A fully revised and enlarged edition of the textbook first published in 1929, this five-volume work comes complete with a separate cumulative index. The editors have assembled a team of 143 specialist contributors, while taking care to maintain uniformity of style and approach throughout. There has been a move away from a taxonomic grouping of organisms to a more clinically relevant structure - this links taxonomic microbiology with clinical sections on disease pathophysiology, chemotherapy and vaccination, aiding understanding of bacterial and viral infections. The content of "Volume 1 - General Microbiology and Immunity" has been reorganized into three sections, after an introductory section setting the historical framework, Section A describes the general characters of bacteria. A new chapter on medical aspects of bacterial and bacteriophage genetics replaces the earlier chapters on bacterial variation and bacteriophage, placing greater emphasis on aspects of medical relevance in this rapidly expanding subject. Section B considers bacteria in the environment, and a new chapter has been added on the bacteriology of foods other than milk and milk products. Section C covers bacteria associated with the animal body and follows a common theme of host-parasite interaction. "Volume 2 - Systematic Bacteriology" provides the descriptions of the bacteria that may be encountered in the clinical, veterinary or public health laboratory. Its approach to systematic bacteriology corresponds fairly closely to that of volume 2 of the seventh edition, but the text has been completely revised. Much new information has been accommodated, notably about the chemical composition and metabolic activities of individual groups of organisms. "Volume 3 - Bacterial Diseases" treats the bacterial diseases of animal and man separately from the account of the general characters of bacteria and systematic biology. There are now more contributors and new chapters on laboratory diagnosis, urinary-tract infections, septicaemia and endocarditis, and diseases of immunodeficient or immunosuppressed patients. Many existing chapters have been extensively rewritten, and the striking growth of knowledge in the field of Campylobacter infection is reflected in a completely new account. The rapid accretion of knowledge in the field of virology has demanded the addition of much new material and the extensive revision of nearly every chapter of "Volume 4 - Virology". The text is newly divided into two parts. The first deals in a general way with the properties of viruses and with viral infections, and includes for the first time articles on infections in immunocompromised patients, immumization, antiviral therapy and diagnostic methods. Part 2 is devoted to individual viruses, groups of viruses and to clinical syndromes. There is a new chapter on parvoviruses, and retroviruses now have a sizeable chapter of their own, which includes a comprehensive account of AIDS.

Table of Contents:
Volume 1 General microbiology and immunity, edited by Alan H.Linton and Heather M.Dick: general characteristics of bacteria; bacteria in the environment; the normal immune system; bacteria in association with the animal body. Volume 2 Systematic bacteriology, edited by Tom Parker and Brian I.Duerden. Volume 3 Bacterial diseases, edited by Geoffrey R.Smith and Charles S.F.Easmon. Volume 4 Virology, edited by Leslie H.Collier and Morag C.Timbury: general virology; viruses and their diseases. Volume 5 Cumulative index.