We cant see them, but microbes are the dominant form oflife on Earth. They make up half of the worlds biomass. Theywere here billions of years before we were, and they will be hereafter we are gone. Without their activity, life as we know it wouldbe impossible. Even within our own bodies, there are ten times asmany bacterial cells as human cells. Understanding Microbesprovides a clear, accessible introduction to this world ofmicrobes.As well as looking at a selection of infectious diseases,including how they are prevented and treated, the book explores theimportance of microbes in the environment, in the production andpreservation of food, and their applications in biotechnology.This lively and engaging book provides the basics of microbiology,in a contemporary context. It will be equally useful for studentsacross the biological, environmental and health sciences, and forthe curious reader wanting to learn more about this fascinatingsubject.