Synopses & Reviews
Microbes play an important role in our everyday lives. As agents of infectious disease, they cause untold human misery, yet their beneficial activities are manifold, ranging from the natural cycling of chemical elements to the production of food and pharmaceuticals. In this introductory text, the authors provide a clear and accessible account of the interactions among microbes, their environments, and other organisms, citing examples of both beneficial and detrimental activities. The book begins by considering positive activities, focusing on environmental microbiology and manufacturing, and then moves on to consider some of the more adverse aspects of microbes, particularly the myriad diseases to which we are susceptible and the treatments currently in use. Microbiology in Action will prove to be a valuable text for those studying microbiology.
Review
"Microbiology in Action gives a solid foundation of the importance of microbes from Chapters 1-6, with a great deal of information relating to ecology...It is an excellent reference source to anyone who wants an in-depth perspective to the evolution of microbes." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Synopsis
Microbes have an impact on our everyday lives, from the food we eat and the water we drink to the multitude of human infections. The authors introduce both the beneficial and adverse effects of interactions between microbes and their environment in a manner accessible to the non-specialist.
Table of Contents
Preface; 1. The microbiology of soil and nutrient cycling; 2. Plant-microbe interactions; 3. The microbiology of drinking water; 4. Microbial products; 5. Food microbiology; 6. The human commensal flora; 7. Microbial infections; 8. Chemotherapy and antibiotic resistance; Further reading; Glossary; Index.