From early studies of the plague causing agent through to comparatively more recent research defining aspects of the type III secretion mechanism, pathogenic Yersinia have served as an inventive model organism for researchers seeking to understand the complexities of bacteria-host cell interactions. In fact, seminal studies on Yersinia virulence mechanisms contributed to the emergence and recognition of the research field – cellular microbiology. Researching Yersinia infection biology continues to bring to light novel discoveries. Assortments of Yersinia whole genome sequencing projects are providing unparalleled insight into bacterial pathogen evolution and environmental adaptation. This is enabling researchers to identify and define more fascinating virulence and/or survival mechanisms that advance and expand existing perceptions of bacterial-host encounters. Current research is also beginning to bring to light how the pathogenic Yersiniae respond to physicochemical environmental cues to spatially and temporally control their armoury of customized virulence/survival factors. This Research Topic is therefore focused on presenting and summarizing new developments in Yersinia pathogenicity through highlighting cutting-edge studies on the Yersinia-host cell interaction and the network of regulatory control mechanisms that define this outcome. It will also endeavour to address how such findings might influence selection of potential targets for the design and development of anti-Yersinia therapeutic drugs and vaccines, as well as identify translational studies that involve unique and rewarding cooperation between diverse disciplines

Pathogenic Yersinia consist of the prominent human pathogens Y. pestis, Y. enterocolitica, and Y. pseudotuberculosis, the fish pathogen Y. ruckeri, as well as a number of insect pathogens. Facilitated by the ease of in vitro culturing, genetic tractability, and availability of relevant infection models, studies of pathogenic Yersinia have revealed a great deal about physiological processes at the molecular level that contribute to pathogen adaptation to the ever changing environments both inside and outside of the host. Comprehensive genome sequencing analyses has further benefitted understanding of this bacterial pathogen evolution. Critically, many of these detailed molecular studies also identified potential targets for the design and development of anti-bacterial therapeutic drugs that could help to fight the ever-increasing problem of resistance to conventional antibiotics. New developments in several of these areas are highlighted in this edition of the Research Topic “The Pathogenic Yersiniae – Advances in the Understanding of Physiology and Virulence, Second Edition”.

Established almost 30 years ago, Methods in Microbiology is the most prestigious series devoted to techniques and methodology in the field. Now totally revamped, revitalized, with a new format and expanded scope, Methods in Microbiology will continue to provide you with tried and tested, cutting-edge protocols to directly benefit your research. - Focuses on the methods most useful for the microbiologist interested in the way in which bacteria cause disease - Includes section devoted to 'Approaches to characterising pathogenic mechanisms' by Stanley Falkow - Covers safety aspects, detection, identification and speciation - Includes techniques for the study of host interactions and reactions in animals and plants - Describes biochemical and molecular genetic approaches - Essential methods for gene expression and analysis - Covers strategies and problems for disease control

Lassa virus causes Lassa fever disease in several countries in West Africa, where it is estimated to infect up to half million people causing roughly five thousand deaths each year. This deadly virus has also been introduced in multiple occasions into the western world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany. Lassa virus infection, which is often misdiagnosed, can lead to a wide range of disease symptoms ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to bleeding disorders, multi-organ failure, and death. Despite some major discoveries made in recent years of research on Lassa fever, there are still many unresolved key issues that hamper the development of effective vaccines and therapies. Some of these issues include a detailed understanding of the viral and participating host factors in completing the virus life cycle, in mediating disease pathogenesis or protection, and in activating or suppressing host immune responses against virus infection. This book is devoted to understanding some of these important issues. Expert and timely contributions in the form of editorial and original research and review articles on Lassa fever viral replication, disease pathogenesis and protection, host immune modulations, and other related hot topics are presented in this publication.

