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Gram-Negative Bacteria: The Determinants of Pathogenicity

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Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections and Mode of Endotoxin Actions

Abstract

In contrast to the success of public health measures in controlling the worst effects of infectious disease, the mechanisms of most microbial infections remain obscure (48). Nevertheless with increasing realisation that many troublesome aspects of infectious disease have not been removed by improved public health or by the antibiotic era, interest in the determinants of microbial pathogenicity is re-awakening with a view to designing fresh control measures. Much of the renewed activity has involved the gram-negative organisms and I have been asked to survey current knowledge of their pathogenicity. In the time available I can only summarise the main points under headings describing the cardinal requirements for pathogenicity: 1. ability to enter the host by surviving on and penetrating mucous surfaces; 2. ability to multiply in the nutritional conditions of the host tissues; 3. ability to inhibit host defence mechanisms; and 4. ability to damage the host. The general methods for investigating the determinants of microbial pathogenicity and the difficulties encountered have been described (48) and will not be re-iterated here.

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Authors
  1. H. Smith
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Immunologie und Serologie am Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim, Federal Republic of Germany

    Bernhard Urbaschek  & Renate Urbaschek  & 

  2. Departments of Microbiology and Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y., USA

    Erwin Neter M. D.

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© 1975 Springer-Verlag/Wien

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Smith, H. (1975). Gram-Negative Bacteria: The Determinants of Pathogenicity. In: Urbaschek, B., Urbaschek, R., Neter, E. (eds) Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections and Mode of Endotoxin Actions. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-8396-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-8396-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-8398-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-8396-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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