ASM Press Microbial Transmission (ASM Books)

Microbial transmission, the processes by which microbes transit to new environments, is a significant and broad-reaching concept with applications throughout the biological sciences. This collection of reviews, edited by an international team of experts studying and working across a range of disciplines, explores transmission not just as an idea in disease but as a fundamental biological process that acts in all domains of nature and exerts its force on disparate size scales, from the micro to the macro, and across units of time as divergent as a single bacterial replication cycle and the entire course of evolution. In five sections, this overview defines the concept of transmission and covers basic processes of transmission, including causality, control strategies, fitness costs, virulence, and selection. Anyone studying or working in microbial colonization, evolution, pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, or public health will benefit from a deeper understanding of Microbial Transmission. Review At A Glance Microbial transmission, the processes by which microbes transit to new environments, is a significant and broad-reaching concept with applications throughout the biological sciences. This collection of reviews, edited by an international team of experts studying and working across a range of disciplines, explores transmission not just as an idea in disease but as a fundamental biological process that acts in all domains of nature and exerts its force on disparate size scales, from the micro to the macro, and across units of time as divergent as a single bacterial replication cycle and the entire course of evolution. Description This multi-authored book is a compilation of reviews of various aspects of microbial transmission, inspired and partially based on the 26th International Scientific Symposium "Transmission" in 2015. Purpose Although not explicitly stated, this book aims to highlight transmission as a key attribute of microbial life worthy of detailed understanding and further research. Readers who are already seriously interested in microbial transmission should welcome this unique book dedicated to reviews of select transmission topics. Audience The targeted audience appears to be those who take a special interest in studying the science of microbial transmission, whether microbiologists, public health professionals, infectious disease specialists, or others who just find the subject intriguing and fascinating. Many of the authors and contributors are recognized authorities in the field. Features This book begins with a chapter exploring the origin, history, and meanings of the word transmission, followed by four major sections that cover the basic process of transmission, scenario of transmission, patient-to-patient transmission, and experimental and theoretical modes of transmission. Although parts of description of the biology of conjugative plasmid transmission may seem highly technical, the authors also nicely explain the application of this knowledge to devising potential strategies that could artificially inhibit conjugation and transmission of important pathogenic genes. For example, after describing the details of necessary steps in the horizontal transmission of genes through conjugation, they discuss the potential inhibition of conjugation by readily available compounds such as chlorpromazine. The discussion of various modes of microbial transmission, such as from food or insects to humans, is particularly informative. Although transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from food-producing animals to humans is well known, the interplay between bacteria and the food matrix (e.g., peanut butter and salmonellosis) highlighted in the book may not be. The section on patient-to-patient transmission of pathogens appropriately covers the biology of hand-to-hand bacterial transmission, while exploring tuberculosis and Ebola transmission and preventive strategies, includin