Examining meningitis mainly from a bacterial perspective, but also including an overview of viral, fungal and chronic meningitis, this book describes the anatomy of the meninges and clinical signs and symptoms of this disease. Individual organisms that cause meningitis worldwide are dealt with in specific chapters, describing in detail how these pathogens interact with the human host at both a molecular and cellular level. The book provides a thorough understanding of bacterial virulence factors, adhesion and invasion mechanisms, the nature of known host cell receptors and the host cell response.
Tuberculosis is a global health threat and the unique features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and emergence of drug-resistant strains highlight the challenge it presents. Covering a wealth of state-of-the-art knowledge from active international experts, this book captures the latest developments in the advent of bacteriological, immunological and molecular tools for diagnosis and the development of new drugs. It shows how the challenge of tuberculosis is currently being met, providing insight into the evidence base underlying new developments in diagnosis, drug development and treatment.