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During the past few decades we have witnessed an era of remarkable growth in the field of molecular biology. In 1950 very little was known of the chemical constitution of biological systems, the manner in which information was transmitted from one organism to another, or the extent to which the chemical basis of life is unified. The picture today is dramatically different. We have an almost bewildering variety of information detailing many different aspects oflife at the molecular level. These great advances have brought with them some breath-taking insights into the molecular mechanisms used by nature for replicating, distributing and modifying biological information. We have learned a great deal about the chemical and physical nature of the macro molecular nucleic acids and proteins, and the manner in which carbohydrates, lipids and smaller molecules work together to provide the molecular setting of living systems. It might be said that these few decades have replaced a near vacuum of informa tion with a very large surplus. It is in the context of this flood of information that this series of monographs on molecular biology has been organized. The idea is to bring together in one place, between the covers of one book, a concise assessment of the state of the subject in a well-defined field. This will enable the reader to get a sense of historical perspective what is known about the field today - and a description of the frontiers of research where our knowledge is increasing steadily.
List of contents
I Virulence Factors and Their Genetic Control.- 1 Microorganisms.- 2 Host-Parasite Relationship.- 3 Localization of Virulence Determinants.- 4 Superficial Infection With or Without Toxinogenesis.- 5 Exudative (Partially Invasive) Infections.- 6 Invasive (Penetrating) Infections (Except Yersiniosis).- 7 Summary.- II Defense Mechanisms of Host Against Infection.- 1 Recognition by the Immune System.- 2 The Mechanisms for Maintenance of Self-Integrity.- 3 Superficial Defense.- 4 The Role of Body Temperature: Fever and Reduced Iron.- 5 The Defensive Role of Normal Microbial Flora.- 6 The Nonspecific Humoral Components.- 7 Specific Humoral Components: Immunoglobulins.- 8 Genesis and Distribution of Cellular Components with Defensive Functions.- 9 Extracellular and Intracellular Destruction of Microorganisms.- 10 Inflammation, as a Defense Mechanism.- 11 Genetic Regulation of Defense Mechanisms: Cell-Mediated Immunity in Particular.- 12 Summary.- III The Yersinia-Host Relationship.- 1 Human Disease Caused by Yersinia.- 2 Virulence Factors of Yersinia pestis.- 3 Other Mechanisms of Yersinia Organisms Functioning for Expression of Their Virulence.- 4 Host Resistances to Yersinia Organisms - Immunology in Yersinia Infection.- 5 The Phylogenetic Influence of Yersinia Infection on Human Major Histocompatibility Complex (HLA).- 6 Summary.- References.
