Toxicology of 1 - 3-Beta-Glucans Glucans as a Marker for Fungal Exposure [Hardcover]

The investigation of indoor air quality has shown that microbial contamination is often a problem in buildings. Recent evidence indicates that fungi are often a part of the picture. A component of the fungal cell wall, 1?3-?-glucans not only affect human health, they are a marker for the existence of fungi in environmental samples.

Toxicology of 1?3-?-Glucans covers the basic chemistry and immunobiology of these substances. The authors begin by introducing current methods for detecting 1?3-?-glucans in environmental samples and reviewing risk evaluation in the environment. They go on to discuss numerous topics including likely occupational and environmental exposure, studies suggesting a strong link between environmental glucan concentrations and pulmonary inflammation, and signal transduction pathways and specific receptors.

No other book currently available brings together the expertise of leading international researchers to provide a straightforward monograph on the toxicology of 1?3-?-glucans. It pulls together current knowledge of these compounds, their effects, measurement, monitoring, and risk assessment.INTRODUCTION TO THE CHEMISTRY AND IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF b-GLUCANS, D. Williams, D. Lowman, and H. Ensley
Introduction
What are Fungal Glucans?
Physicochemical Characterization of Glucans
Immunobiology of Glucans
Recognition and Binding of Glucans by Membrane Receptors
The Influence of Glucan Polymer Molecular Weight, Structure and Solution Conformation on Binding to (1?3)-?-D-Glucan Receptors
Glucan Receptors Differentially Recognize Glucan Polymers Based on Solution Conformation and Molecular Weight
Identification of Dectin-1 and Scavenger Receptors as Glucan Specific Membrane Receptors
Activation of Pro-Inflammatory and Immunoregulatory Intracellular Signaling Pathways by Glucans
Effect of Glucans on Cytokine and Growth Factor Expression
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of l“6