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Microbiology : international student version
The development of microbiology—from Leeuwenhoek's astonished observations of "animalcules," to Pasteur's first use of rabies vaccine on a human, to Fleming's dis¬covery of penicillin, to today's race to develop an AIDS vaccine is one of the most dramatic stories in the history of science. To understand the roles microbes play in our lives, including the interplay between microorganisms and humans, we must examine, learn about, and study their world—the world of microbiology.
Microorganisms are everywhere. They exist in a range of environments from mountains and volcanoes to deep-seas vents and hot springs. Microorganisms can be found in the air we breathe, in the food we eat, and even within our own body. In fact, we come in contact with countless numbers of microorganisms every day. Although some microbes can cause disease, most are not disease produc¬ers; rather they play a critical role in the processes that provide energy and make life possible. Some even pre¬vent disease, and others are used in attempts to cure dis¬ease. Because microorganisms play diverse roles in the world, microbiology continues to be an exciting and criti¬cal discipline of study. And because microbes affect our everyday lives, microbiology provides many challenges and offers many rewards. Look at your local newspaper, and you will find items concerning microbiology: to men¬tion a few, reports on diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and cancer; the resurgence of malaria and dengue fever, or "new" diseases.
For example the current public health problem with people dying of Listeria infections gotten from cantaloupes, can be prevented. Chapter 1 describes an anti-Listeria bacteriophage product licensed by the U.S. government, which kills all Listeria on the surface of cut
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