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Book Review
Candida and Candidiasis
Richard A. Calderone, editor
American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, 2001, 472 pages
Suggested citation for this article: Brandt
ME. Candida and candidiasis (book review). Emerg Infect Dis [serial
online] 2002 Aug [date cited];8. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol8no8/02-0059.htm
Yeast of the genus Candida have exploded into prominence in recent
years as opportunistic and nosocomial fungal pathogens. However, the most
recent textbook on these organisms was written in 1988. Candida and Candidiasis
is a worthy successor in providing comprehensive information on the biology
of these organisms.
A total of 28 chapters cover the general properties, virulence factors,
cell biology, immunity, genomics, diseases, and laboratory aspects of
Candida species, with particular emphasis on its most prominent
member, Candida albicans. The strongest chapters are those covering
research aspects of these organisms. Complex subjects like the chemistry
of the cell wall, host recognition and adherence, the cell biology of
the yeast-hyphal transformation, and extracellular hydrolases as virulence
factors in C. albicans are well summarized with clear, useful graphics
and current references. The book is beautifully laid out, with a series
of color plates that help describe phenotype switch variants and chromosome
maps.
The clinical chapters appear rather superficial for an infectious diseases
clinician but may be useful to a student seeking basic material. The chapter
on identification and subtyping contains information available in other
sources for less than the cost of this book. A discussion of current practices
in antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species would have
been helpful. Chapters 2 and 4 contain repetitious material, including
photographs of C. dubliniensis. A consolidated chapter on the epidemiology
of Candida infections should be considered for the next edition.
The chapters covering the cell biology are most useful, either as a comprehensive
overview or as a reference text for researchers and students interested
in the biology of these organisms.
Mary E. Brandt
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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