Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity

More than 100 years after Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur established the microbial etiology of communicable diseases, the field of microbiology is experiencing a second period of rapid growth and expansion, driven by the realization that changes in host-associated microbial communities might be at the root of a broad spectrum of noncommunicable human diseases. These advances follow on the heels of recent progress in high-throughput sequencing technology, which has provided a wealth of information on the human microbiome and its physiological potential. As a result, we are amid a "renaissance in microbiology," which necessitates an expansion in the scope of infection and immunity from our traditional focus on the interaction of pathogenic microbes with the immune system to a broader view of host-microbiota interactions. The Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity, Four Volume Set provides new insights into the interactions between bacteria, fungi, and parasites and their hosts. Specific areas of interest include host cellular and immune response to microbes, molecular mechanisms of action of beneficial microbes or host-associated microbial communities, microbial pathogenesis, virulence factors, experimental models of infection, host resistance or susceptibility, and the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Composed of over 200 chapters written and edited by leading experts in the field, The Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity, Four Volume Set will serve as a key resource for students, researchers, academics, and industry practitioners in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases. One-stop resource – offers a contemporary review of current infection and immunity research, and an insight into the future direction of the field negating the need for individual searches across various databases Clearly structured – meticulously organized, articles are split into 9 sections on key topics and clearly cross-referenced to allow students, researchers, and professionals to find relevant information quickly and easily Interdisciplinary – chapters written by academics and practitioners from various fields and regions will ensure that the knowledge within is easily understood by, and applicable to, a large audience