To start with, we feel that we should explain why the book has been entitled Cholera Toxins. In fact, the enterotoxin secreted by Vibrio cholerae, which is p- marily responsible for causation of the disease, is conventionally known as or referred to as cholera toxin, or CT. By using the word “toxins” (in its plural form), we wanted to cover all of the different types of toxins—and not just CT—produced by V. cholerae. We could have used the title Toxins of Vibrio cholerae, but we believe that Cholera Toxins is simpler and equally as expressive. However, due to its relative importance, the story of CT covers most of this book. Also, compared to all other toxins of V. cholerae, CT has been investigated more extensively. This book was jointly written by us. It is not a multiauthor book in which each expert writes one chapter. In that respect our task is harder. On the other hand, it has given us the unique opportunity to present the entire subject in the way that we conceived it. Besides, our objective is to cater to the needs of not only active research scientists but also students from different disciplines—microbiology, molecular physiology and pharmacology, basic medicines, etc. —and as such, we have attempted to present the subject in a way that will be appreciated by general readers. Further, we have provided some information that students and predoctoral researchers may find useful at the end of the book.
Dr. Keya Chaudhuri (b. 1952) obtained her PhD degree from Jadavpur University in 1983 and is presently working as Senior Scientist & Deputy Director at the Molecular & Human Genetics Division of the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India. Her research focuses on Vibrio cholerae infection, mainly on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease-process, with special emphasis on the identification of bacterial gene products that become apparent during the infection as well as their role in V. cholerae pathogenesis and the elucidation of host response at the molecular level. Besides Vibrio cholerae, her research interest includes bioinformatics and cancer biology.
Professor S. N. Chatterjee (b. 1932) received his PhD degree from the University of Calcutta in 1958. He worked for several years as Associate Professor & Head of the Biophysics Department at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and then as Senior Professor & Chairman (1977–1992) of the Biophysics Division and Director (1990-1991) of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kolkata. Subsequently he continued to work at the SINP as Senior Scientist, an emeritus-ship awarded by the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi. Besides Vibrio cholerae and cholera bacteriophages, his research interests include the electron microscopy of biomolecules, free radicals biology involving ultrasound and UVA, and the molecular toxicology of nitrofurans. He is a fellow of several academies and recipient of many awards.
