Molecular Basis of Bacterial Pathogenesis

Molecular Basis of Bacterial Pathogenesis focuses on the molecular mechanism of disease associated with bacterial pathogens. Topics covered include the population genetics of bacterial pathogenesis; environmental modulation of gene expression in gram-negative pathogens; and bacterial invasion and intracellular growth. Bacterial toxins are also discussed.
This volume is comprised of 20 chapters and begins with an overview of pathogenesis, paying particular attention to common elements and genetic mechanisms of regulation. The discovery that many bacterial pathogens are clonal, with individual clones often having a greater virulence than others, is then considered. The next section deals with the regulation of synthesis of surface components and their role in colonization of the host and/or evasion of the host immune defense systems; antigenic variation and its role in evasion of the host immune response; and the role of iron acquisition systems in the colonization of the host. Subsequent chapters explore the invasion and intracellular growth of facultative and obligate intracellular parasites. The last section is devoted to studies on the role of bacterial toxic products in pathogenesis. Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) and exotoxins are described.
This book should be of interest to molecular biologists, physiologists, clinical specialists, pathologists, and geneticists.

Contenu

Preface

I. Introduction

1. The "Zen" of Bacterial Pathogenicity

   I. Introduction

   II. The Attributes of Microbial Pathogenicity

   III. Corollaries of Microbial Pathogenicity

   IV. Concluding Remarks

2. Population Genetics of Bacterial Pathogenesis

   I. Introduction

   II. Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis

   III. Genetic Diversity and Structure in Natural Populations

   IV. Host and Disease Specificity in Relation to Subspecific Structure

   V. Epidemiology

   VI. Systematics of Cryptic Species

   VII. Concluding Comments

   References

II. Surfaces and Colonization

3. Polysialic Acid Capsule of Escherichia coli K1

   I. Introduction

   II. Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Escherichia coli K1 Meningitis

   III. Biosynthesis of Polysialic Acid and Genetics of K1 Antigen Expression

   References

4. Molecular Studies on N-Methylphenylalanine Pili

   I. Introduction

   II. Structure of N-Methylphenylalanine Pili

   III. Adherence Characteristics of N-Methylphenylalanine Pili

   IV. Immunological Properties of N-Methylphenylalanine Pili

   V. N-Methylphenylalanine Pilus-Based Vaccine Development

   References

5. Genetics of Adhesion Expression in Escherichia coli

   I. Introduction

   II. Adherence and Pili

   III. Physical Organization of the pap Gene Cluster

   IV. Role of Pap Proteins in Pilus Adhesion

   V. Adhesions of Other Pilus Systems

   VI. Biogenesis of Pili

   VII. Protein Interactions Essential for Pilus Biogenesis

   VIII. Regulation of Pilus-Adhesin Genes

   IX. Concluding Remarks

   References

6. Environmental Modulation of Gene Expression in Gram-Negative Pathogens

   I. Introduction

   II. Osmoregulation of Porin Expression in Escherichia coli

   III. Phenotypic Modulation in Bordetella pertussis

   IV. Temperature and the Low Calcium Response in Yersinia Species

   V. Oxygen Regulation of Gene Expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

   VI. Concluding Remarks

   References

7. Variation of Pilin and Opacity-Associated Protein in Pathogenic Neisseria Species

   I. Introduction

   II. Pilin Genes

   III. Molecular Basis of Pilin Variation

   IV. The opa Gene Family

   V. Genetic Linkage between pil and opa

   VI. Mechanistic Aspects of Antigenic Variation

   References

8. Antigenic Variation in Relapsing Fever Borrelia Species

   I. Introduction

   II. Virulence Properties of Borrelia

   III. Clinical and Experimental Infections

   IV. Immunity to Relapsing Fever Borrelia

   V. Biology of Antigenic Variation

   VI. Variable Antigens

   VII. Active and Silent Genes for Variable Antigens

   VIII. Linear Plasmids

   IX. Models for the Mechanism of vmp Switching

   X. Concluding Remarks

   References

9. The Protein of Group A Streptococcus: Evolution and Regulation

   I. Introduction

   II. Cloning of Protein Genes

   III. Relatedness of Proteins

   IV. Effect of Protein on Group A Streptococcus Resistance to Phagocytosis

   V. The Number of Chromosomal emm Gene Copies

   VI. Protein Structure as Deduced from the DNA Sequence

   VII. Homologous Recombination Promotes Evolutionary Variation of Protein

   VIII. Involvement of Bacteriophage in Protein Expression

   IX. Transcript for the emm Gene

   X. Positive Regulation of emm Gene Expression

   XI. Variation in Expression of Protein in Some Strains

   XII. Conclusion

   References

10. Molecular Biology and Regulation of Iron Acquisition by Escherichia coli K12

    I. Introduction

    II. Background

    III. Iron and Iron Transport Systems in Escherichia coli K12

    IV. Aerobactin System of pColV-K30

    V. Aerobactin System of pColV-K311

    VI. Chromosomal Aerobactin Systems

    VII. Regulation of Iron Absorption

    VIII. Summary

    References

11. Molecular Studies on Iron Acquisition by Non-Escherichia coli Species

    I. Role of Iron in Host-Bacteria Interactions

    II. Mechanisms of Iron Acquisition by Pathogenic Bacteria

    III. Summary

    References

III. Invasion and Intracellular Growth

12. Molecular Biology of Salmonella Pathogenesis

    I. Introduction

    II. Molecular Biology of Salmonella Pathogenesis

    III. Host Resistance to Salmonella

    IV. Immunity to Salmonella

    V. Salmonella as Vaccines and Carriers

    VI. Conclusions

    References

13. Invasion and Intracellular Growth of Chlamydia Species

    I. Introduction

    II. Chlamydial Species and Biotypes

    III. Chlamydial Cell

    IV. Chlamydial Virulence Determinants

    V. Attachment and Entry

    VI. Intracellular Fate of Endocytosed Chlamydiae

    VII. Intracellular Differentiation

    VIII. Conclusion

    References

14. Interjunctional Invasion of Endothelial Monolayers by Treponema pallidum

    I. Introduction

    II. Phenomenology of Treponemal Dissemination

    III. Attachment

    IV. Invasion

    V. Relationship of Endothelial Monolayer Invasion to Pathogenesis

    References

IV. Toxins

15. Structure and Function of Lipid A

    I. Introduction

    II. Structure of Lipid A

    III. Structure of Precursors of Lipid A

    IV. Biological Activity of Lipid A and Precursors

    V. Chemical Synthesis of Lipid A, Analogs, and Precursors

    VI. Biological Properties of Synthetic Lipid A and Analogs

    VII. Biological Properties of Synthetic Disaccharide Precursor and Analogs

    VIII. Biological Properties of Monosaccharide Subunit Structures of Lipid A

    IX. Conclusions

    References

16. Role of the O-Antigen of Lipopolysaccharide in Salmonella in Protection against Complement Action

    I. Introduction

    II. Lipopolysaccharide Structure

    III. Complement as an Antibacterial Agent

    IV. O-Antigen Structure and Phagocytosis

    V. O-Antigen Structure and Alternative Pathway

    VI. O-Antigen Side Chains and Protection against Complement Killing

    VII. Conclusions

    References

17. Regulation of Chlolera Toxin Synthesis

    I. Introduction

    II. Cholera Toxin Structure and Activity

    III. Environmental Factors Influencing Cholera Toxin Production in the Laboratory

    IV. Genetic Studies of Toxin Production in Vibrio cholerae

    V. Molecular Genetics of the ctx Operon

    VI. Transcriptional Regulation of ctxAB

    VII. Other ToxR-Regulated Genes…