Bacterial Cell-to-Cell Communication: Role in Virulence and Pathogenesis (Advances in Molecular and Cellular Microbiology) [Hardcover]

Donald R. Demuth (Editor), Richard Lamont (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521846382 | ISBN-13: 978-0521846387 | Publication Date: March 6, 2006

Many bacterial diseases are caused by organisms growing together as communities or biofilms. These microorganisms have the capacity to coordinately regulate specific sets of genes by sensing and communicating amongst themselves utilizing a variety of signals. This book examines the mechanisms of quorum sensing and cell-to-cell communication in bacteria and the roles that these processes play in regulating virulence, bacterial interactions with host tissues, and microbial development. Recent studies suggest that microbial cell-to-cell communication plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of disease processes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is an interesting book covering intercellular chemical signalling in diverse bacteria ... The likely target audience for this book would be senior undergraduates and researchers for whom it would give a good contemporary introduction to signalling in different bacteria.' George Salmond, University of Cambridge

Book Description

Many bacterial diseases are caused by organisms growing together as communities called biofilms. These microorganisms have the capacity to sense and communicate amongst themselves through a variety of signals. This book examines the mechanisms of quorum sensing and cell-to-cell communication in bacteria and the roles that these processes play in regulating virulence, bacterial interactions with host tissues and microbial development. Written by leading experts, this book summarises recent advances in the field to allow students and researchers to keep abreast of the latest developments.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 330 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521846382
• ISBN-13: 978-0521846387
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,226,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paradigm Shift Big Time! A Must Read!, December 17, 2006

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Jokie X Wilson "jokiex" (San Francisco, California United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Bacterial Cell-to-Cell Communication: Role in Virulence and Pathogenesis (Advances in Molecular and Cellular Microbiology) (Hardcover)

Considering the complexity of the topic covered in this book, it is incredibly readable. In short, it turns out that the view that bacterial cells are unaware of one another is quite wrong. They chatter away through the exchange of genetic amino acids. And they don't only communicate with their own species. They chat with a variety of species as they form biofilms, creating functional microbial societies where they feed off one another's secretions and defend one another against predators.

90% of the cells in the human body are microbes. Most of them are quite friendly, but the few that are pathogenic can wreak havoc! Traditionally, antibiotics have been used to kill off unwanted bacteria, but that has resulted in more virulent strains that then resist drugs. So, this book proposes that we don't kill them, but simply knock out their cytoarchitectural communication infrastructures. That may sound militaristic, but if we can target the communication amino acids of only the virulent bacterias, then the human body could be more easily cured of disease while leaving the healthy microflora intact.

As this book is so accessible, I would recommend it not just to scientists, but also anyone interested in this type of science and its metaphysical implications. Even if the chemistry is a bit much, the concepts are abundant and clear. The decriptions of viewing bacteria as collectives or biofilms versus individuals is compelling. This could easily lead to an overall reevaluation of what it means for a human to be a body. And it certainly suggests we reconsider just what our relationship to our own microflora is.