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  • by Jane Flint, Vincent R. Racaniello, Glenn F. Rall, et al.
    £119.99

  • by John Booss
    £32.49

    To Catch a VirusTrace the evolution of diagnostic virology from yellow fever to COVID-19Join expert storytellers John Booss, Marilyn J. August, and Marie Louise Landry in a journey through the history of viral epidemics and the detective work of those determined to identify the culprits and treat the infected.From the identification of the first virus in the late 1800s to the molecular techniques that enabled the rapid recognition of and vaccine development for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, viral diagnostic methods have progressed over the past century to become a formidable tool in human health care. This collection of gripping historical narratives covers a range of fascinating outbreaks and public health challenges, from yellow fever and smallpox to AIDS and COVID-19. This new edition chronicles the ongoing story of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the people, the pathogen, and the progress in the diagnostic laboratory and clinical settings that has touched every aspect of global health.The many photographs and rich biographical sketches of key figures, diagrams of diagnostic procedures, micrographs of virus-infected cells, timelines, and a new glossary of key terms make To Catch a Virus compelling reading. This book serves as an excellent resource for courses in virology, immunology, microbiology, and public health.As the world struggles with the ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, To Catch a Virus is an insightful and superbly told story that chronicles the incredible metamorphosis of diagnostic virology and the technological advances that now make it possible to quickly and accurately detect and monitor the many disease-causing viruses that plague humankind. A stimulating, informative, and absorbing read that is highly recommended.--Richard L. Hodinka, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; former Director, Clinical Virology Laboratory, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaTo Catch a Virus provides a beautifully written and compelling story of scientific discovery. It carefully traces the understanding of viral diseases from the turn of the twentieth century to the present. For general readers the authors provide timely and expert guidance to the extraordinary advances in diagnosis, surveillance, and therapeutics that constitute the silver lining in the otherwise somber years of COVID-19. For anyone wishing to understand the challenges confronting virologists and their accomplishments to date, this work is the place to start.--Frank M. Snowden, PhD, Andrew Downey Orrick Professor Emeritus of History, Yale University; former Chair, Program in History of Science and History of Medicine, Yale University

  • - Pathogenesis and Control
    by S. Jane (Princeton University Flint
    £73.99

    Principles of Virology, the leading virology textbook in use, is an extremely valuable and highly informative presentation of virology at the interface of modern cell biology and immunology. This text utilizes a uniquely rational approach by highlighting common principles and processes across all viruses. Using a set of representative viruses to illustrate the breadth of viral complexity, students are able to under-stand viral reproduction and pathogenesis and are equipped with the necessary tools for future encounters with new or understudied viruses.This fifth edition was updated to keep pace with the ever-changing field of virology. In addition to the beloved full-color illustrations, video interviews with leading scientists, movies, and links to exciting blogposts on relevant topics, this edition includes study questions and active learning puzzles in each chapter, as well as short descriptions regarding the key messages of references of special interest.Volume I: Molecular Biology focuses on the molecular processes of viral reproduction, from entry through release. Volume II: Pathogenesis and Control addresses the interplay between viruses and their host organisms, on both the micro- and macroscale, including chapters on public health, the immune response, vaccines and other antiviral strategies, viral evolution, and a brand new chapter on the therapeutic uses of viruses. These two volumes can be used for separate courses or together in a single course. Each includes a unique appendix, glossary, and links to internet resources.Principles of Virology, Fifth Edition, is ideal for teaching the strategies by which all viruses reproduce, spread within a host, and are maintained within populations. This edition carefully reflects the results of extensive vetting and feedback received from course instructors and students, making this renowned textbook even more appropriate for undergraduate and graduate courses in virology, microbiology, and infectious diseases.

