C Is for CFTR, M Is for Mdr, S is for Ste6—The Alphabet of ABC Proteins

gens, but each of them is also an absolutely unique the view that Listeria is a Gram-negative enterobacte-combination of virulence factors. Even more, some of rium disguised as a Gram-positive bacterium. Although the common virulence mechanisms may be used in dif-this second part of the book compares pathogens like ferent contexts and generate different, if not antagonis-every Medical Microbiology textbook has done since tic, effects in the host. This is nicely exemplified by type the origins of Microbiology, it is nevertheless absolutely III secretion, which triggers the internalization of certain essential. Forgetting this part and concentrating only on bacteria by nonphagocytic cells, while it protects other mechanisms may indeed lead to major medical confu-bacteria from phagocytosis! Clearly, pathogenic bacte-sions since similar molecular mechanisms can contrib-ria contribute to the diversity of Mother Nature. There-ute to syndromes as different as meningitis and diarrhea. fore, there is no alternative for a book but to deal with My only regret for this part of the book is the omission each genus of pathogenic bacteria separately. In short, of a great number of bacterial pathogens, including top writing a comprehensive book about the infection's biol-killers like Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Neisseria ogy or, more simply, about current state of Medical meningitidis. Atypical bacteria like Chlamydia, Ricket-Microbiology, is a tough challenge. tsia, Bartonella, and Borrelia are unfortunately also Jö rg Hacker and Jü rgen Heesemann took up this chal-missing in this part, although they are cited on several lenge, and they did it very well. First, they made the occasions in the general part. Of course, space is always wise decision to introduce first the general concepts a limit, but then, one may wonder why Toxoplasma gon-and mechanisms and then to describe individually a dii and Candida albicans found their place. Also, readers number of pathogens. Let us first consider the general should be warned that in spite of the general title of the part. This part begins with a reminder of the host-book, they will not find any virus description. Viruses defense mechanisms. Although it is a good synthesis, only appear in lists of agents causing the various infec-some readers may think that the chapter devoted to the tious syndromes. This is, perhaps, unfortunate because inflammatory reaction could have been more thorough. the discovery of numerous bacterial virulence effectors This section also includes some basic Cell Biology pro-has brought bacteria and viruses a lot closer. cesses …