Bacterial Adhesion to Host Tissues: Mechanisms and Consequences

Adhesion is the crucial first stage in any infectious disease. It is therefore important to fully understand the mechanisms underlying bacterial adhesion so that we may be able to develop methods of maintaining our normal (protective) microflora, and of preventing pathogenic bacteria from initiating an infectious process. This book describes the bacterial structures responsible for adhesion and the molecular mechanisms underlying the adhesion process. A unique feature is that it also deals with the consequences of adhesion for both the adherent bacterium and the host cell/tissue to which it has adhered.

Comprehensive review of current research in bacterial adhesion, the essential first stage of infection.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Charles E. Edmiston, Jr., PhD(Medical College of Wisconsin)
Description:This is a narrowly focused book on the mechanistic and pathologic consequences of bacterial adherence.
Purpose:The book is essentially a review of the molecular and biological processes that are associated with gram-positive and gram-negative microbial adherence to eukaryotic surfaces. Although the focus of the book is somewhat limited to selected microbial populations, the information presented makes this an acceptable offering for students or medical investigators interested in a general review of the topic.
Audience:The primary audience would be students or novice investigators who are looking for review information on this topic. The invited authors represent an international group of investigators who are generally well-published in this area.
Features:The book is divided into three sections. The first section deals with the mechanistic topic of microbial adherence, while sections two and three address host-response issues related to microbial adherence. The chapter written by Dr. Gilsdorf is an excellent review of pili-mediated adherence of Haemophilus influenzae. The chapters written by Kresse et al. (Chapter 9) and Svanborg et al. (Chapter 10) are both excellent and place into perspective the clinical consequences of selected microbial adherence. The book is sufficiently illustrated and helpful to the reader.
Assessment:Although the book is not meant to be an exhaustive review of microbial adherence to eukaryotic cell surfaces, the material that is covered provides a fine review of a rather complex process. Therefore, I would suggest this as an introduction for anyone wishing to review this area of study.

Michael Wilson is currently Professor of Microbiology in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University College London, and Head of the Department of Microbiology at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London. He is the co-editor of Community Structure and Co-operation in Biofilms, 2000 (0521 793025) and co-author of Bacterial Virulence Mechanisms, 2002 (0521 79689X).