Sex Hormones and Immunity to Infection

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Sex Differences in Susceptibility to Infection: An Evolutionary Perspective

   • Marlene Zuk, Andrew M. Stoehr

   Pages 1-17

3. Effects of Sex Steroids on Innate and Adaptive Immunity

   • S. Ansar Ahmed, Ebru Karpuzoglu, Deena Khan

   Pages 19-51

4. Sex Steroid Receptors in Immune Cells

   • Susan Kovats, Esther Carreras, Hemant Agrawal

   Pages 53-91

5. Sex Differences in Susceptibility to Viral Infection

   • Sabra L. Klein, Sally Huber

   Pages 93-122

6. Sex Differences in Innate Immune Responses to Bacterial Pathogens

   • Jennifer A. Rettew, Ian Marriott, Yvette M. Huet

   Pages 123-146

7. Sex Hormones and Regulation of Host Responses Against Parasites

   • James Alexander, Karen Irving, Heidi Snider, Abhay Satoskar

   Pages 147-186

8. Sex Differences in Parasitic Infections: Beyond the Dogma of Female-Biased Resistance

   • Galileo Escobedo, Marco A. De León-Nava, Jorge Morales-Montor

   Pages 187-204

9. Progesterone, Pregnancy, and Innate Immunity

   • Julia Szekeres-Bartho, Beata Polgar

   Pages 205-226

10. Pregnancy and Susceptibility to Parasites

    • Fiona L. Henriquez, Fiona M. Menzies, Craig W. Roberts

    Pages 227-256

11. Sex Steroids and Risk of Female Genital Tract Infection

    • Patti Gravitt, Khalil Ghanem

    Pages 257-279

12. Sex, Pregnancy and Measles

    • Allison C. Brown, William J. Moss

    Pages 281-302

13. Epilogue: Challenges for the Future

    • Craig W. Roberts, Sabra L. Klein

    Pages 303-311

14. Back Matter

    Pages 313-319

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Why sex matters

Among human and nonhuman animals, the prevalence and intensity of infection typically is higher in males than females and may reflect differences in exposure as well as susceptibility to pathogens. Elevated immunity among females is a double-edged sword in which it is beneficial against infectious diseases but is detrimental in terms of increased development of autoimmune diseases.

The present book critically reviews the evolutionary origin and the functional mechanisms responsible for sexual dimorphism in response to infection. It emphasizes the value of examining responses in both males and females to improve our understanding about host-pathogen interactions in both sexes.

The contributors are experts in their specific disciplines which range from microbiology and immunology to genetics, pathology, and evolutionary biology.

The book aims at bringing insight to the treatment and management of infectious diseases; it delineates areas where knowledge is lacking and highlights future avenues of research.

• autoimmune disease
• biology
• development
• diseases
• evolution
• evolutionary biology
• genetics
• hormone
• infection
• infectious
• infectious disease
• infectious diseases
• microbiology
• pathology
• treatment

From the reviews: “This book highlights the differences between males and females in their susceptibility to infection with viruses, bacteria and parasites. … This is a well-structured and eminently readable book. Those interested in the pathogenesis of infectious disease will find this a welcome addition. Recommended for institutional purchase as students will find this a useful reference source.” (Anthony Nash, Microbiology Today, August, 2010)

• School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg, Baltimore, U.S.A.

  Sabra L. Klein

• Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom

  Craig Roberts

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