Human Pathogenic Fungi : Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Mechanisms.

Intro -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Current Books of Interest -- Part I: Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis of Human Fungal Infections -- 1: Understanding Fungal Pathogenesis with High-throughput Sequencing -- Introduction -- RNA-seq -- ChIP-seq -- Mycobiome sequencing -- A comprehensive genomic approach to studying fungal disease: vaginal microbiota -- Future directions -- 2: Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Analyses of Human Fungal Pathogens -- Introduction -- Comparative genomics of Cryptococcus species -- Comparative genomics of Aspergillus species -- Comparative genomics of Paracoccidioides species -- Comparative genomics of Candida species -- Comparative genomics of Coccidioides species -- Comparative genomics of Pneumocystis species -- Comparative genomics of Rhizopus oryzae -- Comparative genomics of dermatophyte species -- Using whole-genome sequences to trace the evolution of gene fusion and fission events in the fungal kingdom -- Using whole-genome sequences to determine the rates of horizontal gene transfer into pathogenic fungal species -- Evolution of antifungal resistance in human pathogens -- Using whole-genome sequences of human fungal pathogens to investigate the evolution of fungal introns -- Fungal phylogenomics -- Future perspectives -- 3: Data-driven Systems Biology of Fungal Infections -- Background -- Systems biology -- Data management and bioinformatics resources -- Data analysis -- 4: Comparative Pathogenesis: Transcriptomic Analyses of Host Cell-Fungus Interactions -- Introduction -- Fungus-epithelial interactions -- Fungus-endothelial interactions -- Fungus-whole blood interactions -- Fungi, monocytes and neutrophils interactions -- Perspectives -- 5: Animal Models of Human Fungal Infection -- Why model fungal infections? -- Dermatophyte infections -- Candida infections -- Aspergillus infections.

Cryptococcus infections -- Outlook -- 6: Host Responses to Fungal Infection -- Host recognition of fungi -- Host responses to fungi -- Summary -- Part II: Pathogenic Mechanisms of Human Fungal Pathogens -- 7: A Molecular Update on the Pathogenesis of Candidiasis -- Introduction: the clinical relevance of Candida species -- Morphogenesis -- Commensal colonization -- Surface life: adhesion, epithelial interaction, contact sensing, thigmotropism and biofilm formation -- Adaptation and survival -- Proliferation -- Summary and outlook -- 8: Virulence Characteristics of Aspergillus fumigatus -- General characteristics of Aspergillus fumigatus -- Pathogenesis of Aspergillus fumigatus -- Structures and factors contributing to Aspergillus fumigatus pathogenicity -- Secondary metabolites as virulence factors -- Gliotoxin -- Proteases, thermotolerance and unfolded protein response -- Concluding remarks -- 9: Cryptococcus -- Introduction -- Classification of Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii -- Incidence and epidemiology -- Virulence determinants and importance as a human pathogen -- Host-pathogen interaction -- Cryptococcus as environmental pathogen -- Diagnosis of cryptococcosis -- Perspectives and conclusions -- 10: Dermatophytes as Saprophytes and Pathogens -- Introduction -- Taxonomy of dermatophytes -- Signs and diagnosis of dermatophytosis, and dermatophyte isolation from clinical samples -- Tools to investigate dermatophyte biology -- Hard keratin digestion by dermatophytes -- Disease mechanisms -- Host susceptibility -- Antifungal drug resistance -- Concluding remarks and perspectives -- 11: Pathogenesis Mechanisms of Histoplasma capsulatum -- Histoplasmosis -- Histoplasma phylogenetics -- Molecular genetics of Histoplasma -- Histoplasma dimorphism and differentiation -- Entry into phagocytes -- Avoiding detection -- Neutralization of host defences.

Stress response -- Acquisition of nutrients for intracellular growth -- Secreted pathogenic-phase factors -- Conclusions -- 12: Blastomyces dermatitidis and Blastomycosis -- Historical perspective -- Mycology -- Sexual reproduction and mating (MAT) loci -- Geographic distribution, ecology, and epidemiology of Blastomyces dermatitidis -- Pathogenesis -- The host response to Blastomyces dermatitidis -- Clinical manifestations of blastomycosis -- Diagnosis of blastomycosis -- Treatment of blastomycosis -- 13: New Insights into Pathogenesis of Pneumocystis Pneumonia -- Introduction -- Taxonomy and nomenclature -- Pneumocystis life cycle -- Pathogenesis of Pneumocystis pneumonia -- Host immune response to Pneumocystis infection -- Infection in non-HIV population -- Molecular targets of anti-Pneumocystis agents -- Mechanisms of drug resistance -- Conclusions -- 14: Paracoccidioides Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Virulence -- Introduction -- Paracoccidioidomycosis -- Dimorphism -- Candidate virulence factors at the Paracoccidioides yeast cell surface -- Molecules secreted from Paracoccidioides -- Adaptive response to the host and expression of presumptive virulence attributes -- Concluding remarks -- Index.

In this book a panel of high profile authors critically reviews the most important research to provide a timely overview. The extensive reference sections in each chapter positively encourage readers to pursue the subject in greater detail. The book is divided into two sections: The first six chapters review the transformative effect of applying state-of-the-art tools and innovative approaches to research, particularly in the area of comparative biology. The second section consists of eight chapters, each dedicated to the molecular and cellular biology of a major fungal pathogen of humans: Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, dermatophytes, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Pneumocystis and Paracoccidoides. These chapters provide a timely snapshot of the current state of research. This volume is an essential reference for students, researchers and clinicians with an interest in fungal pathogenesis.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.