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Biochemical protozoology
794
Book Reviews
in determination of chemical structures, tomography and in vivo spectroscopy. The chapters deal with: the principles of NMR; NMR spectroscopy in biochemistry (identification of unknown substances, time dependent processes and two dimensional NMR spectroscopy); NMR of biological macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides and lipids); NMR tomography (principles of imaging, imaging the head and body, chemical shifts, flow effects, NMR microscopy and biomedical effects and dangers); spatial selective spectroscopy and in vivo NMR (spatial resolution of isolated cells and organisms, in vivo studies on ~H-NMR, 31P-NMR, 13C-NMR, ISN-NMR and ~gF-NMR. The information is clearly and simply presented and the book will be useful to all those who wish to understand NMR.
Calcium, Oxygen Radicals and Cellular Damage--Edited by C. J. Duncan. 224pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. £40; $79.95. This is volume 46 of the Seminar series of the Society for Experimental Biology. The topics dealt with are: are there common biochemical pathways in cell damage and cell death?; free radicals in the pathogenesis of tissue damage; calcium and signal transduction in oxidative cell damage; regulation of neutrophil oxidant production ; role of oxygen stress in reperfusion arrhythmias; release of cytosolic proteins in the perfused rat heart; malignant hyperthermia; free radicals, calcium and damage in dystrophic and normal skeletal muscle; ultrastructural changes in mitochondria during rapid damage triggered by calcium; oxygen free radicals, iron and calcium in renal ischaemia. It is very interesting to see how common factors underly many of these changes. Between Nucleus and Cytoplasm--P. S. Agutter. 148 pp. 1991. Chapman & Hall, London. U.S.A. hardback $62.50; paperback $25. Canada hardback $82; paperback $31.50. The interactions between the biochemical systems in the cytoplasm and those in the nucleus are now becoming more apparent. This book surveys the biological significance of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport (NCT); cell differentiation; RNA transport and control of protein synthesis; the methods of study of NCT; intracellular structures in NCT (nuclear envelope pore, nuclear membrane lamina, nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton); NC protein distributions; RNA transport; importance of NCT (hormonal regulation, carcinogen action, embryogenesis and ageing, developmental changes and signal receptors); evolutionary considerations.
Lipid Biochemistry, 4th edn--M. I. Gurr and J. L. Harwood. 406. pp. 1991. Chapman & Hall, London. U.S.A. hardback $89.95; paperback $39.95. Canada hardback $112.50; paperback $52.50. Lipids are important in cell structure and as an energy source. This student text book describes the structure and functions of lipid; their metabolism and the role that they play in diet; drug transport; membrane function; inositol lipids; free radicals; cancer; pulmonary surfactant; liposomes; toxic effects. This new edition has been rewritten and brought up to date and will give the reader both information and perspective about lipids. Moleealar Biology of the Staphylococci--Edited by R. P. Novick. 639pp. 1990. VCH, New York. Much is known about E. coil and B. subtilis; this book provides a detailed summary of what is known about the molecular biology of the Staphylococci which are gram
positive clump-forming facultatively aerobic cocci. There are 20 distinct species. Strains of the same species have 80-100% sequence identity; sequence data on different species never have more than 20% identity. Most information is available on S. aureus. They produce many extracellular proteins many of which are implicated in pathogenicity. The genome is a single circular chromosome plus an assortment of variable genetic elements. The main sections of the book are on: genetic organisation and evolution; gene transfer and transposons; plasmids; exoproteins and pathogenicity factors; resistance and its spread; resistance and edipemiology. ~ochemical Protozoology--Edited by G. Coombs and M. North. 635 pp. 1991. Taylor & Francis, London. Paperback 29.95. The role of parasitic protozoa in disease is of increasing interest due to the prevalence of protozoal disease in man. This book deals with aspects of the biochemistry of malaria, Pneumonocystis, Giardia, Leishmania, trypanosomes, Entamoeba, Babesia and Trichomonas. There is an introduction on the current state of protozoa biochemistry; the other 35 chapters are concerned with biochemical aspects of the protozoa that could help develop new drugs; the protozoan surface; proteinases produced by protozoa; protozoan phospholipids; glucose transport; cation metabolism; chemotherapy; mode of action of drugs; biochemical drug targets; possibilities for new antiprotozoal drugs. Biiharzta; a History of Imperial Tropical Medleiuc~J. Farley. 359pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, New York. $59.50. Bilharzia is a disease caused by the eggs of small thread like parasitic worms (Schistosoma) that live inside the blood vessels of the gut, liver and bladder. The parasite has an intermediate snail host and people become infected by coming in contact with water in which the infected snails live. A larval form burrows out of the snail, into the water, and then burrows into human skin, later to enter the blood vessels. Human urine containing parasite eggs can reinfect the snails. Today over 200 million people in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America are infected and schistosomiasis is listed as one of the six most important diseases of concern to the WHO. This very interesting book traces the history of the discovery of the disease; the best methods of control and prevention; and the extent to which financial support for research depended on different governments imperial role and ambitions. There are also interesting side lights on the interactions of the different research workers which indicate that human nature does not change. Although there are mollusc poisons, the best preventative treatment is drainage of the water canals and proper treatment of sewage. Chemicals and Society; a Guide to the New Chemieal Age--H. D. Crone. 245pp. 1986. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Paperback $17.95. This paperback reissue gives a good account of the benefits and costs of chemicals in society. It deals with toxicity and dosage; how chemicals get into the body and are eliminated; chemical analysis; chemical hazards; cancer and chemicals; drugs; pollution; herbicides; food and chemicals; safe or unsafe? It presents a balanced view and shows that scares are remembered but that the refutations are not. A useful book to give to those who wish to know about the positive side as well as the negative side about chemicals, drugs, fertilisers and pesticides.
