Infectious multiple drug resistance (Pion Advanced Biochemistry)

4 INFECTIOUS MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANCES. Falkow, Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle This volume is a documented guide to the study of infectious-multiple-drug resistance (R) factors and other bacterial plasmids. The first three chaptersreview the properties of the classical F-factor and the bacteriophage X so that they may serve as the prototypes for the comparison of the broader- spectrum of extrachromosomal elements that are found in Nature. From this base of information there follows an analysis in depth of the genetics, molecular nature, and replication of R-factors and other plasmids. Particular emphasis is placed on the more recent research developments, including the classification of R-factors by their incompatibility properties, electron microscope heteroduplex analysis, the use of restriction endonucleases for the dissection of the plasmid genome, and the use of R-factors and other plasmids for 'cloning' genetic material. The ecology of R-factors and their implication to human and veterinary medicine is covered in considerable detail with emphasis on the critical areas of nosocomial infection, the use of antibiotics in animal feeds, the dissemination of R-factorsvivo, as well as the biochemical basis and origin of R-factor-mediated drug resistance. Although the R-factors are employed as the general model system, specific chapters also deal with the plasmids of the staphylococci and plasmids, such as Ent and K88, which are known to contribute directly to bacterial pathogenicity.The book will be of prime interest to microbiologists, clinicians, research workers, and students in the fields of medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, genetics, and molecular biology. It will also serve as a text for an introductory course on plasmids.