The growing body of information on bacteria pathogenic for humans,
mammals and plants generated within the past ten years has shown the
interesting conservation of newly identified genes that playa direct
role in the pathogenic mechanism. In addition to these genes, there are
also genes that confer host specificities and other traits important in
pathogenesis on these pathogens. In this volume, we have organized the
subject areas to best fit the concept on the way bacterial pathogens
recognize, interact and invade the host, on the regulation of genes
involved in virulence, on the genes involved in the elaboration of
toxins and other pathogenic components such as iron sequestering
proteins, and on the mechanisms of circumventing the host defense
systems. These areas are divided into Sections. Section I covers the
first step when the pathogen seeks its host, and Sections II through VI
cover subsequent steps leading to pathogenesis while avoiding host
defenses. We conclude this work with a chapter summarizing information
on examples of virulence mechanisms that are highly conserved.