The 9th International Symposium on Yersinia was held in Lexington, Kentucky, USA on October 10-14, 2006. Over 250 Yersinia researchers from 18 countries gathered to present and discuss their research. In addition to 37 oral presentations, there were 150 poster presentations. This Symposium volume is based on selected presentations from the meeting and contains both reviews and research articles. It is divided into six topic areas: 1) genomics; 2) structure and metabolism; 3) regulatory mechanisms; 4) pathogenesis and host interactions; 5) molecular epidemiology and detection; and 6) vaccine and antimicrobial therapy development. Consequently, this volume covers a wide range of current research areas in the Yersinia field.

A comprehensive compendium of scholarly contributions relating to bacterial virulence gene regulation. • Provides insights into global control and the switch between distinct infectious states (e.g., acute vs. chronic). • Considers key issues about the mechanisms of gene regulation relating to: surface factors, exported toxins and export mechanisms. • Reflects on how the regulation of intracellular lifestyles and the response to stress can ultimately have an impact on the outcome of an infection. • Highlights and examines some emerging regulatory mechanisms of special significance. • Serves as an ideal compendium of valuable topics for students, researchers and faculty with interests in how the mechanisms of gene regulation ultimately affect the outcome of an array of bacterial infectious diseases.

Infectious diseases have existed longer than us, as long as us, or are relatively newer than us. It may be the case that a disease has existed for many, many years but has only recently begun affecting humans. At the turn of the century the number of deaths caused by infections in the United States had been falling steadily but since the '80s has seen an increase. In the past 30 years alone 37 new pathogens have been identified as human disease threats and 12% of known human pathogens have been classified as either emerging or remerging. Whatever the story, there is currently a "war" on infectious diseases. This war is simply the systematic search for the microbial "cause" of each disease, followed by the development of antimicrobial therapies. The "war" on infectious diseases, however, must be revisited in order to develop a more realistic and detailed picture of the dynamic interactions among and between host organisms and their diverse populations of microbes. Only a fraction of these microbes are pathogens. Thus, in order to explore the crafting of a new metaphor for host-microbe relationships, and to consider how such a new perspective might inform and prioritize biomedical research, the Forum on Microbial Threats of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convened the workshop, Ending the War Metaphor: The Changing Agenda for Unraveling the Host-Microbe Relationship on March 16-17, 2005. Workshop participants examined knowledge and approaches to learning about the bacterial inhabitants of the human gut, the best known host-microbe system, as well as findings from studies of microbial communities associated with other mammals, fish, plants, soil, and insects. The perspective adopted by this workshop is one that recognizes the breadth and diversity of host-microbe relationships beyond those relative few that result in overt disease. Included in this summary are the reports and papers of individuals participating in the Forum as well as the views of the editors.

Dr. Joshua Lederberg - scientist, Nobel laureate, visionary thinker, and friend of the Forum on Microbial Threats - died on February 2, 2008. It was in his honor that the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats convened a public workshop on May 20-21, 2008, to examine Dr. Lederberg's scientific and policy contributions to the marketplace of ideas in the life sciences, medicine, and public policy. The resulting workshop summary, Microbial Evolution and Co-Adaptation, demonstrates the extent to which conceptual and technological developments have, within a few short years, advanced our collective understanding of the microbiome, microbial genetics, microbial communities, and microbe-host-environment interactions.

Bacteria form a fundamental branch of life. They are the oldest forms of life as we know it, and they are still the most prolific living organisms. They inhabit every part of the Earth's surface, its ocean depths, and even terrains such as boiling hot springs. They are most familiar as agents of disease, but benign bacteria are critical to the recycling of elements and all ecology, as well as to human health. In this Very Short Introduction, Sebastian Amyes explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, and bacteria and disease. In looking at our efforts to manage co-evolving bacteria, he also considers the challenges of resistance to antibiotics. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

With the launch of its first electronic edition, The Prokaryotes, the definitive reference on the biology of bacteria, enters an exciting new era of information delivery. Subscription-based access is available. The electronic version begins with an online implementation of the content found in the printed reference work, The Prokaryotes, Second Edition. The content is being fully updated over a five-year period until the work is completely revised. Thereafter, material will be continuously added to reflect developments in bacteriology. This online version features information retrieval functions and multimedia components.