Origins of Resistance to Toxic Agents

Origins of Resistance to Toxic Agents contains the proceedings of the Symposium held in Washington, D.C. on March 25-27, 1954. Contributors theoretically explore the origins of drug resistance and related problems, based on the concept that the development of resistance to various toxic agents is associated with alterations and/or loss in enzyme proteins, and can explain the mutational and other processes.
This text is organized into five sections encompassing 25 chapters and begins with an overview of the evolutionary aspects of resistance to antibacterial agents, herbicides, and insecticides. The book then discusses spontaneous and induced mutations to drug resistance in Escherichia coli, along with the mechanism of drug resistance in protozoa and bacteria, the physiological aspects of insect resistance to insecticides, and the enzymatic detoxication of DDT. The next chapters focus on the origins of tolerance and addiction to drugs and the problem of alcoholism; biochemical effects of narcotics and alcohol administration; tolerance and physical dependence to narcotics; and resistance and dependence in cancer cells. The book concludes by analyzing the significance of protein configuration to the specificity of biological interaction.
This book is a valuable source of information for physicians, biochemists, pharmacologists, entomologists, plant physiologists, students of cancer, and those who are interested in the theory of the evolution of living matter.

Contenu

Preface
List of Contributors
Session I. Resistance to Microbicides Introductory Remarks
Spontaneous and Induced Mutations to Drug Resistance in Escherichia coli
Origin of Drug Resistance in Microorganisms
Mechanism of Resistance to Proflavine in Bacterium lactis aerogenes (Aerobacter aerogenes)
Mechanism of the Origin of Resistance to Drugs in Protozoa
Discussion
Session II. Resistance to Herbicides and Insecticides Introductory Remarks
Resistance of Plants to Herbicides
Resistance Factors Against Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, Isolated from the Leaves of Wild Solanum Species
Physiological Aspects of Insect Resistance to Insecticides
The Enzymatic Detoxication of DDT
Discussion
Theories on Evolution
Session III. Tolerance and Addiction to Drugs and Alcoholism Introductory Remarks
Some Effects of Alcohol on Metabolic Mechanisms with Applications to Therapy of Alcoholics
The Genetotrophic Approach to Alcoholism
Biochemical Effects of Administration of Narcotics and Alcohol
The Phenomena of Tolerance
Possible Mechanisms of Physical Dependence to Narcotics
Discussion
Session IV. Resistance Factors, Infectious Agents, and Cancer Cells Introductory Remarks
Studies on Transformations to Resistance and Dependence in Leukemic Cells
Biochemical Investigations on the Mechanism of Carcinogenesis by the Aminoazo Dyes
The Nature of Tumor Immunity
Factors in Resistance to Infectious Agents
Discussion
Session V. Physiological, Chemical, and Genetic Viewpoints Introductory Remarks
Biochemical Genetics in Relation to the Action of Drugs and Inhibitors
Protein Molecule, Resistance to Microbicides, Mutations, and Related Problems
Experiments in Microevolution. A Summary from the Physiological Viewpoint
Discussion
Appendix I. Posing of the Basic Questions
Appendix II. Historical Notes
Author Index
Subject Index