The Series
The fungi represent a heterogeneous assemblage of eukaryotic microorganisms and have become favored organisms for research at the cellular and molecular level. Such research involvement has been stimulated by interest in the biotechnological application of fungi in processes related to industry, agriculture and ecology. Considering both yeasts and mycelial fungi, THE MYCOTA highlights developments in both basic and applied research and presents an overview of fungal systematics and cell structure. Foremost authorities in research on mycology have been assembled to edit and contribute to the volumes.

This Volume
The sixth volume includes: Pathogenesis, Toxicosis, Mycotoxins, Allergenic Responses, Cell-Mediated Immunity

Klappentext

Mycology, the study of fungi, originated as a subdiscipline of botany and was a descriptive discipline, largely neglected as an experimental science until the early years of this century. A seminal paper by Blakeslee in 1904 provided evidence for self-incompatibility, termed "heterothallism", and stimulated interest in studies related to the control of sexual reproduction in fungi by mating-type specificities. Soon to follow was the demonstration that sexually reproducing fungi exhibit Mendelian inheritance and that it was possible to conduct formal genetic analysis with fungi. The names Burgeff, Kniep and Lindegren are all associated with this early period of fungal genetics research. These studies and the discovery of penicillin by Fleming, who shared a Nobel Prize in 1945, provided further impetus for experimental research with fungi. Thus began a period of interest in mutation induction and analysis of mutants for bio­ chemical traits. Such fundamental research, conducted largely with Neurospora crassa, led to the one gene: one enzyme hypothesis and to a second Nobel Prize for fungal research awarded to Beadle and Tatum in 1958. Fundamental research in biochemical genetics was extended to other fungi, especially to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and by the mid-1960s fungal systems were much favored for studies in eukaryotic molecular biology and were soon able to compete with bacterial systems in the molecular arena.

Inhalt

Human Associations and Toxic Metabolites.- 1 Fungal Factors Implicated in Pathogenesis.- 2 Biochemistry of Enzymatic Pathogenicity Factors.- 3 Cell-Mediated Immunity.- 4 Humoral Immunity.- 5 Yeast Infections in the Immunocompromised Host.- 6 Infections Due to the Dimorphic Fungi.- 7 Opportunistic Mold Infections.- 8 Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome.- 9 Allergic Respiratory Responses to Fungi.- 10 Mechanisms of Mycotoxicity.- 11 Epidemiology of Mycotoxin-Related Disease.- 12 Toxins and Psychoactive Compounds from Mushrooms.- Animal Associations.- 13 Veterinary Mycology.- 14 Biochemistry and Ecology of Anaerobic Fungi.- 15 Fungal Diseases of Fish and Shellfish.- 16 Trichomycetes and the Arthropod Gut.- 17 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Entomopathogenic Fungi.- 18 Fungi and Insects.- Generic Index.