Bacteriophages: Biology and Applications

by Elizabeth Kutter (Editor), Alexander Sulakvelidze (Editor)

Overview

In response to the emergence of pathogenic bacteria that cannot be treated with current antibiotics, many researchers are revisiting the use of bacteriophages, or phages, to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. Bacteriophages: Biology and Applications provides unparalleled, comprehensive information on bacteriophages and their applications, such as phage therapy. It offers techniques, media, and methodology involved in isolating and working with therapeutic phages. Photographs, line drawings, and electron micrographs of phages are also included. With its broad approach, this book is a useful reference for microbiologists, hematologists, and infectious disease researchers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781135511784
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	12/28/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	528
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth Kutter, Alexander Sulakvelidze

Table of Contents

In response to the emergence of pathogenic bacteria that cannot be treated with current antibiotics, many researchers are revisiting the use of bacteriophages, or phages, to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. Bacteriophage as Antibiotics: Molecular Biology and Applications provides unparalleled, comprehensive information on bacteriophages and their applications, such as phage therapy. It covers the techniques, media, and methodology involved in isolating and working with therapeutic phages. Photographs, line drawings, and electron micrographs of phages are also included. With its broad approach, this book is a useful reference for microbiologists, hematologists, and infectious disease researchers.

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

Reviewer: Eugene A Davidson, PhD (Georgetown University School of Medicine)
Description: This book offers a series of reviews of various aspects of phage biology. Types, distribution and several applications are discussed.
Purpose: It is intended to provide the reader with information on phages — in a sense, as a companion to the extensive handbook edited by Calendar. It is worthwhile for many investigators; generally successful.
Audience: The audience includes advanced students, fellows, and investigators. It could serve as a text for an advanced seminar. Editors have assembled a diverse and capable set of contributors.
Features: Many of today's investigators may be unfamiliar with the central role that bacteriophages played in the development of modern biology. Rather than being eclipsed by new developments, phage studies have seen a rebirth with new and resurrected applications being developed. This book provides a comprehensive but not exhaustive overview of this class of organisms. An initial chapter recounts their fascinating history (beginning circa 1915); this is followed by a section devoted to basic properties, classification, and distribution. A series of concluding chapters focus on applications including therapeutic uses. This latter area, although old in concept, has continuing potential use, especially for antibiotic resistant strains of pathogens. The book concludes with appendix material that provides basic laboratory methods for working with phages. Each of the chapters has a suitable bibliography that provides primary source references. There is no discussion of the use of phage display as a combinatorial technique. This caveat aside, the book is approachable and contains much information of value.
Assessment: This is a readable and informative — generally well prepared chapters; sparse illustrations, characteristic of this publisher. Best appreciated by advanced students and fellows.

Doody's Review Service