Includes index.

Introduction to microbes and their building blocks -- Tools of the laboratory: methods for the culturing and microscopic analysis of microorganisms -- Bacteria and archaea -- Eukaryotic cells and microorganisms -- Viral structure and life cycles -- Microbial nutrition and growth -- Microbial metabolism -- Microbial genetics and genetic engineering -- Physical and chemical control of microbes -- Antimicrobial treatment -- Interactions between microbes and humans -- Host defenses I: overview and nonspecific defenses -- Host defenses II: specific immunity and immunization -- Disorders in immunity -- Diagnosing infections -- Infectious diseases affecting the skin and eyes -- Infectious diseases affecting the nervous system -- Infectious diseases affecting the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems -- Infectious diseases affecting the respiratory systems -- Infectious diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract -- Infectious diseases affecting the genitourinary system -- One health: the interconnected health of the environment, humans, and other animals.