Microbiology and Aging

The microbiological burden on an aging host is enormous, and clinically significant. As humans are living longer there is a greater propensity to infection. This risk is substantially heightened in elderly individuals who are predisposed to infection. Do the microbiological changes that occur within and upon the host influence the process of ageing or is it the biological changes of the host that affects the host’s microbiology? Do such changes therefore affect the host’s propensity to disease? Are there ways of enhancing life expectancy by reducing certain bacteria from proliferating or conversely by enhancing the survival of beneficial bacteria? Microbiology & Aging: Clinical Manifestations encompasses a collection of reviews that highlight the significance of, and the crucial role, that microorganisms play in the human life cycle and considers the microbiology of the host in different regions of the body during the aging process.

• Ageing
• Aging
• Clinical
• Microbiology
• Percival

From the reviews:

"This multi-authored volume addresses an intriguing … area of human microbiology. The individual chapters deal with microbiological and immunological changes associated with normal ageing processes in different body sites, including the mouth, gut and skin. … Overall, the quality of writing and production is generally good … . the main beneficiary’s of readership would be senior undergraduate and postgraduate students." (George T. Macfarlane, Microbiology Today, July, 2009)

"This book is one of the first attempts in introducing and discussing the role of microflora in relation to human aging. The book compiles 14 chapters covering a wide range of topics from the basic biology of aging to infections, immunity and the decomposition of the dead body. … This book can be a useful stepping stone to enter the highly complex world of microflora, which surely affects our health, survival and longevity." (Rupal Deva and Suresh I. S. Rattan, Biogerontology, Vol. 10, 2009)

• Global Development Centre, ConvaTec, Limited, Flintshire, UK

  Steven L. Percival

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