The Practical Handbook of Microbiology presents basic knowledge about working with microorganisms in a clear and concise form. It also provides in-depth information on important aspects of the field--from classical microbiology to genomics--in one easily accessible volume.

This new edition retains the easy-to-use format of previous editions, with a logical presentation of frequently used reference data that enables readers to rapidly locate the information needed.

New chapters have been included in this edition, including a noteworthy one on the business aspects of microbiology that has been added to address the needs of investors looking to understand the science behind companies that they are contemplating funding and scientists that are interested in commercializing their research. In addition, chapters have been added on new microorganism-based disease and pathogenic mechanisms.

All chapters from the previous edition have been revised and updated. Major topics covered include almost all studied bacteria, and introductions to fungi, parasites, and viruses, as well as methods of culture collection, enumeration, and preservation of microorganisms, diagnostic medical microbiology, mechanisms of antimicrobial agents, and antibiotics and antifungal agents.

Although this book will be of use to anyone interested in the subject matter, it will be of particular benefit to specialized microbiologists as well as those who simply use microbiology as an adjunct to their own discipline, in finding relevant information quickly and easily.

Edited by

Emanuel Goldman is a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics of the New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), a division of Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. He earned his PhD in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and performed postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and at the University of California, Irvine, before joining the faculty of the New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Goldman has received numerous awards and honors. His research interests include the role of tRNA in the elongation of bacterial protein synthesis, including uncharged tRNA, codon bias, and programmed translational frameshifts. In addition to numerous scientific peer-reviewed publications and publications in the lay press, he has contributed a chapter to Zubay's Biochemistry textbook and four chapters to the Encyclopedia of Life Sciences.

Lorrence H. Green is the president of Westbury Diagnostics, Inc., in Farmingdale, New York. He earned his PhD in cell and molecular biology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He then carried out recombinant DNA and genetic research at Harvard University. He then moved into the industry by joining Analytab Products Inc., a major manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic test kits. During the next 12 years, he helped to invent and manufacture more than 40 diagnostic test kits, and then founded Westbury Diagnostics. His main interests involve using technology in the development of commercial products and in being an entrepreneur who invests in and develops companies. He has spoken at many career day events, judged many regional science fairs, and helped dozens of people with applications to medical, nursing, and physician's assistant schools and with starting companies. Dr. Green is on the steering committee, and a former chairman, of the microbiology section of the NY Academy of Sciences, as well as the long-time treasurer of the NYC branch of the ASM. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Advancement of Small Business.