  • - Molecular Biology
    by Jane (Princeton University) Flint
    £73.99

    Principles of Virology, the leading virology textbook in use, is an extremely valuable and highly informative presentation of virology at the interface of modern cell biology and immunology. This text utilizes a uniquely rational approach by highlighting common principles and processes across all viruses. Using a set of representative viruses to illustrate the breadth of viral complexity, students are able to under-stand viral reproduction and pathogenesis and are equipped with the necessary tools for future encounters with new or understudied viruses.This fifth edition was updated to keep pace with the ever-changing field of virology. In addition to the beloved full-color illustrations, video interviews with leading scientists, movies, and links to exciting blogposts on relevant topics, this edition includes study questions and active learning puzzles in each chapter, as well as short descriptions regarding the key messages of references of special interest.Volume I: Molecular Biology focuses on the molecular processes of viral reproduction, from entry through release. Volume II: Pathogenesis and Control addresses the interplay between viruses and their host organisms, on both the micro- and macroscale, including chapters on public health, the immune response, vaccines and other antiviral strategies, viral evolution, and a brand new chapter on the therapeutic uses of viruses. These two volumes can be used for separate courses or together in a single course. Each includes a unique appendix, glossary, and links to internet resources.Principles of Virology, Fifth Edition, is ideal for teaching the strategies by which all viruses reproduce, spread within a host, and are maintained within populations. This edition carefully reflects the results of extensive vetting and feedback received from course instructors and students, making this renowned textbook even more appropriate for undergraduate and graduate courses in virology, microbiology, and infectious diseases.

  • by Luis M. de la Maza, Marie T. Pezzlo, Janet T. Shigei & et al.
    £139.49

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

  • - Cases in Real-World Microbiology
    by Rodney P. (Ohio Northern University Anderson
    £55.99

    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.

  • by Tina M. (The Ohio State University Henkin
    £101.49

    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

  • - Safer Behaviors in Laboratories and Clinical Containment Settings
    by Sean G. (Safer Behaviors Kaufman
    £91.99

    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.

  • by Pascale (Institut Pasteur Cossart
    £105.99

    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.

  • by M Sandkvist
    £105.99

    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.

  • by Vincent A. Fischetti, Richard P. Novick, Joseph J. Ferretti & et al.
    £126.49

    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.

  • - a Molecular Approach
    by Abigail A. Salyers, Dixie D. Whitt, Brenda A. Wilson & et al.
    £93.99

    *Completely revised and updated *Reflects the new face of pathogenesis research with coverage of microbial ecology and pathobiology of different bacterial diseases *Snapshots of each organism appear at the beginning of the chapter in which it is covered *Summary sections are presented as outlines and tables.

  • by RJ Lamont
    £111.99

    The field of oral microbiology has seen fundamental conceptual changes in recent years. Microbial communities are now seen as the fundamental etiological agent in oral diseases through their interface with host inflammatory responses. Study of structured microbial communities has increased our understanding of the roles of each member in the pathogenesis of oral diseases, principles that apply to both periodontitis and dental caries.Against this backdrop, the third edition of Oral Microbiology and Immunology has been substantially expanded and rewritten by an international team of authors and editors. Featured in the current edition are:* links between oral infections and systemic disease* revised and updated overview of the role of the immune system in oral infections* thorough discussions of biofilm development and control* more extensive illustrations and Key Points for student understandingGraduate students, researchers, and clinicians as well as students will find this new edition valuable in study and practice. The field of oral microbiology has seen fundamental conceptual changes in recent years. Microbial communities are now seen as the fundamental etiological agent in oral diseases through their interface with host inflammatory responses. Study of structured microbial communities has increased our understanding of the roles of each member in the pathogenesis of oral diseases, principles that apply to both periodontitis and dental caries.Against this backdrop, the third edition of Oral Microbiology and Immunology has been substantially expanded and rewritten by an international team of authors and editors. Featured in the current edition are:* links between oral infections and systemic disease* revised and updated overview of the role of the immune system in oral infections* thorough discussions of biofilm development and control* more extensive illustrations and Key Points for student understandingGraduate students, researchers, and clinicians as well as students will find this new edition valuable in study and practice.

