphasis is given to how comparative genomics has led to advances in molecular diagnostics, taxonomy, and phylogeny. Additional chapters cover proteomic analysis, transcriptomic analysis, the VirB type IV secretion system, signaling complexes - e.g. the BvrR/BvrS two-component regulatory system and quorum sensing. These chapters highlight the intricate interplay between factors involved in virulence. Another chapter discusses the role of the Brucella cell envelope in bacterial virulence and evasion of host defenses, and the final two chapters review the current strategies for the development of novel antibacterial agents and improved vaccines. This volume is essential reading for everyone with an interest in Brucella and brucellosis. It is also recommended for cellular microbiologists and immunologists, and vaccine development scientists, as well as a wider body of scientists, veterinarians, and MDs with an interest in microbial diagnostics, microbial pathogenesis, and host-parasite interactions.

Brucellosis is a major zoonotic disease that may cause a serious illness in humans and animals. Global prevalence of human brucellosis remains significant. More than half a million new brucellosis cases from 100 countries are reported annually to the World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of these cases are reported in developing countries.In humans, brucellosis (undulant fever, Malta fever) is characterized by an acute bacteremic phase followed by a chronic stage that may extend over many years and may involve many tissues. It is a systemic disease, and many organ systems (nervous system, heart, skeletal system, bone marrow, etc.) may become involved following hematogenous dissemination. Although eradicated in some countries, it remains one of the most economically important zoonosis worldwide as it is responsible for huge economic losses as well as significant human morbidity in endemic areas. Because of the nonspecific clinical manifestations of human brucellosis and the need for prolonged combination therapy with antibiotics that are not routinely prescribed for other infectious diseases, laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis is of paramount importance for adequate patient management. In addition, evidence of brucellosis has serious public health implications because it discloses exposure to a contaminated source (infected animals or their products, unsafe laboratory practices, or a potential biological warfare attack). This book addresses human brucellosis with stress on symptoms including those related to the less recognized disease localizations, risk of exposure, treatment, and prevention. Light is shed on animal brucellosis as it pertains to human exposure. The book also emphasizes on laboratory procedures in culturing and serologic techniques. Epidemiologic surveillance is among this books subjects as well as veterinary control measures.

Fourteen brucellosis experts from seven countries discuss the history, epidemiology, microbiology, immunology, diagnosis, treatment, and control of brucellosis in animals and man. Edited by members of the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Brucellosis, this text is the first comprehensive treatment of the disease since The Nature of Brucellosis by Wesley W. Spink in 1956. Topics reviewed with current references include infection caused by newer species of Brucella, such as B. canis, newer diagnostic techniques, such as radioimmunoassay and ELISA, and newer treatments, such as rifampin and the quinolones. The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of brucellosis is reviewed in depth, correlating the disease in animals with the illness in humans. This volume is extremely useful for clinicians, researchers, and students in medicine, veterinary science, microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, public health, and international health.

Brucella Miletensis: Identification and Characterization of Potential Drug Targets presents a systematic approach to identifying and characterizing drug targets using bioinformatics. The book shows the potential of bioinformatic tools in the identification of virulence targets in pathogenic bacteria and viruses, in general, and in B. militensis 16M in particular. Chapters identify putative genes as potential drug targets, employ a subtractive genomic approach, consider the virulent genes of this bacteria that negatively affects humans, list twelve potential virulence genes as drug targets, and consider the screening of potential drugs against the bacteria's virulence genes through molecular modeling, computational screening, drug discovery and molecular docking studies. In addition, the book demonstrates in silico approaches that offer insights into the identification of drug targets in B.melitensis 16M. The title employs a step-by-step approach to understanding drug targets by identifying and characterizing vaccine targets for Brucella melitensis, in silico screening, and the identification of novel drug targets from the total Brucella melitensis proteome. Other sections cover computational modeling and evaluation of the best potential drug targets through comparative modeling, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations of novel drug targets and in silico validation and ADMET analysis for best lead molecules. - Covers the identification and characterization of vaccine targets for Brucella melitensis - Presents in silico screening and the identification of novel drug targets - Gives computational modeling and evaluations for potential drug targets - Offers molecular docking and dynamics simulations for novel drug targets - Details in silico validation and ADMET analysis for best lead molecules

The book opens with chapters that focus on the development of molecular diagnostic tools and these are followed by chapters on genetic evolution and its relationship to pathogenicity. Other topics include Brucella comparative genomics and proteomics, analysis of the structure, biosynthesis and biology of glucans and lipopolysaccharides, pathogenicity, approaches to vaccine development, bacterium-host interactions, immune response, and much more. Essential reading for everyone with an interest in Brucella and brucellosis and recommended reading for the wider body of scientists with an interest in microbial diagnostics, microbial pathogenesis, cellular microbiology and immunology, and vaccine development.

Immunological Methods in Microbiology, Volume 47 in the Methods in Microbiology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Immunological Techniques in the Clinical laboratory, Immunologic Diagnosis of HIV and Opportunistic Infections, Combining Antigen Detection and Serology for the Diagnosis of Selected Infectious Diseases, Immunologic Detection of Lyme Disease and Related Borrelioses, Immunodetection of Bacteria Causing Brucellosis, Immunological Diagnostic Techniques Used to Identify and Type Pasteurella, Immunological Tests for Diarrhea caused by Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Targeting Their Main Virulence Factors, and much more.

This timely publication updates and standardizes currently used diagnostic procedures for this widespread, economically costly livestock disease. It includes state-of-the-art technology, now in limited use, which will replace the conventional methodology in the near future. The volume covers research done on improved diagnostic techniques, vaccines, taxonomy, epidemiology, pathology, and basic immunology. It is an important literature review for those more established in this field and serves as a guide to researchers or diagnosticians becoming involved with this disease.

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 Prokaryotes is a comprehensive, multi-authored, peer reviewed reference work on Bacteria and Achaea. This fourth edition of The Prokaryotes is organized to cover all taxonomic diversity, using the family level to delineate chapters. Different from other resources, this new Springer product includes not only taxonomy, but also prokaryotic biology and technology of taxa in a broad context. Technological aspects highlight the usefulness of prokaryotes in processes and products, including biocontrol agents and as genetics tools. The content of the expanded fourth edition is divided into two parts: Part 1 contains review chapters dealing with the most important general concepts in molecular, applied and general prokaryote biology; Part 2 describes the known properties of specific taxonomic groups. Two completely new sections have been added to Part 1: bacterial communities and human bacteriology. The bacterial communities section reflects the growing realization that studies on pure cultures of bacteria have led to an incomplete picture of the microbial world for two fundamental reasons: the vast majority of bacteria in soil, water and associated with biological tissues are currently not culturable, and that an understanding of microbial ecology requires knowledge on how different bacterial species interact with each other in their natural environment. The new section on human microbiology deals with bacteria associated with healthy humans and bacterial pathogenesis. Each of the major human diseases caused by bacteria is reviewed, from identifying the pathogens by classical clinical and non-culturing techniques to the biochemical mechanisms of the disease process. The 4th edition of The Prokaryotes is the most complete resource on the biology of prokaryotes. The following volumes are published consecutively within the 4th Edition: Prokaryotic Biology and Symbiotic Associations Prokaryotic Communities and Ecophysiology Prokaryotic Physiology and Biochemistry Applied Bacteriology and Biotechnology Human Microbiology Actinobacteria Firmicutes Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Deltaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria Other Major Lineages of Bacteria and the Archaea