微生物学技术

All living organisms are constantly confronted by invading microbes. In mammals, host defense against microbial invasion requires specialized cellular and extracellular elements in blood and a complex signalling machinery that triggers their mobilization to extravascul ...

Since the development of methods for in vitro cultivation of the asexual blood stages of P.faZciparum (1) and the production of mature gametocytes from such cultures capable of infecting mosquitoes (2), it has been possible to conduct a wide range of studies on the sexual stages of P. filciparum. The ...

This chapter deals with relatively simple ways to use control charts to monitor the performance of ELISAs. A rinderpest competition ELISA, for the estimation of antibodies in serum samples, is used to demonstrate the methods. This assay is available in a kit form. Constant evaluation of the use of t ...

The aim of this chapter is to illustrate the principles of ELISA by (1) showing worked examples of each assay, including diagrams of plates and representational data from assays, (2) analyzing such data in terms of important rules that are learned at each stage, and (3) providing full working instruc ...

This chapter examines in detail the necessary practical skills needed to facilitate the development and sustainability of ELISAs. Basic methodologies to set up all systems are discussed so that the reader can both investigate the possibilities of tests using his or her reagents and use with ...

This chapter defines the terms and examines the configurations used for most applications of ELISA. Such a chapter is important because the possibilities inherent in the systems of ELISA must be understood in order to maximize their versatility in assay design. All heterogeneous systems h ...

This chapter consists of a test concerning ELISA and the sciences needed to perform assays. The test can be used to gage knowledge on ELISA. Suggested points are given for the benefit of educators. Of course, the test can be adapted. All the answers can be obtained by reading this book. It may be useful to test ones ...

Mastitis is a general term that refers to the inflammation of the mammary gland. It is the most common illness in dairy farms and it has different causes, mainly a great number of germs that infect the gland.

The epithelial cells in the small intestine are covered by a relatively thick layer of mucus, secreted by specialized cells, which consists of mucin, many small associated proteins, glycoproteins, lipids, and glycolipids. The mucus contains receptors that recognize specific adhesi ...

Lactobacilli are the predominant microorganisms in the vaginal tract of human and some homeothermic animals (1). They can maintain the ecological equilibrium of the tract by protecting against pathogenic microorganisms (2). In the last few years, there has been an increased tendency to u ...

Respiratory tract infections are among the bacterial infections that affect humans with higher frequency. Those produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae are reported to have the highest incidence in the world, affecting both children and old people. As a 2001 report from the World Health Or ...

The use of probiotic microorganisms has been widely promoted in the last 20 years (1). Probiotics have applied to the gastrointestinal tract as capsules or as fermented milks (2). The characteristics of the strains proposed as probiotics have been published (3) or patented after elaboration ...

Bacteriocins have been defined as proteinaceous, bactericidal substances synthesized by bacteria, which usually have a narrow spectrum of activity, only inhibiting strains of the same or closely related species (1). The term bacteriocin-like substance is applied to antagonistic ...

Restoration of the balance of different ecological niches has been proposed as a way to control the income of pathogenic microorganisms (1). The genus Lactobacillus has been used in different human and animal tracts as probiotic microorganisms with this objective in mind (2). The character ...

Bacteriocins are antibacterial substances of a proteinaceous nature that are produced by different bacterial species. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce biologically active peptides or protein complexes that display a bactericidal mode of action almost exclusively toward G ...

The flavonoids, constituting one of the most numerous and widespread groups of natural plant constituents, are important to humans not only because they contribute to plant colors but also because many members are physiologically active. These lowmolecular-weight substances, fo ...

The biogenic amines are low-weight organic bases that exhibit variable biological activity. Approximately 30 vasoactive and psycoactive amines have been found in foodstuffs (1). Histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine, cadaverine, putrescine, spermine, and sp ...

Cosmetics are products of chemical or natural origin dedicated specifically for use in skin and mucosa (1). The constant development of the cosmetic industry has generated the necessity to carry out microbiological analysis on the raw materials used in the industrial production of cosme ...

Cleaning and disinfection in the food industry are critical in the production process, and the efficacy of the disinfectants used is frequently debated (1). Several factors are involved in the effectiveness of a disinfectant agent. It is important to consider the number and type of microorga ...

Contamination of foods by the environment has direct public health and keeping quality significance. The food factory environment (with raw materials and processing) governs the numbers and types of microorganisms in finished products (1). Use of the appropriate sampling procedur ...