BOOK REVIEWS 3355

Cellular : to an exciting field. In studying the reviews’ of the area. This will be very pathogenesis of infectious diseases it is useful for students studying these areas. an integrated approach clear that an understanding of the interaction between the and the Cellular Microbiology is very well to understanding requires a knowledge of both written and readable. The contributors and here we have an excellent source of are all experts in their respective fields pathogenesis of information for the integrated study of and manage to communicate a sense of microbiology and biology. The first excitement that will be particularly two chapters are a useful general valuable for readers relatively new to the introduction to the two subject areas and area. The appearance of the book is will be particularly useful for scientists enhanced by high quality diagrams and of the ‘opposite’ discipline i.e. colour plates and the inclusion of some microbiologists will find the nice electron micrographs. Summary section particularly useful and vice boxes provide useful background versa. The chapters then progress information relevant to the area being through the encounter of the pathogen discussed; selected readings at the end of with the eukaryotic cell, from the each chapter provide a good starting interactions occurring at the cell surface, point for those wishing to find further the mechanisms of attachment and the information; however, there is no interaction with the cell , to extensive referencing in the text, which the action of bacterial and the may be a problem for the more consequences of these interactions. Although the book relates mainly to the specialised reader. interaction of with the host there are also many interesting discussions on Overall, this is an excellent textbook. I parasites and some fungi. Later chapters am sure it will serve both as an essential describe the interaction of teaching aid for undergraduate cellular with the immune system, covering the microbiology courses (which are use of bacterial products as tools in cell becoming increasingly common) as well Cellular Microbiology biology and describing some of the as for graduate students and other underlying methodology involved in researchers in this expanding area. The by P. Cossart, P. Boquet, S. cellular microbiology; there are also editors and contributors are to be Normark and R. Rappuoli interesting chapters on Type III and congratulated on producing such a wide- ASM Press (2000) pp. 392. ISBN 1-55581-157-4 Type IV systems. As with any ranging and readable book. I am sure it $75.95 textbook in a rapidly expanding area will both consolidate interest in the area there is a danger that the information as well as recruit new members to the The term ‘cellular microbiology’ was contained will rapidly become dated. group of people who are fascinated by coined by the editors of this book in This may apply especially to the the study of cellular microbiology. 1996. Since then several volumes and chapters on secretion systems which are journals addressing this subject have the subject of intense research effort. Tim J. Mitchell been produced and Cellular The chapters are all relatively short and Infection and Immunity, University of Microbiology is a valuable contribution can be read as stand alone ‘mini- Glasgow, UK Phagocytosis, a cell become a dominant approach in several in this field. In other words, the science disciplines of the life sciences, including of phagocytosis is now dominated by an biology view the study of phagocytic cells! Before, analytical approach based on with exceptions, the science of deciphering the signals that carry out Advances in Cell and phagocytosis had often remained each of the critical steps of the process. descriptive, with microbiologists Edited by a master of the discipline, in of providing detailed descriptions of the 21 chapters, this book – with great Membranes and Organelles various types and stages of justice dedicated to the late Zanvil A. Volume 5 - Phagocytosis: internalization and killing or survival of Cohn – covers the molecular and cellular the Host the pathogenic , and aspects of phagocytic processes in a immunologists providing an exhaustive logical progression. The best specialists edited by Alan M. Tartakoff; description of the complex processes of in the field have risen to the challenge. volume editor, Siamon Gordon microbe degradation, antigen processing JAI Press Inc./Ablex Publishing Corp. (1999) and presentation following the Four chapters are devoted to receptors, pp. 521. ISBN 1-55938-999-0 phagocytic process per se. certainly representing one of the best and $147.50 most exhaustive current reviews of this Phagocytosis: the Host excellently field. Of particular interest are the recent Over the last few years, cell biology has reflects the revolution that has occurred developments on scavenging receptors 3356 BOOK REVIEWS with regard to phagocytosis of both survival. A splendid example of criticism, it would be the illustrations. microbes and apoptotic bodies. . For a field that is extremely prone to rich illustrations, figures are generally In the next three chapters, signalling The last five chapters form a section scarce and grey, and the of makes a spectacular entry: our (Responses) that encompasses most of the electron images is knowledge of the molecular mechanisms the effector mechanisms that link the generally poor in definition, brightness that regulate the cytoskeleton is phagocytic event to the immune and contrast. This should not deter exponentially increasing and finds here response, a domain that dictates the anyone interested in the field from its perfect niche. To this section might subtle transition between the innate and acquiring this volume and its brother have been added the chapter entitled the adaptative immune response. The volume on interactions with microbes. ‘The Phagocytic Cytoskeleton’, antimicrobial mechanisms of phagocytic No doubt this, for the years to come, which appears in the next section of four cells are largely described here, chapters devoted to ‘the pathway’, in including antimicrobial peptides, in will be a reference text for other words, the maturation of often overlapping chapters. This does phagocytosis. phagosomes. Here again, progress has not matter at all because, again, the best been tremendous in understanding the specialists have gathered to produce a Microbiologists, immunologists and cell logics of maturation pathways and we single chapter and the science presented , both students and senior are very much looking forward to the is of the highest quality. scientists will find here updated next volume Phagocytosis: the information and all the relevant and most Microbes, which will show how these So, altogether, this is a splendid recent references (up to 2500). microbes can perturb, to their profit, contribution that will represent a phagosomal maturation in order to keystone in the fast moving field of Philippe Sansonetti ‘carve’ a niche which permits their phagocytosis. If this reader had one Insitut Pasteur, Paris, France A concise yet informative Ever since Gross discovered that multiple levels of regulation of MMP collagenase was responsible for activity through gene transcription, stroll through matrix resorption of the tadpole tail, there has proenzyme activation, and inhibition by been a small group of outstanding TIMPs. The book is filled with readable metalloproteinases and scientists that have dedicated their tables depicting important concepts in TIMPs careers to the study of matrix classification, evolution, and substrate metalloproteinases (MMPs). The family specificity. The authors provide of MMPs has now grown to over 20, and extensive key references for further they have been implicated in multiple reading as only they can. The only area biological processes drawing the not extensively covered is the rapidly attention of scientists of many emerging in vivo of MMPs that disciplines. Two leaders in the field who comes from transgenic and gene have ushered in the modern era of MMP targeted mice and animal models. biology are Fred Woessner and Hideake Perhaps this will be the sequel to this Nagase and they share their expertise in primer. Matrix Metalloproteinases and TIMPs. In a concise, yet thorough manner, these As the biological role of these enzymes authors provide the basic biochemical expands and it becomes more difficult and biological basis for the study of MMPs. This information, laced with a for scientists to ignore MMPs, this book strong sense of historical perspective, is provides a meaningful and painless way conveyed in the same interesting to become fluent in the field. Upon manner in which they educated this completion of the text, readers will feel reviewer and many others over late comfortable incorporating MMPs into night scotch at MMP Gordon their research endeavors. Hopefully this Conferences. work will spark investigators to ask how these enzymes relate to one’s own Matrix Metalloproteinases For the interested novice, one will come research interests thus broadening our and TIMPs away no longer needing a score card to general biological knowledge. by J. Frederick Woessner and keep track of MMP-1 through MMP-22 Hideaki Nagase (perhaps more by now). One will Steven D. Shapiro understand which cells produce which Dept Pediatrics, Oxford University Press (2000) pp. 223. ISBN 0-19- 850268-0 MMPs and TIMPs in response to which Washington University £35.00 stimuli. The reader will understand the School of Medicine, USA