Book Reviews
in determination of chemical structures, tomography and in vivo spectroscopy. The chapters deal with: the principles of NMR; NMR spectroscopy in biochemistry (identification of unknown substances, time dependent processes and two dimensional NMR spectroscopy); NMR of biological macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides and lipids); NMR tomography (principles of imaging, imaging the head and body, chemical shifts, flow effects, NMR microscopy and biomedical effects and dangers); spatial selective spectroscopy and in vivo NMR (spatial resolution of isolated cells and organisms, in vivo studies on ~H-NMR, 31P-NMR, 13C-NMR, ISN-NMR and ~gF-NMR. The information is clearly and simply presented and the book will be useful to all those who wish to understand NMR.
Calcium, Oxygen Radicals and Cellular Damage--Edited by C. J. Duncan. 224pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. £40; $79.95. This is volume 46 of the Seminar series of the Society for Experimental Biology. The topics dealt with are: are there common biochemical pathways in cell damage and cell death?; free radicals in the pathogenesis of tissue damage; calcium and signal transduction in oxidative cell damage; regulation of neutrophil oxidant production ; role of oxygen stress in reperfusion arrhythmias; release of cytosolic proteins in the perfused rat heart; malignant hyperthermia; free radicals, calcium and damage in dystrophic and normal skeletal muscle; ultrastructural changes in mitochondria during rapid damage triggered by calcium; oxygen free radicals, iron and calcium in renal ischaemia. It is very interesting to see how common factors underly many of these changes. Between Nucleus and Cytoplasm--P. S. Agutter. 148 pp. 1991. Chapman & Hall, London. U.S.A. hardback $62.50; paperback $25. Canada hardback $82; paperback $31.50. The interactions between the biochemical systems in the cytoplasm and those in the nucleus are now becoming more apparent. This book surveys the biological significance of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport (NCT); cell differentiation; RNA transport and control of protein synthesis; the methods of study of NCT; intracellular structures in NCT (nuclear envelope pore, nuclear membrane lamina, nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton); NC protein distributions; RNA transport; importance of NCT (hormonal regulation, carcinogen action, embryogenesis and ageing, developmental changes and signal receptors); evolutionary considerations.
Lipid Biochemistry, 4th edn--M. I. Gurr and J. L. Harwood. 406. pp. 1991. Chapman & Hall, London. U.S.A. hardback $89.95; paperback $39.95. Canada hardback $112.50; paperback $52.50. Lipids are important in cell structure and as an energy source. This student text book describes the structure and functions of lipid; their metabolism and the role that they play in diet; drug transport; membrane function; inositol lipids; free radicals; cancer; pulmonary surfactant; liposomes; toxic effects. This new edition has been rewritten and brought up to date and will give the reader both information and perspective about lipids. Moleealar Biology of the Staphylococci--Edited by R. P. Novick. 639pp. 1990. VCH, New York. Much is known about E. coil and B. subtilis; this book provides a detailed summary of what is known about the molecular biology of the Staphylococci which are gram
positive clump-forming facultatively aerobic cocci. There are 20 distinct species. Strains of the same species have 80-100% sequence identity; sequence data on different species never have more than 20% identity. Most information is available on S. aureus. They produce many extracellular proteins many of which are implicated in pathogenicity. The genome is a single circular chromosome plus an assortment of variable genetic elements. The main sections of the book are on: genetic organisation and evolution; gene transfer and transposons; plasmids; exoproteins and pathogenicity factors; resistance and its spread; resistance and edipemiology. ~ochemical Protozoology--Edited by G. Coombs and M. North. 635 pp. 1991. Taylor & Francis, London. Paperback 29.95. The role of parasitic protozoa in disease is of increasing interest due to the prevalence of protozoal disease in man. This book deals with aspects of the biochemistry of malaria, Pneumonocystis, Giardia, Leishmania, trypanosomes, Entamoeba, Babesia and Trichomonas. There is an introduction on the current state of protozoa biochemistry; the other 35 chapters are concerned with biochemical aspects of the protozoa that could help develop new drugs; the protozoan surface; proteinases produced by protozoa; protozoan phospholipids; glucose transport; cation metabolism; chemotherapy; mode of action of drugs; biochemical drug targets; possibilities for new antiprotozoal drugs. Biiharzta; a History of Imperial Tropical Medleiuc~J. Farley. 359pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, New York. $59.50. Bilharzia is a disease caused by the eggs of small thread like parasitic worms (Schistosoma) that live inside the blood vessels of the gut, liver and bladder. The parasite has an intermediate snail host and people become infected by coming in contact with water in which the infected snails live. A larval form burrows out of the snail, into the water, and then burrows into human skin, later to enter the blood vessels. Human urine containing parasite eggs can reinfect the snails. Today over 200 million people in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America are infected and schistosomiasis is listed as one of the six most important diseases of concern to the WHO. This very interesting book traces the history of the discovery of the disease; the best methods of control and prevention; and the extent to which financial support for research depended on different governments imperial role and ambitions. There are also interesting side lights on the interactions of the different research workers which indicate that human nature does not change. Although there are mollusc poisons, the best preventative treatment is drainage of the water canals and proper treatment of sewage. Chemicals and Society; a Guide to the New Chemieal Age--H. D. Crone. 245pp. 1986. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Paperback $17.95. This paperback reissue gives a good account of the benefits and costs of chemicals in society. It deals with toxicity and dosage; how chemicals get into the body and are eliminated; chemical analysis; chemical hazards; cancer and chemicals; drugs; pollution; herbicides; food and chemicals; safe or unsafe? It presents a balanced view and shows that scares are remembered but that the refutations are not. A useful book to give to those who wish to know about the positive side as well as the negative side about chemicals, drugs, fertilisers and pesticides.