Molecular Epidemiology (Practical Approach Series): 251 - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199638101 ISBN 13: 9780199638109

Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 2002

Synopsis

Provides a broad overview of the diverse approaches encompassed by the emerging discipline of molecular epidemiology. Concepts and methods at the forefront of infectious disease studies are discussed along with recent advances in studying host genetics, methods for the detection of mutations and polymorphisms, the relationship between pathologies and immune system genetics, and the use of D.N.A. sequence information to garner insights into the evolution of infectious pathogens. The evolution and function of the immune system and a synopsis of general epidemiological design and analysis are included.

About this title

Review

Each chapter has been written with new researchers in mind, with an easily navigable layout and succinct definitions of specialist terms. The examples provided are presented well and the authors successfully avoid redundant statements, making the information accessible and easy to digest...Molecular Epidemiology was a delight to read and would be invaluable for an undergraduate module. (Journal of Biological Education, 2002, 36 (3))

Synopsis

The 'molecular' aspect of molecular epidemiology refers to the application of molecular biological approaches to epidemiologic problems. The variety and power of molecular methods are rapidly expanding our capability to dissect etiologic mechanisms of disease. The 'epidemiologic' aspect, meanwhile, refers to utilizing the tools and perspectives of epidemiology to comprehend observations in molecular biology. An increasingly sophisticated variety of molecular techniques are being applied to generate an explosion of data on exposures and outcomes whose significance must be determined. The wealth of information generated by the Human Genome Project and the corresponding efforts in microbial genomics are providing researchers with extraordinary new opportunities to further understand the etiology of disease. Molecular epidemiology is rapidly evolving through the application of more relevant markers of exposure and better identification of subgroups at increased risk of early disease processes and progression. This volume provides a broad overview of the diverse approaches encompassed by this emerging discipline.

Chapters 1-3 highlight concepts and methods at the forefront of studies of infectious diseases, and include a synopsis of general epidemiologic design and analysis, as well as current techniques for molecular typing of microbial pathogens. Chapters 4-6 are focussed on recent advances in studying host genetics, including methods for the detection of mutations and polymorphisms, identification of linkage among alleles of genes on a given chromosome, and the use of DNA pooling to increase efficiency in association studies of genetically complex traits. Chapters 7 and 8 deal with the relationship between pathologies and immune system genetics, and on the use of DNA sequence information to garner insights into the evolution of infectious pathogens, and into the evolution and function of the immune system.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199638101
• ISBN 13: 9780199638109
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 264
• Editor: Carrington Mary