Books in the ASM Books series

The single most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on bacterial molecular geneticsSnyder & Champness Molecular Genetics of Bacteria is a new edition of a classic text, updated to address the massive advances in the field of bacterial molecular genetics and retitled as homage to the founding authors.In an era experiencing an avalanche of new genetic sequence information, this updated edition presents important experiments and advanced material relevant to current applications of molecular genetics, including conclusions from and applications of genomics; the relationships among recombination, replication, and repair and the importance of organizing sequences in DNA; the mechanisms of regulation of gene expression; the newest advances in bacterial cell biology; and the coordination of cellular processes during the bacterial cell cycle. The topics are integrated throughout with biochemical, genomic, and structural information, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of modern bacterial molecular genetics and its relationship to other fields of modern biology.Although the text is centered on the most-studied bacteria, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, many examples are drawn from other bacteria of experimental, medical, ecological, and biotechnological importance. The book's many useful features include* Text boxes to help students make connections to relevant topics related to other organisms, including humans* A summary of main points at the end of each chapter* Questions for discussion and independent thought* A list of suggested readings for background and further investigation in each chapter* Fully illustrated with detailed diagrams and photos in full color* A glossary of terms highlighted in the textWhile intended as an undergraduate or beginning graduate textbook, Molecular Genetics of Bacteria is an invaluable reference for anyone working in the fields of microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, bioengineering, medicine, molecular biology, and biotechnology."This is a marvelous textbook that is completely up-to-date and comprehensive, but not overwhelming. The clear prose and excellent figures make it ideal for use in teaching bacterial molecular genetics."--Caroline Harwood, University of Washington

Outbreak: Cases in Real-World Microbiology, 2nd Edition, is the newest edition of this fascinating textbook designed for introductory microbiology students and instructors. Thoroughly revised, this collection of case studies of real-world disease outbreaks, generously illustrated in full color, offers material that directly impacts college-level students, while the book's unique presentation offers instructors the flexibility to use it effectively in a number of ways. More than 90 outbreak case studies, organized into six sections according to the human body system affected, illustrate the wide range of diseases caused by microbial pathogens. The studies are presented at differing levels of difficulty and can be taught at all undergraduate levels. Each case study includes questions for students to think about, discuss, and answer, and the book includes an appendix that directs students to the specific reference material on which each case was based, providing the opportunity to investigate further and to apply the reference content to the case being studied. Each of the six sections of the book concludes with a College Perspective and a Global Perspective case study. The College Perspective provides a direct and practical link between the microbiology course and the daily lives of students. The Global Perspective connects students with outbreaks that have occurred in countries around the world to facilitate understanding of the social, religious, economic, and political values at play in the treatment and prevention of infectious disease. At the end of every section, detailed descriptions offer concise yet complete information on each disease involved in that section.

A unique visual reference for the diagnostic microbiology laboratory, conceived by a team of authors with decades of classroom and laboratory experience.

Biological safety is a critical requirement when working with or around infectious disease agents. To prevent exposures and keep staff and patients safe, laboratories and health care facilities rely on personal protective equipment, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and engineering controls. In an instant, however, a single inappropriate human behavior can negate any of these safeguards. This reference provides an important call to action for anyone who relies on safety plans to consider carefully the humans who must follow those plans. Written by an expert in behavioral biosafety training, Prepare and Protect offers a common-sense program for addressing and reducing the risk factors of human behavior. Learn how to Examine the safety culture of your organization and its approach to risk Motivate the compliance, adherence to rules, and community thinking that keep everyone safe Evaluate, validate, and verify SOPs and staff competence Create safety plans and safety training programs that connect outcomes to behaviors Provide leadership that translates the containment philosophy from words to actions The critical message of this book is illustrated and enriched by personal accounts from infectious disease pioneers, from lab safety directors and trainers to the researchers and health care workers directly affected by infectious hazards. If your work involves pathogenic microbes--whether treating patients in a hospital emergency department or conducting research in a biosafety level 2 or higher laboratory--or overseeing those who do these jobs, this resource will teach you how to develop a culture of biosafety through behavior.

Bacteria and Intracellularity clearly demonstrates that cellular microbiology as a field has reached maturity, extending beyond the strictly cellular level to infections of various organs and tissues. Decades of intense investigation into host-bacterial pathogen interactions have highlighted common concepts in intracellularity but also very diverse mechanisms underlying the various infections produced by bacteria. This book offers a wide-ranging look at the latest studies, including: foodborne pathogens, including how, when, and where bacteria interact with the gut and its microbiota infections of the urogenital tract, endothelial barriers, and the nervous system major advances in work with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae subcellular microbiology, including metabolism of infected cells, nuclear biology, and microRNAs endosymbionts, in particular the latest work with Wolbachia and its effect on insect transmission of viral pathogens research into cell autonomous defense pathways that has led to major insights into immunology and innate immunity the latest developments in technology, for the next steps in the study of intracellularity All facets of cellular physiology, within the entire scope of cells and host tissues, can be targeted by pathogens. This book offers to researchers, students, and laboratorians a valuable overview of the state of current research into the cellular microbiology of host-pathogen interactions.

Provides comprehensive coverage of all gram-positive pathogens, including genome data. Appeals to clinicians, infectious disease specialists, and instructors and students seeking a single reference source on gram-positive bacteria.

Protein transport into and across membranes is a fundamental process in bacteria that touches upon and unites many areas of microbiology, including bacterial cell physiology, adhesion and motility, nutrient scavenging, intrabacterial signaling and social behavior, toxin deployment, interbacterial antagonism and collaboration, host invasion and disruption, and immune evasion. A broad repertoire of mechanisms and macromolecular machines are required to deliver protein substrates across bacterial cell membranes for intended effects. Some machines are common to most, if not all bacteria, whereas others are specific to Gram-negative or Gram-positive species or species with unique cell envelope properties such as members of Actinobacteria and Spirochetes.Protein Secretion in Bacteria, authored and edited by an international team of experts, draws together the many distinct functions and mechanisms involved in protein translocation in one concise tome. This comprehensive book presents updated information on all aspects of bacterial protein secretion encompassing:* Individual secretory systems-Sec, Tat, and T1SS through the newly discovered T9SS* Mechanisms, structures, and functions of bacterial secretion systems* Lipoprotein sorting pathways, outer membrane vesicles, and the sortase system* Structures and roles of surface organelles, including flagella, pili, and curli* Emerging technologies and translational implicationsProtein Secretion in Bacteria serves as both an introductory guide for students and postdocs and a ready reference for seasoned researchers whose work touches on protein export and secretion. This volume synthesizes the diversity of mechanisms of bacterial secretion across the microbial world into a digestible resource to stimulate new research, inspire continued identification and characterization of novel systems, and bring about new ways to manipulate these systems for biotechnological, preventative, and therapeutic applications.