ASM Press

Bacterial pathogenomics.

Sixteen chapters, presented by Pallen (U. of Birmingham, UK), Nelson (Howard U., US), and Preston (Oxford U., UK) describe recent research devoted to the application of bacterial genome sequencing for understanding bacterial pathogen evolution together with their role in human and animal disease. Some of the chapter focus on advances in knowledge of key taxonomic groups of pathogens, including E. coli, mycobacteria, Neisseria, staphylococci, spirochetes, and Campylobacter. Others examine issues that cut across taxonomic categories, such as evolutionary patterns and paces in bacterial mutualists and parasites, modeling microbial virulence, pathogenomics of bacterial biothreat agents, the impact of phages on the evolution of bacterial pathogenicity, bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, and intracellular pathogens. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Enzyme-mediated resistance to antibiotics; mechanisms, dissemination, and prospects for inhibition.

There are several mechanisms by which bacteria acquire immunity to antibiotics, but the European and North American scientists here focus on those that are mediated by enzymes. In particular, they look at the enzymatic capabilities of micro-organisms to introduce chemical modifications that negate the biological activity of beta-lactams or aminoglycoside antibiotics. They consider enzymes that defend the bacterial ribosome and cell wall, novel approaches and future prospects for disarming the defense mechanisms, and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and its biological cost. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

HIV and the pathogenesis of AIDS, 3d ed.

Levy (medicine, Laboratory for Tumor and AIDS Virus Research and Cancer Research Institute, U. of California, San Francisco), who was one of the first to identify the AIDS virus, provides a volume for students, researchers, clinicians, and health care providers on HIV and AIDS. It covers features of AIDS pathogenesis, including aspects of HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates involved; transmission and replication; the cells infected and consequences on tissues and organ systems; the host immune response; therapy; HIV infection and the development of cancer; and approaches to a vaccine for prevention. For this edition, new research is cited in each chapter, and discussion of the identification of genetic markers has been expanded. Other topics reflecting recent advances that have been expanded or are new include viral latency, innate immunity and prevention, and vaccine development. The reference section lists almost 5,000 sources. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Manual of environmental microbiology, 3d ed.

Divided into 8 sections, the 101 chapters of this reference describe microorganisms in natural environments. Seventeen initial chapters present an introduction and general methodology. Introductory chapters are also provided at the beginning of each of the sections, providing overviews of the current research in the fields of water microbiology as it relates to public health (by editor-in-chief Hurst — biology, Xavier U., Cincinnati and engineering, U. del Valle, City U. Meléndez, Santiago de Cali, Colombia); aquatic microbial ecology (by Meredith A.J. Hullar, another editor; she's at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Resarch Center in Seattle); soil, rhizosphere, and phyllosphere (by David A Lipson — biology, San Diego State U.); issues in subsurface and landfill microbiology; aerobiology; and biotransformation and biodegradation. The volume will be invaluable to those in fields that include disease, water and wastewater treatment, and biotechnology. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The microbiology bench companion.

Students new to the lab and professionals who need to review or brush up on standards and procedures will find this a comprehensive reference with some of the features of a quick guide or refresher. Organized to follow how researchers generally work in the lab, the entries here include sufficient theory to make the procedures make sense, while focusing on practical matters such as preparing specimens, using imagery from that available in traditional microscopes to newer tomography methods, analyzing images, collecting and analyzing data, developing reports and following occupational and industrial safety standards. The references are up to date, not an easy accomplishment considering the volatility of technologies in this field. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Molecular genetics of bacteria, 3d ed.

This text for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses offers an approach centered on the most-studied bacteria, Escheria coli and Bacillus subtilis; other bacteria of medical, ecological, or biotechnological significance are covered as well. Coverage includes background, experimental methods, examples of genetic analyses, and advanced material relevant to current applications. Although updated in many respects, this edition retains the organization of previous editions: each chapter contains a summary of main points, descriptions of experiments, a set of discussion questions, a problem set (answers at the back of the book), and suggested readings. Snyder and Champness are affiliated with Michigan State U. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Physiology and biochemistry of extremophiles.

Biological and earth scientists explore how creatures — mostly micro-organisms — can thrive in extreme hot, cold, salty, acid, alkali, and pressure. Their topics include functional genomics in thermophilic micro-organisms, whether Lake Vostok and the subglacial lakes of Antarctica host life, molecular adaptation to high salt, mechanisms to tolerate metal and acid toxicity, and environmental and taxonomic biodiversity of gram-positive alkaliphiles. Other chapters look at the search for life in the universe, extremophiles as biocatalysts for industrial biotechnology, and lessons for early evolution and border conditions of life. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)