Bücher der Reihe Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology

Mammalian cells are to a large extent controlled by the environment. Dif­ fusible factors (growth factors, cytokines, and hormones) released by oth­ er cells in the body bind to and activate receptors localized at the cell sur­ face. In the case of the fibroblast growth factor receptor, there seems to be receptors both at the plasma membrane and in the nucleus. Cellular recep­ tors control growth, apoptosis, immune function, differentiation, develop­ and upon dysregulation, cancer progression and metastasis. Upon li­ ment, gand binding, most receptors are internalized. However, the mechanisms of endocytosis are diverse, and receptors are taken into cells from different membrane microdomains. Activation of receptors results in two important interconnected processes, namely, signal transduction and endocytosis. In­ terestingly, signal transduction controls endocytosis and endocytosis con­ trols signalling. In both processes sequential formation of transient protein machineries is crucial. Currently, characterization of such complex ma­ chineries is advancing rapidly. It has recently become appreciated that sev­ eral post-translational modifications directly control the affinity of pro­ tein-protein interactions. This volume of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology focuses on the recent understanding of signalling from in­ ternalized activated growth factor receptors. This includes information on pathways by which the rate and specificity of endocytosis and intracellular sorting are controlled. It further includes information on how specialized signalling and trafficking platforms are formed at the plasma membrane and on intracellular vesicles.

In spite of the protection of the CNS there are situations where immune responses occur due to different disease processes. While antigen-specific cells of the adaptive immune response are not normally functional in the CNS tissue, CNS resident cells respond to infection or insult.

Cell surface receptors on natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to sense microbial invasion in neighboring cells, thereby setting into motion their elimination by cy totoxic mechanisms.

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.

This volume offers an overview of the processes of zoonotic viral emergence, the intricacies of host/virus interactions, and the role of biological transitions and modifying factors.

Concerns about pandemic preparedness have greatly stimulated research activities to develop eff- tive vaccines for pandemic influenza viruses, and to overcome the limitations inh- ent in current approaches to vaccine production and distribution.

In this volume, the editors have collected the knowledgeable insights of a number of leaders in this field - researchers who have achieved success in addressing the difficult problem of inhibiting protein-protein interactions.

The articles in this volume provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the roles played by cellular factors in the early steps of retroviral replication.

Arenaviruses cause several human diseases known primarily as the hemorrhagic fevers occurring in South and Latin America (Bolivia: Machupo, Argentine, Junin virus, and Brazil: Sabia virus) and in Africa (Lassa fever virus).

For decades this virus system has served--and continues to do so--to pioneer investigations on the molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics of mammalian cell systems.

Despite rapid increases in knowledge, malaria continues to kill more than a million people each year and causes symptomatic disease in a further 300 million individuals. This volume brings some of the world's best investigators to describe recent advances in both the scientific and clinical aspects of malaria, and bridges between the two.

It is not unreasonable to suspect that persistence of at least some specific TT virus genotypes may result in some infected individuals in a definable pathogenicity. The authors believe that this volume provides the first hints in support of this view.

The concept of quality control emerged with the appreciation that, in the case of multimeric glycoproteins, any unpaired glycoprotein subunit had great dif?culties leaving its site of synthesis-the ER-and was destroyed instead.

The discipline is no longer exclusively in the domain of academics-there is a small, but growing number of small biotechnology companies that exploit plant viruses as the platform for commercial innovation in crop improvement, industrial product manufacturing, and human and veterinary health care.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which causes severe acute and chronic liver disease, was discovered nearly 30 years ago following the detection of a novel antigen-antibody system in hepatitis B virus carriers.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which causes severe acute and chronic liver disease, was discovered nearly 30 years ago following the detection of a novel antigen-antibody system in hepatitis B virus carriers.

After three volumes on adenoviruses in 1995 the past years have seen rapid progress in the field of adenovirus research. Moreover, adenoviruses have attracted considerable interest as vectors in gene transfer regimens.

TOR, the Target of Rapamycin was discovered a little over ten years ago in a genetic screen in S. The editors have gathered the leading figures in the field of TOR and its role in cellular homeostasis and human diseases.

The articles in this volume provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the roles played by cellular factors in the early steps of retroviral replication.

After three volumes on adenoviruses in 1995 the past years have seen rapid progress in the field of adenovirus research. After the first volume on virion and structure, viral replication and host-cell interaction this second volume deals with the immune system, oncogenesis and gene therapy.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has become the most publicly recognizable example of a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by proteinaceous infectious particles called prions.

In spite of the protection of the CNS there are situations where immune responses occur due to different disease processes. While antigen-specific cells of the adaptive immune response are not normally functional in the CNS tissue, CNS resident cells respond to infection or insult.

It has been known for a number of years that not only pathogenicity islands but also plasmids and bacteriophages are able to carry genes whose products are involved in pathogenic processes.

After three volumes on adenoviruses in 1995 the past years have seen rapid progress in the field of adenovirus research. After the first volume on virion and structure, viral replication and host-cell interaction this second volume deals with the immune system, oncogenesis and gene therapy.

Although the utility of human antibodies as medical therapeutics for cancer and immune diseases has been well-established, it is only beginning to be realized for the treatment of viral infectious diseases. Polyclonal immunoglobulins have long been used for some viral diseases, but they have limited potency and disease scope.

HIV-1 inhibitor resistance is discussed in detail, and critical assessments as to what will be required of future antiretrovirals in order to halt viral replication, reduce viral resistance, and alter the state of viral latency are presented.

One Health is an emerging concept that aims to bring together human, animal, and environmental health. In the 19th and early 20th centuries this was not the case-then researchers like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch and physicians like William Osler and Rudolph Virchow crossed the boundaries between animal and human health.

The discipline is no longer exclusively in the domain of academics-there is a small, but growing number of small biotechnology companies that exploit plant viruses as the platform for commercial innovation in crop improvement, industrial product manufacturing, and human and veterinary health care.