Includes index.

Contents: The Main themes of mircobiology -- The Chemistry of biology -- Tools of the laboratory: the methods for studying microorganisms -- Procaryotic profiles: the bacteria and archaea -- Eucaryotic cells and microorganisms -- An Introduction to the viruses -- Elements of microbial nutrition, ecology and growth -- Microbial metabolism: the chemical crossroads of life -- Microbial genetics -- Genetic engineering: a revolution in molecular biology -- Physical and chemical control of mircobes -- Drugs, microbes, host- the elements of chemotheraphy -- Microbe- human interactions: infection and disease -- Nonspecific host defenses -- Specific immunity and immunization -- Disorder in immunity -- Diagnosing infections -- Infectious diseases affecting the skin and eyes -- Infectious diseases affecting the nervous system -- Infectious diseases affecting the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems -- Infectious diseases affecting the respiratory system -- Infectious diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract -- Infectious disease affecting the genitourinary system -- Environmental and applied microbiology.