Bücher der Reihe Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology

This volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the various aspects of Lassa virus (LASV), the causative agent of Lassa fever, a frequently fatal zoonotic disease endemic to West Africa. Compiled by world-leading experts in the field, this book provides an introduction to the 50-year history of Lassa fever research, the genetic diversity of LASV, and its geographic distribution. Subsequent chapters focus on the ecology and epidemiology of LASV, discussing in-depth the interactions of the virus with its hosts - multimammate mice and other rodents - and the interactions between these animal reservoirs and humans. The book also details the many advances in understanding the structural biology and replication of LASV, including new insights into the structure and function of its proteins. These advances in the basic understanding of LASV biology have enabled the development of LASV countermeasures, including sensitive and specific diagnostic assays. Promising drugcandidates, including monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines are also discussed. A final and essential chapter addresses current and future clinical practice for clinical management of Lassa fever. This volume is intended for researchers and clinicians in the fields of virology, epidemiology, and microbiology.

This volume provides a comprehensive review of programmed cell death pathways and their fundamental role in antiviral host defense. The book deep-dives into the molecular functions and regulation of necroptosis and discusses how viruses induce and manipulate this potent innate cellular sensing system.Initially, understanding of necroptosis emerged from studies on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling that showed the key role of receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) in the activation of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) which then phosphorylates mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase (MLKL) to execute cells via plasma membrane leakage of cytosolic contents. Since its discovery, multiple facets of the RIPK3-dependent necroptotic machinery have evolved where the requirements for execution of death varies depending on the stimulus.Virus-induced necroptosis was discovered over 10 years ago in studies on murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)where a virus-encoded inhibitor was shown to prevent the recruitment of RIPK3 (RIP3). This transformative evidence identified a novel pathway acting independent of TNF, interferon or RIPK1 that can stop virus from infecting its natural mouse host by killing off infected cells to halt replication. Over the past decade influenza A virus (IAV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and poxvirus vaccinia (VACV) have all been shown to trigger the pathway. Herpesviruses and poxviruses also encode inhibitors of caspase-8 whose elaboration unleashes the necroptosis pathway. IAV and other RNA viruses do not encode programmed cell death inhibitors. RIPK3 is also known to induce apoptosis by recruiting RIPK1 as shown nearly a decade ago and this dual apoptosis/necroptosis induction occurs naturally during influenza A virus infection. RIPK3 is also able to induce an inflammatory response independently of programmed cell death that can predominate to drive inflammatory disease outcomes. This volume is a must-read for researchers and advanced students in immunology and virology.

This volume explores in detail the molecular biology, genetics and immunology of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori that causes serious gastric diseases such as gastric cancer. The book provides in-depth insights into the mechanisms of H. pylori-induced pathogenicity, gives an overview of how the bacterium colonizes the human gut, how it manages to persist in the body and which factors play a role in the development of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer. Furthermore, the interaction between the Gram-negative bacterium and the human gut microbiome is explored, and clinical management and treatment strategies to combat gastric cancer are discussed.Helicobacter pylori is an extremely successful pathogen that persistently colonizes the gut of about 50% of the world¿s population. H. pylori and its human host share a long co-evolutionary relationship that dates back for at least last 100,000 years and possibly longer. Infection by thisbacterium is a high-risk factor for the development of gastric diseases, including gastric cancer. Gastric cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality and represents the 5th most common malignant tumour and the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. H. pylori is the first bacterium that has been classified as a type-I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Recent research progress identified crucial bacterial, host and environmental factors which control H. pylori-induced gastric malignancy. New studies also suggest that specific human germline mutations and other genetic aberrations have an important impact on H. pylori-induced pathology. In this volume, all these recently discovered mechanisms are reviewed in the light of gastric cancer development, and H. pylori epidemiology, virulence factors, immune evasion, pathophysiology, cancer signalling and novel therapeutic protocols are presented. This volume is aimed at researchers in the fields of immunology, genetics, microbiology and medicine who are interested in the detailed mechanisms of the pathogenicity of this carcinogenic stomach bacterium.