Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Microbiology
Third Edition

Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Microbiology
Third Edition

MICROBIOLOGY

Microorganisms can be found in every ecosystem and in close association with every type of multicellular organism. They populate the healthy
human body by the billions as benign passengers (normal flora, see
p. 7) and even as participants in bodily functions. For example, bacteria
play a role in the degradation of intestinal contents. In this volume, we
primarily consider the role of microorganisms (that is, bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, helminths, and viruses) in the initiation and spread of human
diseases. Those relatively few species of microorganisms that are harmful to humans, either by production of toxic compounds or by direct infection, are characterized as pathogens.
Most infectious disease is initiated by colonization (the establishment of
proliferating microorganisms on the skin or mucous membranes) as
shown in Figure 1.1. The major exceptions are diseases caused by introduction of organisms directly into the bloodstream or internal organs.
Microbial colonization may result in: 1) elimination of the microorganism
without affecting the host; 2) infection in which the organisms multiply
and cause the host to react by making an immune or other type of
response or 3) a transient or prolonged carrier state. Infectious disease
occurs when the organism causes tissue damage and impairment of
body function.

Cynthia Nau Cornelissen, Ph.D.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
School of Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Bruce D. Fisher, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Neptune, New Jersey
Department of Medicine
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Piscataway, New Jersey
Richard A. Harvey, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Piscataway, New Jersey

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a Wolters Kluwer business

2013

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