Chlamydia Intracellular Biology, Pathogenesis, and Immunity

From The Critics

Reviewer: Gary L. Gorby, M.D.(Creighton University Medical Center)
Description: This is a comprehensive review of the biology of chlamydia, covered from multiple points of view including molecular phylogeny, pathogenesis, epidemiology, immunology, and future directions for research. It consists of an introduction and 13 chapters by 12 contributors.
Purpose: The purpose is to cover the chlamydia field broadly in the context of exciting changes that have occurred since the last major book on the topic was published more than ten years ago.
Audience: Researchers in the chlamydia field are the core audience for this book, but immunologists, cell biologists, and other scientists who study the pathogenesis of bacterial infections may also find it to be of interest.
Features: The editor covers what has been learned from the sequencing of chlamydia species' genomes, the metabolism and growth cycle of chlamydia and its relationship to host cell biology, the nature and spread of chlamydia species infections, host immunity to infection, and future research directions. He delivers on his promise in ten chapters written by 12 contributors. An introduction by the editor sets the stage well for these detailed discussions. Researchers in the field will find it a valuable resource with extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter, often exceeding more than 180 references.
Assessment: This book is a thorough, comprehensive guide to understanding the biology of chlamydia. It was written following the Ninth International Symposium on Human Chlamydial Infection (held in June, 1998) meaning that it is full of up-to-date information. It will undoubtedly become a must-have for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and investigators in the field of chlamydia research. With the explosion of knowledge during the 1990s in the field of chlamydia research, a comprehensive look at the field is certainly needed. This book accomplishes that task admirably.

Gary L. Gorby

This is a comprehensive review of the biology of chlamydia, covered from multiple points of view including molecular phylogeny, pathogenesis, epidemiology, immunology, and future directions for research. It consists of an introduction and 13 chapters by 12 contributors. The purpose is to cover the chlamydia field broadly in the context of exciting changes that have occurred since the last major book on the topic was published more than ten years ago. Researchers in the chlamydia field are the core audience for this book, but immunologists, cell biologists, and other scientists who study the pathogenesis of bacterial infections may also find it to be of interest. The editor covers what has been learned from the sequencing of chlamydia species' genomes, the metabolism and growth cycle of chlamydia and its relationship to host cell biology, the nature and spread of chlamydia species infections, host immunity to infection, and future research directions. He delivers on his promise in ten chapters written by 12 contributors. An introduction by the editor sets the stage well for these detailed discussions. Researchers in the field will find it a valuable resource with extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter, often exceeding more than 180 references. This book is a thorough, comprehensive guide to understanding the biology of chlamydia. It was written following the Ninth International Symposium on Human Chlamydial Infection (held in June, 1998) meaning that it is full of up-to-date information. It will undoubtedly become a must-have for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and investigators in the field of chlamydia research. With the explosion of knowledge during the1990s in the field of chlamydia research, a comprehensive look at the field is certainly needed. This book accomplishes that task admirably.

Booknews

Reviews the past 10 years of chlamydial research. Material is organized by discipline, allowing for comparison and integration of issues across all chlamydial species. Highlights include discussion of identification of a new emerging chlamydial pathogen, and the completion of genome sequences for and . Other subjects are cell biology, infection and disease epidemiology, mechanisms of disease, and models of immunity. Material originated at a June 1998 symposium. The editor is affiliated with the School of Public Health at UC-Berkeley, and with the Francis I. Proctor Foundation at UC-San Francisco. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

3 Stars from Doody