  • - Fundamentals and Frontiers, Fifth Edition
    by Colin Hill, Michael Doyle & Francisco Diez-Gonzalez
    £139.49

    Since its introduction in 1997, the purpose of Food Microbiology: Fundamentals and Frontiers has been to serve as an advanced reference that explores the breadth and depth of food microbiology. Thoroughly updated, the new Fifth Edition adds coverage of the ever-expanding tool chest of new and extraordinary molecular methods to address many of the roles that microorganisms play in the production, preservation, and safety of foods.Sections in this valuable reference cover material of special significance to food microbiology such as:* stress response mechanisms, spores, and the use of microbiological criteria and indicator organisms* commodity-oriented discussion of types of microbial food spoilage and approaches for their control* the major foodborne pathogens, including diseases, virulence mechanisms, control measures, and up-to-date details on molecular biology techniques* state-of-the-science information on food preservation approaches, including natural antimicrobials and the use of bacteriophages in controlling foodborne pathogens* beneficial microbes used in food fermentations and to promote human and animal health* updated chapters on current topics such as antimicrobial resistance, predictive microbiology, and risk assessmentThis respected reference provides up-to-the-minute scientific and technical insights into food production and safety, readily available in one convenient source.

  •  
    £30.99

    Many girls want to become scientists when they grow up, just like many boys do. But for these girls, the struggle to do what they love and to be treated with respect has been much harder because of the discrimination and bias in our society. In Women in Microbiology, we meet women who, despite these obstacles and against tough odds, have become scientific leaders and revered mentors. The women profiled in this collection range from historic figures like Alice Catherine Evans and Ruth Ella Moore to modern heroes like Michele Swanson and Katrina Forest.What binds all of these remarkable women are a passion for their work, a zest for life, a warm devotion to mentoring others--especially younger women--and a sense of justice and fairness that they are willing to fight tirelessly to obtain. Each story is unique, but each woman featured in Women in Microbiology has done so much to expand our knowledge of the natural world while also making it easier for the next generation of scientists to work collaboratively and in an atmosphere where people are judged by their intellect, imagination, skill, and commitment to service regardless of gender or race.Women in Microbiology is a wonderful collection of stories that will inspire everyone, but especially young women and men who are wondering how to find their way in the working world. Some of the names are familiar and some are lesser known, but all of the stories arouse a sense of excitement, driven by tales of new, important scientific insights, stories of overcoming adversity and breaking boundaries, and the inclusion of personal tips and advice from successful careers. These stories are proof that a person can live a balanced and passionate life in science that is rich and rewarding.

  •  
    £100.99

    Revealing the many roles of RNA in regulating gene expression For decades after the discoveries of messenger RNA, transfer RNA, and ribosomal RNA, it was largely assumed that the role of RNA in the cell was limited to shuttling the genomic message, chaperoning amino acids, and toiling in the ribosomes.

  •  
    £84.99

    The global spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria is a continuing challenge to the health care of humans and domesticated animals. With no new agents on the horizon, it is imperative to use antimicrobial agents wisely to preserve their future efficacy.Led by Editors Stefan Schwarz, Lina Maria Cavaco, and Jianzhong Shen with Frank Møller Aarestrup, an international team of experts in antimicrobial resistance of livestock and companion animals has created this valuable reference for veterinary students and practitioners as well as researchers and decision makers interested in understanding and preventing antimicrobial resistance.

  • by Reeti (Northwell Health Laboratories Khare
    £107.49

    The explosion in clinical testing has been especially rapid in virology, where emerging viruses and growing numbers of viral infections are driving advances. The Guide to Clinical and Diagnostic Virology offers a digestible view of the breadth and depth of information related to clinical virology, providing a practical, working knowledge of the wide array of viruses that cause human disease.Introductory chapters cover the basics of clinical virology and laboratory diagnosis of infections, including virus structure, life cycle, transmission, taxonomy, specimen types and handling, and a comparison of assays used for detection. Detailed sections on important topics include* Viral pathogens and their clinical presentations* Diagnostic assays and techniques, including culture-based, immunological, and molecular* Prevention and management of viral infections, with guidance on biosafety, vaccines, and antiviral therapies* The regulatory environment for laboratory testing, including regulatory requirements and assay performance and interpretationCritical concepts are carefully curated and concisely summarized and presented with detailed illustrations that aid comprehension, along with important highlights and helpful hints. These features, plus question sections that reinforce significant ideas and key concepts, make this an invaluable text for anyone looking for an accessible route through clinical and diagnostic virology. Laboratory technologists, medical students, infectious disease and microbiology fellows, pathology residents, researchers, and everyone involved with viruses in the clinical setting will find the Guide to Clinical and Diagnostic Virology an excellent text as well as companion to clinical virology references.

  •  
    £100.99

    Microbial transmission, the processes by which microbes transit to new environments, is a significant and broad-reaching concept with applications throughout the biological sciences. This collection of reviews, edited by an international team of experts studying and working across a range of disciplines, explores transmission not just as an idea in disease but as a fundamental biological process that acts in all domains of nature and exerts its force on disparate size scales, from the micro to the macro, and across units of time as divergent as a single bacterial replication cycle and the entire course of evolution.In five sections, this overview* Defines the concept of transmission and covers basic processes of transmission, including causality, control strategies, fitness costs, virulence, and selection* Presents numerous combinations of transmission scenarios across the bacterial, animal, and human interface* Examines transmission as the defining characteristic of infectious disease* Presents methods for experimentally verifying and quantifying transmission episodes* Concludes with important theoretical and modeling approachesAnyone studying or working in microbial colonization, evolution, pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, or public health will benefit from a deeper understanding of Microbial Transmission.

  • - A Laboratory Course in Microbiology
    by Richard J. (University of Texas at Austin Meyer
    £61.49

    Solving real-world health challenges in a learning environmentYou are at an exciting gateway into the world of microorganisms. With nothing more than basic lab equipment such as microscopes, Petri dishes, media, and a handful of reagents, you will learn to isolate, grow, and identify bacteria that live all around us. This is no ordinary microbiology laboratory course; not only will you learn how to streak plates, use a microscope, perform a Gram stain, and prepare serial dilutions and spread plates--fundamental skills found in every microbiologist's toolkit--you will solve a series of public health-related challenges that many professional microbiologists encounter in their work.By the end of this course, you will:* Determine the origin of a nosocomial infection. Using foundational and molecular methods, you will determine whether the infections occurring in hospitalized patients are the result of contaminated medical items.* Select the antibiotic to treat a patient with Crohn's disease. You will find minimum inhibitory concentrations of various antibiotics for a Pseudomonas strain associated with Crohn's disease.* Pinpoint the source of lettuce contaminated with E. coli. Using molecular tools you will investigate a common food safety challenge, antibiotic-resistant E. coli and the potential for spread of this resistance in the environment.* Find the farm releasing pathogens into a stream used for drinking water. Using bacteriophage load in water samples, you will locate the source of fecal contamination in the water supply of a village in an underdeveloped country.* Evaluate the potential of bacteria to cause a urinary tract infection. You will test for biofilms, quorum sensing behavior, and chemotaxis and assess which disinfectants would be most effective for sanitizing contaminated surfaces.Microbiology educators and researchers Richard Meyer and Stacie Brown have created this hands-on, engaging introduction to the essential laboratory skills in the microbial sciences that is sure to change the way you view the world around you.

  • - Therapeutic Microbes for Prevention and Treatment of Disease
     
    £84.99

    Examining the enormous potential of microbiome manipulation to improve healthAssociations between the composition of the intestinal microbiome and many human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and cancer, have been elegantly described in the past decade. Now, whole-genome sequencing, bioinformatics, and precision gene-editing techniques are being combined with centuries-old therapies, such as fecal microbiota transplantation, to translate current research into new diagnostics and therapeutics to treat complex diseases. Bugs as Drugs provides a much-needed overview of microbes in therapies and will serve as an excellent resource for scientists and clinicians as they carry out research and clinical studies on investigating the roles the microbiota plays in health and disease.In Bugs as Drugs, editors Robert A. Britton and Patrice D. Cani have assembled a fascinating collection of reviews that chart the history, current efforts, and future prospects of using microorganisms to fight disease and improve health. Sections cover traditional uses of probiotics, next-generation microbial therapeutics, controlling infectious diseases, and indirect strategies for manipulating the host microbiome. Topics presented include:* How well-established probiotics support and improve host health by improving the composition of the intestinal microbiota of the host and by modulating the host immune response.* The use of gene editing and recombinant DNA techniques to create tailored probiotics and to characterize next-generation beneficial microbes. For example, engineering that improves the anti-inflammatory profile of probiotics can reduce the number of colonic polyps formed, and lactobacilli can be transformed into targeted delivery systems carrying therapeutic proteins or bioengineered bacteriophage.* The association of specific microbiota composition with colorectal cancer, liver diseases, osteoporosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The gut microbiota has been proposed to serve as an organ involved in regulation of inflammation, immune function, and energy homeostasis.* Fecal microbiota transplantation as a promising treatment for numerous diseases beyond C. difficile infection. Practical considerations for using fecal microbiota transplantation are provided, while it is acknowledged that more high-quality evidence is needed to ascertain the importance of strain specificity in positive treatment outcomes.Because systems biology approaches and synthetic engineering of microbes are now high-throughput and cost-effective, a much wider range of therapeutic possibilities can be explored and vetted.

  • by Lynne Shore (UCLA Medical Center Garcia
    £153.49

    Covers all aspects of human medical parasitology and provides detailed, comprehensive, relevant diagnostic methods in one volume. The sixth edition incorporates newly recognized parasites, discusses new and improved diagnostic methods, and relevant regulatory requirements.

  • - A Hypertextbook
    by Scott T. (San Diego State University) Kelley
    £66.99

    An introduction to the world of bioinformatics. Massive increases in computing power and the ability to routinely sequence whole genomes of living organisms have begun to fundamentally alter our understanding of biology, medicine, and agriculture.

  • by WM Dunne
    £51.49

    In the clinical microbiology laboratory, blood is a critical diagnostic sample that, in the majority of cases is sterile (or is it?). However, when microbes gain access to and multiply in the bloodstream, it can result in life-threatening illness including sepsis. Mortality rates from bloodstream infection and sepsis range from 25% to 80%, killing millions of people annually. Blood cultures are a vital technology used in the microbiology laboratory to isolate and identify microbes and predict their response to antimicrobial therapy.The Dark Art of Blood Cultures, edited by Wm. Michael Dunne, Jr., and Carey-Ann D. Burnham, surveys the entire field of blood culture technology, providing valuable information about every phase of the process, from drawing samples to culture methods to processing positive cultures. The Dark Art of Blood Cultures is organized around several major topics.* History of blood culture methods. Details the timeline of blood culture methods from manual through automated and describes the technological development of the leading automated blood culture systems (Bactec, BacT/Alert, and VersaTREK).* Manual and automated blood culture methods. Critiques manual and automated methods for setting up blood cultures for adult and pediatric patients.* Detection of pathogens directly from blood specimens. Describes currently available CE marked and FDA-cleared commercial tests using both phenotypic and genotypic markers, including their strengths and limitations.* The workflow of culturing blood. Includes best practices from specimen collection to culture system verification, processing positive cultures for microbe identification and antibiotic susceptibility determination, along with the epidemiology of positive blood cultures and the value of postmortem blood cultures.* Microorganisms in the blood. Examines the concept of a blood microbiome in healthy and diseased individuals.The Dark Art of Blood Cultures is a resource that clinicians, laboratorians, lab directors, and hospital administrators will find engaging and extremely useful.

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