Biophysics of Infection

This book describes modern biophysical techniques that enable us to understand and examine dynamic processes of infection at the molecular level. Cutting-edge research articles, laboratory protocols, case studies and up-to-date reviews cover topics such as single-molecule observation of DNA replication repair pathways in E. coli; evolution of drug resistance in bacteria; restriction enzymes as barriers to horizontal gene transfer in Staphylococcus aureus; infectious and bacterial pathogen biofilms; killing infectious pathogens through DNA damage; bacterial surfaces in host-pathogen interactions; bacterial gene regulation by riboswitches; transcription regulation in enterobacterial pathogens; the bacterial flagellar motor; initial surface colonization by bacteria; Salmonella Typhi host restrictions; as well as monitoring proton motive force in bacteria; microbial pathogens using digital holography; mathematical modelling of microbial pathogen motility; neutron reflectivity in studying bacterial membranes; force spectroscopy in studying infection and 4D multi-photon imaging to investigate immune responses. The focus is on the development and application of complex techniques and protocols at the interface of life sciences and physics, which increase the physiological relevance of biophysical investigations.

This book describes modern biophysical techniques that enable us to understand and examine dynamic processes of infection at the molecular level. Cutting-edge research articles, laboratory protocols, case studies and up-to-date reviews cover topics such as single-molecule observation of DNA replication repair pathways in E. coli; evolution of drug resistance in bacteria; restriction enzymes as barriers to horizontal gene transfer in Staphylococcus aureus; infectious and bacterial pathogen biofilms; killing infectious pathogens through DNA damage; bacterial surfaces in host-pathogen interactions; bacterial gene regulation by riboswitches; transcription regulation in enterobacterial pathogens; the bacterial flagellar motor; initial surface colonization by bacteria; Salmonella Typhi host restrictions; as well as monitoring proton motive force in bacteria; microbial pathogens using digital holography; mathematical modelling of microbial pathogen motility; neutron reflectivity in studying bacterial membranes; force spectroscopy in studying infection and 4D multi-photon imaging to investigate immune responses. The focus is on the development and application of complex techniques and protocols at the interface of life sciences and physics, which increase the physiological relevance of biophysical investigations.

The Biophysics of Infection.- Single-molecule observation of DNA replication repair pathways in E. coli.- Investigating the swimming of microbial pathogens using digital holography.- What is the ‘minimum inhibitory concentration’ (MIC) of pexiganan acting on Escherichia coli? – A cautionary case study.- Evolution of drug resistance in bacteria.- Using Biophysics to Monitor the Essential Proton motive Force in Bacteria.- The Type I restriction enzymes as barriers to horizontal gene transfer: determination of the DNA target sequences recognised by Livestock-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clonal Complexes 133/ST771 and 398.- Biomechanical analysis of infectious biofilms.- Designing a single-molecule biophysics tool for characterizing DNA damage for techniques that kill infectious pathogens through DNA damage effects .- Bacterial Surfaces: Front Lines in Host-Pathogen Interaction.- Biophysical approaches to bacterial gene regulation by riboswitches.- Bugs on a slippery plane: Understanding the motility of microbial pathogens with mathematical modelling.- Transcription regulation and membrane stress management in enterobacterial pathogens.- How biophysics may help us understand the flagellar motor of bacteria which cause infections..- Mechanics of bacterial cells and initial surface colonisation.- Neutron reflectivity as a tool for physics-based studies of model bacterial membranes.- Mechanisms of Salmonella Typhi host-restriction.- Insights into biological complexity from simple foundations.- Force spectroscopy in studying infection.- Imaging Immunity in Lymph Nodes: Past, Present and Future.- Bacterial pathogen biofilms: studying and manipulating evolution.