Infection microbial

The sulfa dmgs are stiH important as antimicrobials, although they have been replaced in many systemic infections by the natural and semisynthetic antibiotics. They are of great value in third world countries where problems of storage and lack of medical personnel make appropriate use of antibiotics difficult. They are especially useful in urinary tract infections, particularly the combination of sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim. Their effectiveness has been enhanced by co-adniinistration with dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, and the combination of sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim is of value in treatment of a number of specific microbial infections. The introduction of this combination (cotrimoxazole) in the late 1960s (1973 in the United States) resulted in increased use of sulfonamides. 

Resistance to Tetracyclines. The tetracyclines stiU provide inexpensive and effective treatment for several microbial infections, but the emergence of acquired resistance to this class of antibiotic has limited their clinical usehilness. Studies to define the molecular basis of resistance are underway so that derivatives having improved antibacterial spectra and less susceptibiUty to bacterial resistance may be developed. Tetracyclines are antibiotics of choice for relatively few human infections encountered in daily clinical practice (104), largely as a result of the emergence of acquired tetracycline-resistance among clinically important bacteria (88,105,106). Acquired resistance occurs when resistant strains emerge from previously sensitive bacterial populations by acquisition of resistance genes which usually reside in plasmids and/or transposons (88,106,107). Furthermore, resistance deterrninants contained in transposons spread to, and become estabUshed in, diverse bacterial species (106). 

Chemical-mediated immune suppression has been identified from the experimental study of several wildlife species. Harbour seals fed either chemically contaminated fish from the Wadden Sea or imcontaminated fish were found to have differing immune responses, with the exposed group showing lowered immune response to microbial infections and certain types of cancer. "" Mink fed fish taken from below a discharge point for bleached Kraft pulp mill effluent have also shown impaired immune function, " showing that the non-accnmillative chemicals in this effluent can actively disrupt endocrine associated functions. 

Because systems are normally not designed for use with this type of fluid, certain aspects should be reviewed with the equipment and fluid suppliers before a decision to use such fluids can be taken. These are compatibility with filters, seals, gaskets, hoses, paints and any non-ferrous metals used in the equipment. Condensation corrosion effect on ferrous metals, fluid-mixing equipment needed, control of microbial infection together with overall maintaining and control of fluid dilution and the disposal of waste fluid must also be considered. Provided such attention is paid to these designs and operating features, the cost reductions have proved very beneficial to the overall plant cost effectiveness. 

In recent years it has become apparent that widespread microbial infections of materials in the manufacturing industries can lead to corrosion for the reason briefly outlined above. Examples include the instant rusting of machined parts, corrosion of machine tools, aircraft fuel tanks, hydraulic systems, strip steel etc. 

Darvill AG, Albersheim P (1984) Phytoalexins and their elicitors - a defence against microbial infection in plants. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 35 243-275... 

Chapters 7 and 9 discuss specific exchange of molecular signals (the so-called molecular cross talk ) between beneficial microorganisms, such as rhizo-bia and mycorrhizas, and their host plants. Molecular cross talk seems to be a prerequisite mechanism for most of the plant infection by soil microorganisms (14). Only for a few microbial infections, however, the sequence and type of molecular signals involved have been characterized. Thus, there is the need for further studies to elucidate the unknown molecular cross talk between the most common rhizobacteria and fungi and the plant roots it is also needed to better understand how molecular cross talk responds to the changing environmental conditions. The potential applications of these studies are important because the... 

As already mentioned, molecular cross talk seems to be the prerequisite mechanism for most of root microbial infections. Indeed the initial step of any root colonization involves the movement of microbes to the plant root surface bacterial movement can be passive, via soil water flux, or active, via specific induction of flagellar activity by plant released compounds (chemotaxis) (Chaps. 4 and 7). Other important steps are adsorption and anchoring to the root surface. 

The mammalian immune system protects the body from infection by many complex strategies. The most vigorous defense is performed by white blood cells known as granulocytes. These cells consume oxygen in response to microbial infections. This oxidative process, called the respiratory burst, has recently been proven to produce stabilized hvDOchlorite antimicrobials (bredominantlv bv neutroDhils) and stabilized... 

The effects of microbial infection are viscosity loss, pH change, gassing, malodour and visible surface growth. In addition, discoloration and alteration in the rheology of the formulation can result in the product being unacceptable to the customer. 

Part of the company s quality control system should involve inspection of raw materials prior to use. Obviously contaminated products exhibiting one or more signs of microbial infection should not be used and any doubtful materials should be checked by the user, the supplier or a third party. 

Rapid sub-typing of bacteria is needed for protection of public health and in civil-, criminal-, or terror-related forensics. Distinction of microbiological sub-types can signal important differences that affect the health risk from microbial infection and treatment strategies for disease. It can also be used to monitor the emergence of mutant strains.1 In cases of nosocomial (hospital-incurred) infections and outbreaks, sub-typing capability could be used as an alternative for identifying the route by which infection spreads. Many studies... 

Human illness, as a result of microbial infection, is an ever-increasing public health crisis. Children often represent the most at-risk population. Worldwide every year billions of cases of microbial infection occur and millions of deaths can be directly attributed to microbial pathogens.1 The Centers for Disease Control estimates that microbial infections are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 75,000 deaths attributable to microbial pathogens annually.2 Not only are there serious physical health effects associated with microbial infections, but the cost of health care associated with microbial infections is shocking. For example, in the United States alone, upper respiratory tract infections in children under the age of 15 account for more than 50 million visits to a doctor s office each year.3... 

The term pharmaceutical includes more than 4,000 chemicals used to control and treat different kinds of diseases in humans and animals. Pharmaceuticals include analgesics, anti-inflammatories, anti-epileptics, (l-blockers, compounds used to prevent and treat parasites and microbial infections (parasiticides and antibiotics) and those for combating cancer. Hormones are also a class of pharmaceuticals but due to their particular involvement in endocrine disruption, they have been discussed in a separate section (see above). 

B. Selected determinants of host response or susceptibility to microbial infection... 

One of the biggest challenges in pharmacogenomics will be our ability to identify patients who are likely to show increased susceptibility to microbial infections as well as to identify determinants of pathogenic potential in microbes that are ob-... 

Hamann also reviewed a range of cow-specific and environmental factors that affect the risk of microbial infection and mastitis disease progression in dairy cows (see Table 11.2). 

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