Rodent Malaria

Rodent Malaria
Author: R. Killick-Kendrick
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 435
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0323150578

Rodent Malaria reviews significant findings concerning malaria parasites of rodents, including their taxonomy, zoogeography, and evolution, along with life cycles and morphology; genetics and biochemistry; and concomitant infections. This volume is organized into eight chapters and begins by sketching out the history of the discovery of rodent as well as aspects of parasitology, immunology, and chemotherapy. These concepts are investigated two decades following Ignace Vincke's major discovery and Meir Yoeli's successful establishment of the method of cyclical transmission of the parasite. The following chapters focus on the taxonomy and systematics of the subgenus Vinckeia, with reference to the concepts of species and subspecies of animals and the degree to which they apply to malaria parasites, in particular to those of rodents. The discussion then shifts to how the rodent malaria parasites provide a unique insight into the subcellular organization of Plasmodium species, the use of rodent malaria as an experimental model to study immunological responses, and infectious agents that interact with malaria parasites. The book concludes with a chapter on malaria chemotherapy, with emphasis on the value of rodent malaria in antimalarial drug screening and the use of antimalarial drugs as biological probes. This book will be of interest to protozoologists and physicians as well as those from other disciplines including biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, cell biology, and genetics.

Biology of Blood-Sucking Insects

Biology of Blood-Sucking Insects
Author: Mike Lehane
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401179530

Blood-sucking insects are the vectors of many of the most debilitating parasites of man and his domesticated animals. In addition they are of considerable direct cost to the agricultural industry through losses in milk and meat yields, and through damage to hides and wool, etc. So, not surprisingly, many books of medical and veterinary entomology have been written. Most of these texts are organized taxonomically giving the details of the life-cycles, bionomics, relationship to disease and economic importance of each of the insect groups in turn. I have taken a different approach. This book is topic led and aims to discuss the biological themes which are common in the lives of blood-sucking insects. To do this I have concentrated on those aspects of the biology of these fascinating insects which have been clearly modified in some way to suit the blood-sucking habit. For example, I have discussed feeding and digestion in some detail because feeding on blood presents insects with special problems, but I have not discussed respiration because it is not affected in any particular way by haematophagy. Naturally there is a subjective element in the choice of topics for discussion and the weight given to each. I hope that I have not let my enthusiasm for particular subjects get the better of me on too many occasions and that the subject material achieves an overall balance.

Gene Vaccines

Gene Vaccines
Author: Josef Thalhamer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2011-08-31
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3709104394

The induction of antigen-specific immune responses after in vivo transfection with expression plasmids has triggered a revolution of vaccine research. After a first hype, evoked by the fascinating options of this method, clinical studies did not reach the ambitious aims and a phase of disillusion ensued. It became obvious that Gene vaccines displayed a weaker immunogenicity in humans than had been observed in the mouse models. Meanwhile these hurdles have been overcome and gene vaccines undergo a renaissance. The present book gives an update of the “world of naked gene vaccines”, namely DNA and RNA vaccines. Its content ranges from general mechanisms, inherent immunostimulatory properties and the vast potential to modulate immune responses, to recent successful clinical studies and approved veterinary gene vaccines. Beyond the state-of-the-art of genetic immunization, the reader will be stimulated with a chapter addressing “burning questions”.

Infectious Diseases and Your Health

Infectious Diseases and Your Health
Author: Prati Pal Singh
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 424
Release: 2018-11-27
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9811315779

Infectious Diseases and Your Health has the potential to impact and improve your life, and the lives of your loved ones. Every day, nearly 40, 000 people including small children and women die of infectious diseases. Many of these innocent lives could be saved. Your journey through the pages of this book will take you to an amazing world of infectious diseases. You will learn about various infectious diseases, how they can affect your life, the problems associated with their treatment and prevention, and how to overcome these problems. Additionally, you will hear the success story of new drug research, be introduced to the hard facts, and find fascinating pictures of microorganisms and parasites. The book provides instant solutions to several of your concerns about infectious diseases, and you will learn to live a highly productive, long and healthy life. So, join thousands of readers of this book worldwide, enhance your life and the lives of your loving family, become an informed healthy citizen, and contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Let us never forget: life and quality of life are very precious.

Structural Bioinformatics: Applications in Preclinical Drug Discovery Process

Structural Bioinformatics: Applications in Preclinical Drug Discovery Process
Author: C. Gopi Mohan
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2019-01-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030052826

This book reviews the advances and challenges of structure-based drug design in the preclinical drug discovery process, addressing various diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis and cancer. Written by internationally recognized researchers, this edited book discusses how the application of the various in-silico techniques, such as molecular docking, virtual screening, pharmacophore modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, and residue interaction networks offers insights into pharmacologically active novel molecular entities. It presents a clear concept of the molecular mechanism of different drug targets and explores methods to help understand drug resistance. In addition, it includes chapters dedicated to natural-product- derived medicines, combinatorial drug discovery, the CryoEM technique for structure-based drug design and big data in drug discovery. The book offers an invaluable resource for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as for researchers in academic and industrial laboratories working in the areas of chemoinformatics, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacoinformatics.