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Book Review
Cellular Microbiology, 2nd
ed.
Pascale Cossart, Patrice Boquet, Staffan Normark, and Rino Rappuoli,
editors
ASM Press, Washington, DC
ISBN: 1-55581-302-X
Pages: 593, Price: US $119.95
Suggested
citation for this article
The field of cellular microbiology is relatively new and incorporates
aspects of microbiology and host cellular biology. The first edition of
this text, published in 2000, was novel and well received. In general,
this new edition is also well written and includes many of the most important
recent advances in the field (e.g., microarrays and genome sequencing).
The text deals almost exclusively with host cell responses elicited by
interactions with pathogens. The editors are top researchers in the field
of bacterial cellular microbiology, and they have brought together many
new investigators to write chapters in their areas of expertise.
The book's first 2 chapters contain topical background information. These
chapters thoroughly cover many of the basic concepts in molecular cell
biology and introduce all of the various pathogens (bacterial, viral,
and eukaryotic) currently being examined in the popular literature. The
organization of the subsequent chapters typically alternates between topics
in cell biology and bacterial pathogenesis. For example, chapter 11 describes
assembly of the cellular cytoskeleton, while chapter 12 describes the
mechanisms used by pathogenic bacteria to manipulate the cytoskeleton.
Subsequent chapters provide good coverage of bacterial secretion systems,
toxins, and their interactions with the host immune system. Generally,
the figures, diagrams, and drawings are well chosen, and the tables contain
sufficient detail to demonstrate critical points. This is particularly
true for chapters 4–6, which describe the host cell surface properties,
how pathogenic bacteria adhere to and enter the host cell, and ultimately
how the pathogen induces various types of cell signaling. The final chapters
focus on new methods of identifying virulence genes and the use of nonvertebrate
hosts, such as plants and insects, to model mammalian infections.
This book has only a few drawbacks. For example, the first 2 introductory
chapters are too detailed. In subsequent chapters, the emphasis is placed
on bacterial pathogens; only 1 chapter is dedicated to viruses and none
to eukaryotic pathogens (only the introductory paragraphs in chapter 1)
or to nonpathogenic microorganisms of any kind.
This volume will be an important addition to the resources available
to students and researchers in general cell biology or microbiology. Perhaps
Internet interactive companion programs and accompanying CDs would be
useful with future editions. Because the field is moving so quickly, the
authors might consider more frequent updates.
Frederick Quinn*
*University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
Suggested citation
for this article:
Quinn F. Cellular microbiology,
2nd ed. [book review]. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2005
Aug [date cited]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no08/05-0592.htm
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