Spirochetes comprise a fascinating group of bacteria. Although diverse in terms of their habitat, ecology and infectivity for vertebrate and non-vertebrate hosts, they are often considered together because of their similar cellular morphologies. This volume brings together an international group of experts to provide essential insights into spirochete biology, with an emphasis on recent advances made possible by the availability of genome sequences. As such, it offers a valuable resource for microbiologists and other scientists with an interest in spirochete biology.

Provides new insights into the key aspects of spirochete biology Summarizes the major advances in our knowledge made possible by genome sequencing and the development of genetic tools for the manipulation of spirochetes Written by leading spirochetologists

Autorentext

Professor em. Ben Adler, Dept. of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC,Australia also organizes the annual Prato Conference on the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Infections of Animals, Prato, Tuscany, Italy

Inhalt

The Treponema pallidum Outer Membrane.- Gene regulation, two component regulatory systems, and adaptive responses in Treponema denticola.- Physiologic and Genetic Factors Influencing the Zoonotic Cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi.- Regulation of gene and protein expression in the Lyme disease spirochete.- Genetic manipulation of Borrelia spp..- Toolbox of molecular techniques for studying Leptospira spp..- Interaction of Leptospira with the innate immune system.- Leptospiral genomics and pathogenesis.- Complement immune evasion by spirochetes.- Spirochetal lipoproteins in pathogenesis and immunity.- Colonic spirochetes: what has genomics taught us?