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Whereas plant and insect infections are commonly caused by fungi, only a small minority of the vast diversity of fungal species is pathogenic to humans. Despite this, fungal infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. This volume is dedicated to the biology, clinical presentation and management of invasive fungal infections. Major pathogenic fungi are introduced by world-leading experts and the basic principles of fungal virulence are reviewed in the light of new results and experimental technologies that offer unprecedented insights into invasive infections caused by Aspergillus , Candida , Cryptococcus , Pneumocystis and Mucorales . In parallel, the clinical presentation of invasive fungal infections and current approaches to their diagnosis and treatment are summarized to provide an overview of human pathogenic fungi, linking pathogen biology to the clinical presentation of disease.
List of contents
Basics of Fungal Virulence
1 From Commensal to Pathogen: Candida albicans
A. Whittington, N.A.R. Gow, and B. Hube
2 Aspergillus fumigatus: Saprotroph to Pathogen
E. Bignell
3 Systems Biology Approaches to Understand and Predict Fungal Virulence
L. Tierney, K. Tyc, E. Klipp, and K. Kuchler
Immune Response to Fungal Infections
4 Receptor-Ligand Interactions in Fungal Infections
S.E. Hardison and G.D. Brown
5 Macrophages in the Immune Response against Cryptococcus
R.J. Evans and R.C. May
6 T Cell Responses in Fungal Infections
C. Cunha, F. Aversa, L. Romani and A. Carvalho
7 Molecular Mechanisms of Histoplasma Pathogenesis
C.A. Rappleye
8 Visualizing Immune Responses in Fungal Infections - Established and Novel Methods
M. Hasenberg, S. Krappmann and M. Gunzer
9 Mucosal Immunology in Candida albicans Infection
G. Weindl, J.R. Naglik, D.L. Moyes, and M. Schaller
Clinical Presentations and Epidemiology of Fungal Infections
10 Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit
W. Meersseman
11 Molecular Epidemiology of Pneumocystis Outbreaks
P.M. Hauser and J.A. Kovacs
12 Infections Caused by Mucorales
C.B. Moore and M.D. Richardson
13 Diagnostics of Fungal Infections
B. Willinger, D. Kienzl, and O. Kurzai
Treatment of Fungal Infections
14 Therapeutic Strategies in Fungal Infections
M.J.G.T. Vehreschild, K. Wahlers and O.A. Cornely
15 Antifungal Pharmacokinetics
F. Farowski and O.A. Cornely
Summary
Whereas plant and insect infections are commonly caused by fungi, only a small minority of the vast diversity of fungal species is pathogenic to humans. Despite this, fungal infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. This volume is dedicated to the biology, clinical presentation and management of invasive fungal infections. Major pathogenic fungi are introduced by world-leading experts and the basic principles of fungal virulence are reviewed in the light of new results and experimental technologies that offer unprecedented insights into invasive infections caused by Aspergillus, Candida, Cryptococcus, Pneumocystis and Mucorales. In parallel, the clinical presentation of invasive fungal infections and current approaches to their diagnosis and treatment are summarized to provide an overview of human pathogenic fungi, linking pathogen biology to the clinical presentation of disease.
Additional text
From the book reviews:
“The Editor is to be congratulated on largely achieving his aim of producing an inspiring work for the fungi of major medical concern, but dermatophytes and other opportunistic fungi do not feature as strongly as might be expected in such a title. … this volume does approach that for the major human pathogens and should be accessible to both practising consultants and pathologists, as well as to researchers and those studying medical microbiology.” (Ima Fungus, Vol. 5 (1), June, 2014)
Report
From the book reviews:
"The Editor is to be congratulated on largely achieving his aim of producing an inspiring work for the fungi of major medical concern, but dermatophytes and other opportunistic fungi do not feature as strongly as might be expected in such a title. ... this volume does approach that for the major human pathogens and should be accessible to both practising consultants and pathologists, as well as to researchers and those studying medical microbiology." (Ima Fungus, Vol. 5 (1), June, 2014)
