Intro -- Detection of Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites and Fungi -- NATO Science for Peace and Security Series -- Introduction -- Bioterrorism: A Potential Weapon for Terrorist Attacks Through Food and Water Contamination: Evolution of Our Understanding of -- Introductory Considerations -- Definition -- Classification -- Bioterrorism - Example 1 -- Bioterrorism - Example 2 -- Various Types -- Bioterrorism - Example 3 -- History -- Early Bioterrorism -- More Recent Bioterrorism -- Current Bioterrorism -- Types of Biological Agents -- Category A Agents -- Anthrax -- Smallpox -- Botulinum Toxin -- Plague -- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever -- Tularemia -- Ricin -- Category B Agents -- Brucellosis -- Category C Agents -- Government Entities Counteracting Bioterrorism -- A. USA -- B. E.U. -- Modern Bioterrorism Events -- 1915-1916 Livestock Sabotage by Germany -- 1984 Rajneeshee Salmonella Attack -- 1994 Serin Incidents -- 2001 Anthrax Attack -- Planning for and Reacting to a Bioterrorist Attack -- Preparedness and Response to a Biological Attack -- Biosurveillance Strategies -- Limitations of Bioterrorism -- Other Forms of Bioterrorism -- See Also -- Further Reading -- Additional Useful Links -- Shortcomings -- Concluding Considerations Bioterrorism -- Additional Information -- Important Issues -- Next Steps -- References (Only Those Not Listed in the Text) -- Detection and Quantification of Bacteria and Fungi Using Solid-Phase Cytometry -- Introduction -- Basic Principles of SPC -- Fluorescent Stains for SPC -- Applications of SPC -- Determination of the Total (Viable) Count in Water and Air Samples -- Analysis of Water Samples -- Analysis of Air Samples -- Specific Detection of Target Organisms -- Analysis of Water Samples -- Analysis of Air Samples -- Analysis of Food Samples -- Analysis of Clinical Samples.

Studies on the Physiological State of Microorganisms -- Other Applications -- Advantages and Disadvantages of SPC -- Conclusions and Perspectives -- References -- Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping of Akounq Groundwater Body, Armenia -- Introduction -- Characteristics of the Study Area -- Method -- Results -- References -- Methods for Detection of Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) -- Introduction -- Matrices and Enrichment Protocols -- Phenotypical Methods -- Detection of Shiga Toxin Production -- Detection of Specific Serotypes -- Phenotypic Properties of STEC O157 -- Detection of STEC O157 -- Detection of Non-O157 STEC -- Immunological Methods -- Detection of E. coli O157 and O157:H7 -- Detection of STEC Strains -- DNA-Based Methods -- DNA Hybridization and Oligonucleotide Probes -- PCR Based Methods -- PCR Techniques and Detection Chemistries -- Target Genes -- Limits of PCR Based Methods -- PCR-Based Strategy to Detect STEC -- Commercialized DNA-Based Methods -- Other Techniques and Emerging Technologies -- Biosensors -- Fluorescence and Microscopy -- Microarrays -- Conclusion -- References -- Genetic Diversity of Enterococci in Bryndza Cheese -- Introduction -- Enterococci - Occurrence and Properties -- Genus Enterococcus - Taxonomy and Identification -- Molecular Identification -- Enterococci and Human Health -- Enterococci as Probiotics -- Antibiotic Resistance -- Virulence Factors -- Enterococci in Food -- Enterococci in Cheese -- Bryndza Cheese - History and Production -- Specific Attributes of the Slovak Bryndza Cheese -- Enterocci in Bryndza -- Species Composition - Phenotypic Versus Genotypic Identification -- Intraspecies Diversity - Molecular Approaches -- Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and Rep-PCR -- Plasmid Profile Analysis -- Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Virulence Determinants.

The Antibiotic Resistance Patterns -- Multiple-Drug Resistance -- Seasonal Differences in the Antibiotic Resistance Frequency -- Virulence Determinants -- Health Effect of Bryndza -- References -- Salmonella Infections -- Introduction -- Epidemiology -- Pathophysiology -- Mode of Transmission -- Types of Salmonella Infections -- Non-Typhoid Salmonella Infection -- Clinical Manifestations -- Management -- Typhoid Fever -- Predisposing Factors -- Clinical Manifestations -- Pathogenesis -- Complications (Table 1) -- Diagnosis -- Treatment -- Prevention of Salmonella Infections -- References -- Molecular Diagnostics of Staphylococcus aureus -- Introduction -- The Staphylococcus aureus Genome -- Mobile Genetic Elements of Staphylococcus aureus -- Plasmids -- Bacteriophages -- Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Islands -- Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosomes -- Transposons -- Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus -- Identification of Staphylococcal Species -- Phenotypic Identification -- DNA Based Identification of Staphylococcal Species -- Typing Methods -- Conventional Strain Typing Methods for Staphylococcus aureus -- Genotyping Methods for Staphylococcus aureus -- Methods Without DNA Amplification -- Methods Based on DNA Amplification of Specific Genes and Sequences -- Methods Based on Direct DNA Sequence Determination -- Innovative High-Throughput Molecular Methods -- Molecular Diagnostics of Toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus Strains -- Staphylococal Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) -- Staphylococcal Food Poisoning -- Staphylococcal Epidermolysis Caused by the Exfoliative Toxins -- Staphylococcal Cytotoxins -- References -- Molecular Methods to Detect Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis in Foods -- Introduction -- Bacillus cereus Group -- General Characteristics -- Bacillus cereus Group and Foods -- B. cereus Characteristics.

