Abstract
This is the second edition of a popular textbook written by two seasoned microbiologists whose writing is both readable and enjoyable. The first edition of Salyers and Whitt's book was much anticipated by students and teachers alike in the field of bacterial pathogenesis, a discipline that for many years had no specific text from which to teach. The second edition has been completely revised, and is divided into two parts. The first set of chapters provides background information on specific topics that serve to bring students from diverse disciplines up-to-date in the fast-growing field of bacterial pathogenesis. These topics include a discussion of host-parasite interactions, immunology, and antimicrobial resistance. In the second part of the text, Salyers and Whitt present a series of chapters that use well-known pathogens as models to illustrate the diverse approaches bacteria use to cause disease in mammals. These pathogens include Yersinia pestis, Bordetella pertussis, Vibrio cholerae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to name a few. Instructors who use this text will find it well suited for supplementation with primary literature articles in the field, a sprinkling of which the authors provide at the end of each chapter. As with the first edition, the illustrations in the text are purposely simple and streamlined, and the authors provide both a glossary of terms and a helpful index. Although not a molecular biology book per se, some background in microbial genetics would allow the student to get the most out of this text. This well-written text is recommended for individuals with an interest in bacterial pathogenesis, cell biology, and related fields, including the pathology of infectious disease.