Essential Microbiology 2nd edition is a fully revised comprehensive introductory text aimed at students taking  a first course in the subject.  It provides an ideal entry into the world of microorganisms, considering all aspects of their biology (structure, metabolism, genetics), and illustrates the remarkable diversity of microbial life by devoting a chapter to each of the main taxonomic groupings.  The second part of the book introduces the reader to aspects of applied microbiology, exploring the involvement of microorganisms in areas as diverse as food and drink production, genetic engineering, global recycling systems and infectious disease.  Essential Microbiology explains the key points of each topic but avoids overburdening the student with unnecessary detail.  It makes extensive use of clear line diagrams to clarify sometimes difficult concepts or mechanisms.  Each chapter ends with a short answer quiz, enabling the student to assess their understanding of the main concepts that have been covered. This edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the developments that have occurred in recent years and includes a completely new section devoted to medical microbiology.