Toxin Production -- B. cereus Detection -- PCR Based Method for B. cereus Detection -- PCR Optimization for Selective Detection of B. cereus -- Artificial Food Contamination -- DNA Extraction from Food Samples -- RE-PCR Optimization for B. cereus/B. thuringiensis Differentiation -- Microbial Identification and Typing by Molecular Methods -- RAPD-PCR and rep-PCR Analyses on B. cereus and B. thuringiensis Strains -- PCR-TTGE Analyses -- Conclusions -- References -- Control of Listeria monocytogenes in San Daniele Dry Cured Ham by Different Technologies: Reduction of L. Monocytogenes -- Introduction -- Material and Methods -- Samples -- Preparation of Inocula -- Analysis Method -- Statistical Analysis -- Treatments -- Chemical Solution -- Ionized Air -- Ozonated Water -- Ozonated Air -- Hydrogen Peroxide -- Essential Oils -- Protective Starter -- Results and Discussion -- Chemical Solution -- Ionized Air -- Ozonated Water and Air -- Hydrogen Peroxide -- Essential Oils -- Protective Cultures -- Conclusions -- References -- Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Hepatitis B in the Mediterranean Region and Elsewhere -- Characteristics of the Virus -- Epidemiology -- Modes of Transmission -- Clinical Presentation -- Prognosis of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection -- Prevention of HBV/Vaccination -- Diagnosis -- Serological Markers -- Molecular Tests -- Signal Amplification Techniques -- Target Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques -- Real-Time PCR -- Sequence Analysis -- Treatment Objectives -- References -- Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) - An Emerging Viral Pathogen -- Introduction -- Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Epidemiology -- Hepatitis E Virus Description -- The Disease -- Diagnosis -- Vaccines -- Prevention -- Treatment -- HEV (an emerging pathogen) interactions with the host intestinal tract -- References -- Dengue Virus Diagnostics -- Introduction -- Dengue Viruses.

Emerging Flavivirus Diseases -- Epidemiology and Public Health Concerns -- Dengue Virus Strains and 'Immune Protection' -- Virus Structure -- Diagnostic Tools for Dengue -- Laboratory Diagnosis -- Biosensor Technology -- Luminescence Based Biosensors -- Alternative Antigen -- Recombinant Protein and Epitopes -- Phage Display -- Future Trends -- References -- Infectious Forms of Parasites in Food: Man Embedded in Ecosystems -- Foodborne Parasitic Diseases in Developing and Developed Areas -- Foodborne Parasitic Diseases as Emerging or Reemerging Infections -- Characterizing Emerging and Reemerging Microparasites as a Whole -- The Case of Cryptosporidium -- Emerging or Reemerging Helminthes -- Emerging or Reemerging Liver Fluke Infections -- Diphyllobothrium Infection: A Changing Landscape -- Emerging or Reemerging Cyclophyllidean Larval Cestoda -- Anisakiasis: A Widening Spectrum of the Disease -- Emergence and Reemergence of Trichinellosis -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Unusual Developmental Pattern of Expression of Enzymes Involved in DNA Biosynthesis in Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results -- Enzyme Activities Involved in dTMP Biosynthesis -- General DNA Polymerase and DNA Polymerase a Activities -- Ribonucleotide Reductase Activity -- Thymidine Kinase Activity -- The results of Northern blot analyses of T. spiralis total RNA are presented in Fig. 1. Thymidylate synthase mRNA, relative -- Expression of Thymidylate Synthase mRNA and 18S rRNA in Adult Worms, Embryos and L1, L3 and Dauer Larvae of C. elegans -- Specificity of Anti-thymidylate Synthase Monoclonal Antibodies Binding on Western blots -- Specificity of Anti-thymidylate Synthase Monoclonal Antibodies Binding In Situ -- Localization of Thymidylate Synthase Protein in T. spiralis Developmental Forms -- Discussion -- References.

Immunodulation and Helminths: Towards New Strategies for Treatment of Immune-Mediated Diseases?.