Introduction
In The Art of War, Sun TZu states that all warfare is based on deception (TZu, 1971, p. 66). Mycobacteria, specifically Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), are no exception to this rule.
Mycobacteria represent a group of closely related acid-fast bacilli that encompass a wide range of host tropisms and diseases (Harris and Barletta, 2001; Corn et al., 2005; Motiwala et al., 2006; Behr and Kapur, 2008). In all cases, pathogenic mycobacteria deceive the host immune system by residing within host cells. Among mycobacteria, there are two important pathogenic complexes: the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and the M. avium complex (MAC) (detailed in Chapter 5, this volume). The M. tuberculosis complex is more readily recognized due to its implications in human health and includes the major pathogens M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. MAC organisms, despite their genetic similarity, elicit different diseases in both animals and humans, including infections of the lung, lymph nodes, bones, skin and gastrointestinal tract (Harris and Barletta, 2001; Behr and Kapur, 2008). Historically, research on MAC organisms has been limited; however, interest in this group is rapidly increasing due to associations with opportunistic infections (M. avium subsp. avium and M. avium subsp. hominissuis) in HIV/AIDS patients and a potential aetiological agent in Crohn's disease (MAP) (Prohaszka et al., 1999; Richter et al., 2002; Ghadiali et al., 2004; Behr and Kapur, 2008; Bentley et al., 2008; Waddell et al., 2008) (see also Chapter 3, this volume). Tuberculous mycobacteria (M. tuberculosis/M. bovis) and non- tuberculous mycobacteria (M. avium/MAP) have their differences, mostly in route of infection and lesion locations. Molecularly, there is much that can be learned by comparing one species with the next. Although the various mycobacterial organisms may differ in how they scavenge iron and in growth parameters, the nature and source of infection associated inflammation, cytokines triggered in response to infection and the cells involved in early responses may all be quite similar.9.2
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