Normal and the infection-induced dysbiotic microbiomes are currently holding the forefront position in the research mode in man, animal and plant. Though stealth microbiomes seemed to be still in their infancy phase. Stealth microbiomes are mostly found in their dysbiotic state. Just like that of human infections. Finding of stealth microbiome in human chronic infections necessitates applying a line of evidence for proof of reality of patho-type, pathogenesis, pathogenicity and immunology. Stealth microbes can be: viruses, chlamydia, rickettsia, mycoplasma and cell wall-defective bacteria and cell wall-defective yeasts. A stealth state may be attributed to; structure, function and/ or behavior. As a term, stealth may span a multi-meaning entity. It may encompass a sneak-out behaviour from the surveillance mechanisms of the host immune system. Such sneak-out behaviour can be attributed to either of the following;
- Encrypitization in a tissue compartment niche.
- change their surface character or their morphological phase.
- Production of inhibitory mediators.
- Ensheathment in a developed lesion within a tissue compartment.
- Adopt intracellular persistence.
In the present monograph, we use microbiome in the sense of stealth culture-able microbiomes parallel to stealth bacteriomes of chronic, persistent and recurrent infections. In addition, to attempts are made to provide experimental stealth bacterial infections in laboratory animals. The text was intended to be valid for postgraduate students and researchers in medical microbiology and immunology.
