Mims' Medical Microbiology

Preface v

Acknowledgements vi

Contributors vi

Student Consultants vii

A contemporary approach to microbiology xi

Microbes and parasites xi

The context for contemporary medical

microbiology xi

Microbiology past, present and future xii

The approach adopted in this book xiv

SECTION 1 THE ADVERSARIES - MICROBES

1. Microbes as parasites 3

The varieties of microbes 3

Living inside or outside cells 4

Systems of classification 5

2. The bacteria 7

Structure 7

Nutrition 9

Growth and division 10

Gene expression 11

Survival under adverse conditions 16

Mobile genetic elements 16

Mutation and gene transfer 20

The genomics of medically important bacteria 23

3. The viruses 27

Infection of host cells 27

Replication 29

Outcome of viral infection 31

Major groups of viruses 33

4. The fungi 37

Major groups of disease-causing fungi 37

5. The protozoa 41

6. The helminths and arthropods 43

The helminths 43

The arthropods 46

7. Prions 49'Rogue protein' pathogenesis 49

Development, transmission and diagnosis

of prion diseases 50

Prevention and treatment of prion diseases 51

8. The host-parasite relationship 53

The normal flora 53

Symbiotic associations 56

The characteristics of parasitism 58

The evolution of parasitism 59

SECTION 2 THE ADVERSARIES-HOST DEFENCES

9. The innate defences of the body 67

Defence against entry into the body 67

Defences once the microorganism

penetrates the body 68

10. Adaptive responses provide a 'quantum leap'in effective defence 83

The role of antibodies 83

The role of T lymphocytes 86

Extracellular attack on large infectious agents 89

Local defences at mucosal surfaces 90

11. The cellular basis of adaptive immune

responses 95

B- and T-cell receptors 98

Clonal expansion of lymphocytes 98

The role of memory cells 99

Stimulation of lymphocytes 101

Cytokines 102

Regulatory mechanisms