Microbiology: then and now -- The chemical building blocks of life -- Concepts and tools for studying microorganisms -- Structure of bacteria and archaeal cells -- Microbial growth and nutrition -- Microbial metabolism -- Control of microorganisms: physical and chemical methods -- Microbial genetics -- Gene transfer, genetic engineering, and genomics -- Airborne bacterial diseases -- Foodborne and waterborne bacterial diseases -- Soilborne and arthropodborne bacterial diseases -- Sexually transmitted and contact transmitted bacterial diseases -- The viruses and virus-like agents -- Viral infections of the respiratory tract and skin -- Viral infections of the blood, lymphatic, gastrointestinal, and nervous system -- Eukaryotic microorganisms : the fungi -- Eukaryotic microorganisms : the parasites -- Infection and disease -- Resistance and the immune system : innate immunity -- Resistance and the immune system: adaptive immunity -- Immunity and serology -- Immune disorders and aids -- Antimicrobial drugs -- Microbiology of foods -- Environmental microbiology -- Industrial microbiology and biotechnology.