The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease

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Afshin Beheshti, PhD

Research Associate, Department of Molecular Genetics, The Forsyth Institute, (Harvard Medical Center Affiliate)

REVIEW

I am very pleased to have read this book by Dr. Hanan Polansky. It proved to be quite challenging and interesting. I started this book knowing little about the theory of microcompetition and finished feeling quite inspired by all the possibilities. Since my background is in biophysics, I appreciated the mathematical models that he used to describe molecular mechanisms of chronic diseases. In my opinion, it provides for a very detailed and precise description for these systems. The book is concisely written, and the extensive data was well-presented to explain the theories.

Dr. Polansky takes an interesting approach when relating the diseases discussed in this book. He uses a detailed quantitative analysis to explain his theories of microcompetition with foreign DNA. I especially enjoyed how he found links between these different chronic diseases. It was quite thought-provoking. Although the ideas presented are quite interesting, it takes some chapters a few times to read, to fully grasp the meaning. It would serve as a great teaching tool for graduate students. I believe that this book will provide for an excellent starting ground for new scientists to tackle the world of chronic diseases.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Afshin Beheshti studied biophysics at Florida State University. During this time, he conducted research on developing a new model for the mobility versus DNA length dependence during DNA electrophoresis in agarose gels. This research produced a simple model that covered an extensive range of parameters to describe the behavior of the migration of DNA through a matrix. It has never been shown until now, that the migration of DNA during electrophoresis can be described so easily. Potential results show the ability to unify past theories dealing with the migration of DNA. After this time, Dr. Beheshti became interested in the world of oral bacteria. Recently he received a postdoctoral fellowship with the Molecular Genetics department at The Forsyth Institute, which is known as an oral and craniofacial complex located in Boston. Dr. Behesti's research pertains to a unique type of uncultivable oral bacteria, referred to as TM7. Bacteria of the TM7 phylotype are thus far unculturable, and no information is available regarding their physiological capacity. Members of the phylotype have been detected in a wide range of ecological niches from human subgingival plaque to soil and marine sediments. Currently, Dr. Beheshti has been able to show that these bacteria are in fact quite cultivable. In the near future a map of its genome will reveal the nature of this mysterious bacteria.

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