T he immune system provides a formidable barrier that prevents us from being overwhelmed by the numerous microbial pathogens that we encounter every day. However, many pathogens manage to escape the immune system by invading cells and replicating within them. To counter these pathogens immune cells produce a powerful cytokine called interferon-g that reprograms the invaded cells to express hund...

A wide variety of bacterial pathogens, as well as several fungi, kill C. elegans or produce non-lethal disease symptoms. This allows the nematode to be used as a simple, tractable model host for infectious disease. Human pathogens that affect C. elegans include gram-negative bacteria of genera Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Serratia and Yersinia; gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus, Sta...

Species of Leucadendron, Leucospermum and Protea (Proteaceae) are in high demand for the international floriculture market due to their brightly coloured and textured flowers or bracts. Fungal pathogens, however, create a serious problem in cultivating flawless blooms. The aim of the present study was to characterise several of these pathogens using morphology, culture characteristics, and DNA ...

infectious activity of pathogens over the centuries has left an indelible mark on the human genome, report evolutionary biologists. Now, protection that evolved against pathogens that blighted human populations hundreds of years ago appears to have evolved into protection against more recent arrivals, such as HIV. (http://www. duke.edu) have found that infection throughout history might have dr...

This paper concerns several animal models for study of pathogenic mechanisms in mycoplasma infection. Although these will seem remote from the general topic of this symposium, it is conceivable that some of the mechanisms may have implications for chronic pulmonary disease. Mycoplasmas are known to be causative agents in acute and chronic pulmonary infections in several species of domestic anim...

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Concerns about potential animal waste pollution of the environment have focused mainly on water, and the potential impacts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and turbidity (suspended solids). However, contemporary issues associated with potential pollution impacts of livestock operations now include microbial pathogens, gaseous emissions (such as ammonia), and odors (odorants...

Protozoan parasites were the most frequently identified etiologic agents in waterborne disease outbreak from 1991 to 1994. The waterborne parasites Giardia lamblia, Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanesis, Isospora belli, and the microsporidia are reviewed. For each parasite, the review includes history, life cycle, incidence, ...

In the UK most waterborne disease-causing micro-organisms found in surface waters and groundwater are spread by the microbiological contamination of water by faeces or urine originating from humans or animals. The main threats are cholera, typhoid, paratyphoid, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis and amoebic and bacillary dysentery. The ability of soils and u...