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Reviews
’This compact volume encapsulates a wide-ranging survey of key aspects of the biology of these fascinating bacteria. It is a multi-author collection of reviews from expert authors with worldwide affiliations, but with coherence and logic in the contributions. These range from genomics and evolution of the bacteria to summaries of the pathogenesis of filarial diseases of humans (river blindness) and animals. Whole-genome sequences provide the key ingredient in new knowledge and understanding of the subject. I strongly recommend the book.’
Charles Penn, University of Birmingham
(Microbiology Today, Nov. 2007)
’The aim of this book is to summarise current information on distribution and potential significance of Wolbachia in their filarial hosts. Although it takes such a seemingly narrow view and is composed of only nine short chapters, the book interconnects surprisingly heterogeneous collection of topics. This arrangement seems to be a lucky decision, since the prevailing emphasis on applied science is thus balanced with more general parts providing non-specialists with a broader background. This can be well illustrated by the first chapter, which brings a unique overview of the Wolbachia history from an obscure intracellular microorganism identified in the first half of twentieth century to one of the most widely distributed and frequently studied bacterium. The rest of the book traverses various aspects of Wolbachia-centred research. It for example summarises current view on the Wolbachia phylogeny and stresses the main questions concerning origin, evolution and possible horizontal transfers of wolbachial lineages. It is particularly valuable that this evolutionary issue is not restricted to Wolbachia found in nematodes, but is discussed in a broader context covering the whole genus. However, the main idea of the book is, as metaphorically expressed in the title of the chapter three, to present Wolbachia
as ”an Achilles' heel of filarial nematodes”. This core chapter briefly summarises the main strategies of controlling filarial infections and proceeds with presenting Wolbachia as a novel and promising target of antifilarial drugs. For nonspecialists it might be particularly interesting to find an overview on Wolbachia involvement in the immunological interplay between filaria and vertebrate hosts. The nematodecentred issue is further elaborated in two more specialized chapters, one dealing with veterinary important filaria and the other with the role of Wolbachia in pathogenesis of river blindness, a parasitosis caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. Particular attention is given to genome analysis of nematode-associated Wolbachia….
… Due to its composition, the book provides a natural interconnection between purely theoretical biology and applied science. As a result, the book is an important source of information for parasitologists and also an interesting overview of the less known aspects of the Wolbachia biology.’
(Folia Parasitologica, Vol. 55, No. 1, 2008)
«Diese Monographie trägt in exzellenter Form den gegenwärtigen Stand des Wissens über Bakterien des Genus Wolbachia zusammen. Der Stolff wird gut verständlich und ausführlich dargestellt. Ausserdem bestechen die ausführlichen und "up-to-date"-Literaturverweise. Sowohl mikrobiologische, wie auch parasitäre und enthomologische Aspekte werden ausgewogen dargestellt. Besonderes Augenmerk wird dabei auf genetische und evolutionstheoretische Aspekte, Darstellung der speziellen Biologie und Symbiosen sowie auf pathophysiologische Implikationen und besonders auf den Aspekt der chemotherapeutischen Bekämpfung von Wolbachia im komplexen Krankheitsgeschehen von Filariosen gelegt. Für das international besetzte Autorenkollektiv wurden anerkannte Wissenschaftler und Experten auf diesem Gebiete gewonnen….
Zusammenfassend ein Buch, das manchen Mikrobiologen, Parasitologen, Tropenmediziner, Infektiologen, Pathophysiologen und Grundlagenwissenschaftler in Erstaunen versetzen kann, die Krankheitsbilder der Filariosen einmal aus einem ganz anderen Blickwinkel zu betrachten.»
Axel Schmidt, Witten/Herdecke (Der Mikrobiologe, Bd. 18, Nr. 3, 2008)
’What a great title! So often scientific phenomena are blandly described in a title but not this time, so full marks to the authors for arriving at this title. Such an apt title for a not so bland Gram negative intracellular bacteria (inherited symbionts no less in many invertebrates). Wolbachia play a significant role in mutualism and parasitism in filarial nematodes and insects.
This is a well laid out hard cover text that reads like a good novel covering the findings of experts who intimately know these bacteria and includes experts who cover the genome and consider Wolbachia as a drug target….
…This is an excellent text for teachers and researchers in microbiology, entomology, infectious diseases, genetics, tropical medicine, clinical research and diagnostic pathology workers looking to broaden their knowledge on filarial infections and obligate intracellular bacteria. A valuable feature of this book is that during each chapter the reader is directed to further references at salient points. Each chapter is highly referenced with some having more pages of references than article length. It is presented in an enjoyable format and it is easy to appreciate the high level of research that is presented in each article.’
Noelene Wilson MAIMS, Hunter Area Pathology Service, Newcastle, NSW
(Australian Journal of Medical Science, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2008)
Features the findings of international experts in infectious disease research and insect biology
Wolbachia are Gram-negative bacteria that form intracellular inherited infections in many invertebrates. They are extremely common, with 20-75% of all insects being infected. Moreover, they infect numerous noninsect invertebrates including nematodes, mites and spiders. Approximately 120 million people are infected by filarial nematode parasites worldwide. Transmitted to humans through mosquitoes and black flies, the majority of the disease-causing nematodes are hosts to the Wolbachia bacteria. These nematodes cause the often devastating diseases elephantiasis and onchocerciasis, commonly referred to as filariasis. Moreover, heartworm disease, caused by another Wolbachia-containing nematode, is another mosquito-borne disease that has significant importance in the veterinary field.
Featuring the findings of internationally recognized experts in infectious disease research and insect biology, this publication highlights their perspectives on Wolbachia’s genome, evolution, symbiosis, biology, pathogenicity as well as its potential as a drug target.
This comprehensive publication is intended for readers with teaching or research interests in microbiology, entomology, infectious diseases, genetics, tropical medicine and clinical research.
