Global Infectious Diseases

The subject of the book is global infectious diseases and includes 12 entities that were carefully selected for diversity of epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, and immune mechanisms. Each topic (schistosomiasis, malaria, filariasis, arboviruses, diarrheal diseases, AIDS, hepatitis, fungal diseases, Chagas' disease, rickettsial diseases, Lyme disease, and cysticercosis) is particularly interesting in its own right. Each entity will be reviewed by an expert who perceives the big picture and will cover the epidemiology, ecology, pathogenesis, immunity, and relevant molecular data pertinent to the etiologic agents and their hosts. Each expert will then express his opinion as to the best approach to eridicate, control, or contain the disease in the near future by attacking the most vulnerable point in the interaction of the etiologic agent and the host or the environment. Molecular approaches will be described which point towards novel methods to stimulate affective immunity, eradicate a vector, render it genetically incompetent, or develop a new therapeutic intervention. The ultimate standard and the reasons for its success and the failure of other eradication campaigns will be posed by Dr. D.A. Henderson, leader of the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox and currently a high level advisor in the White House.