Includes bibliographical references and index.

The microbial world and you -- Chemical principles -- Observing microorganisms through a microscope -- Functional anatomy of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells -- Microbial metabolism -- Microbial growth -- The control of microbial growth -- Microbial genetics -- Biotechnology and DNA technology -- Classification of microorganisms -- The prokaryotes: domains bacteria and archaea -- The eukaryotes: fungi, algae, protozoa, and helminths -- Viruses, viroids, and prions -- Principles of disease and epidemiology -- Microbial mechanisms of pathogenicity -- Innate immunity: nonspecific defenses of the host -- Adaptive immunity: specific defenses of the host -- Practical applications of immunology -- Disorders associated with the immune system -- Antimicrobial drugs -- Microbial diseases of the skin and eyes -- Microbial diseases of the nervous system -- Microbial diseases of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems -- Microbial diseases of the respiratory system -- Microbial diseases of the digestive system -- Microbial diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems -- Environmental microbiology -- Applied and industrical microbiology.