Hormesis and Defense of Infectious Disease

Hormesis and Defense of Infectious Disease

Infectious diseases are a global health burden and remain associated with high social and economic impact. Treatment of affected patients largely relies on antimicrobial agents that act by directly targeting microbial replication. Despite the utility of host specific therapies having been assessed in previous clinical trials, such as targeting the immune response via modulating the cytokine rel...

Biological Weapons Defense: Infectious Diseases and Counterbioterrorism

Susan Hunter’s book, AIDS in Asia: A Continent in Peril, tackles an important subject. The subheading leaves no doubt that this volume belongs squarely in the “next wave” school—Africa has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic, and Asia must be next. Hunter’s book paints a picture of a continent about to be engulfed in social, economic, and political chaos, all because of 1 small retrovirus. Unf...

Hepcidin and Host Defense against Infectious Diseases

Hepcidin is the master regulator of iron homeostasis in vertebrates. The synthesis of hepcidin is induced by systemic iron levels and by inflammatory stimuli. While the role of hepcidin in iron regulation is well established, its contribution to host defense is emerging as complex and multifaceted. In this review, we summarize the literature on the role of hepcidin as a mediator of antimicrobia...

Synbiotic enhances immune responses against infectious bronchitis, infectious bursal disease, Newcastle disease and avian influenza in broiler chickens

Increased susceptibility of birds to avian pathogens in intensive husbandry system has emphasized on necessity of improvement of innate and specific immune responses of birds by the fast establishment of a beneficial microflora and immune stimulator factors to guarantee healthy and low-price products. During this study, 192 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross-380) in four groups with three replica...

Characterization of a Highly Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus