In recent decades, infectious diseases, once believed to be fairly contained, have become a vital, resurgent field of research. In Host-Pathogen Interactions: Methods and Protocols, top experts examine the relationship between the host and the pathogen, crucial in the outcome of an infection and the establishment of disease or asymptomatic, commensal colonization by organisms. The step-by-step laboratory methods and protocols of this volume study host-pathogen interaction, with a focus on fungal, bacterial and parasitic pathogens, at a molecular level in order to reveal the mechanisms of infection and to identify the vulnerabilities of the pathogen of interest. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(t) series format, the chapters feature brief subject introductions, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Host-Pathogen Interactions: Methods and Protocols serves as an easy entry point for all those investigating the factors responsible for the pathogenicity of microorganisms.