A Brief History Of Bacteria

This book explains how pathogenic bacteria cause diseases, how the human immune system launches timely and effective defense mechanisms against bacterial infection, why the discovery and application of penicillin and streptomycin are so important, how scientists have created medicines to defeat bacteria, and why these bacteria might outsmart modern medicine.On the other hand, bacteria can be beneficial to humans: some bacteria live in harmony with the human body, and they are indispensable to our health. They also help in refining biological energy in the post-fossil fuel era, and in producing fermented food.With accessible language, illustrations and comics, this book tells the story of our tumultuous relationship with bacteria and how it has shaped history.

This book explains how pathogenic bacteria cause diseases, how the human immune system launches timely and effective defense mechanisms against bacterial infection, why the discovery and application of penicillin and streptomycin are so important, how scientists have created medicines to defeat bacteria, and why these bacteria might outsmart modern medicine. On the other hand, bacteria can be beneficial to humans: some bacteria live in harmony with the human body, and they are indispensable to our health. They also help in refining biological energy in the post-fossil fuel era, and in producing fermented food. With accessible language, illustrations and comics, this book tells the story of our tumultuous relationship with bacteria and how it has shaped history.

This book introduces readers to the history and discovery of viruses and bacteria. It provides an accessible overview of how several major pandemics have influenced the society and how vaccines and antibiotics were developed. Dive into the fascinating illustrated stories behind 17 common infectious diseases, and learn about the pathogen characteristics, main symptoms, transmission routes, as well as prevention and control strategies. By featuring the difficulties in the struggle against infectious diseases, the contents highlight the scientific spirits and the stories of scientists. Human beings' faith in seeking out the unknown is highly praised, and it is hoped that this book will stimulate people's belief in scientific ideas and methods.

Bacteria form a fundamental branch of life. They are the oldest forms of life as we know it, and they are still the most prolific living organisms. They inhabit every part of the Earth's surface, its ocean depths, and even terrains such as boiling hot springs. They are most familiar as agents of disease, but benign bacteria are critical to the recycling of elements and all ecology, as well as to human health. In this Very Short Introduction, Sebastian Amyes explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, and bacteria and disease. In looking at our efforts to manage co-evolving bacteria, he also considers the challenges of resistance to antibiotics. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Understanding antibiotic chemotherapy at the ecological level is necessary for more permanent advances in development and in the usage of antibiotic agents. This book traces the history of bacteria, from the development of life on earth to the evolution of diversity. It is this diversity that led, almost automatically to the development of pathogens as well as antibiotics. If we are to create long term antibiotics we must design them with this history in mind.