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Book Review
The Microbial Challenge: Human-Microbe
Interactions
Robert I. Krasner
American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, 2002, ISBN: 1-55581-2414,
Pages: 433, Price: $89.95
Suggested citation for this article: McDade JE.
The microbial challenge: human-microbe interactions (book review). Emerg
Infect Dis [serial online] 2002 Dec [date cited];8. Available
from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol8no12/02-0624.htm
During the past decade, a wide array of books have addressed the topic
of new and emerging infectious diseases. In The Microbial Challenge: Human-Microbe
Interactions, Robert I. Krasner attempts to put this topic into a format
appropriate for classroom presentation. The book is sufficiently well
done to stand alone in some situations, but supplemental material may
be necessary in others.
The Microbial Challenge is relatively compact, compared with the usual
microbiology textbook, with expected advantages and unavoidable shortcomings.
In 400 pages and 16 chapters, the author captures basic principles of
microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, and infectious diseases, including
chapters on biological weapons, “current plagues,” and factors underlying
emergence of infectious diseases. A chapter on the control of microbial
diseases is not unexpected, but the subsequent chapter on partnerships
in the control of infectious diseases is an unusual and welcome addition.
Chapters are organized into three major parts: “The Challenge,” “Meeting
the Challenge,” and “Current Challenges.” However, these designations
reflect the author’s perspective more than specific content. Similar chapters
in other texts might simply be categorized under the generic theme “microorganisms
and humans.”
The topics and organization in the book comprise characteristics well
suited for a textbook. Each topic is presented clearly and succinctly.
The book has many wonderful photographs and illustrations that bring the
text to life, including unique photographs from field situations (many
from the author’s personal archives). These photographs demonstrate that
microbiology and infectious diseases extend far beyond the hospital and
laboratory. A series of self-evaluation questions follow each chapter.
Students will find the glossary quite useful. The author also provides
a brief list of websites that might be helpful to instructors.
Although this book provides an informative summary of principles that
are quite useful for a survey course on microbiology and infectious diseases,
the abbreviated treatment might prove unsatisfactory for some instructional
situations. For example, do not expect to find the detailed descriptions
of chemical principles, central metabolic pathways, DNA replication, transcriptional
control of gene function, or protein and cell-wall synthesis found in
standard (and much larger!) textbooks. Taxonomy and diagnostic microbiology
are only briefly discussed. The focus on microorganisms and diseases at
the expense of such details may be an asset or a liability, depending
on your perspective.
The author anticipates that the book would be suitable for a course without
a laboratory component but suggests that certain exercises be added from
other sources, as needed. The decision not to include a laboratory component
is a critical departure point for the book’s utility. Although the
text would be quite suitable in some curricula for a survey course on
microorganisms and infectious diseases, the failure to include principles
and applications of molecular biology seems a serious omission, especially
for students who go on to graduate school and pursue careers in laboratory-based
research. Indeed, the only surprise I had in reviewing the book was the
lack of discussion of molecular techniques because they are commonly used
to identify and subtype pathogens during epidemiologic investigations.
The Microbial Challenge could well serve audiences beyond the undergraduate
level. The text would be an excellent choice for schools of public health,
provided that students are given supplemental readings and detailed case
studies for analysis. Considering the current interest in infectious diseases
and bioterrorism, this book would be a useful resource for government
staff at the national and local levels.
Joseph E. McDade
Rome, Georgia
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