バクテリア（細菌）は深海や氷床、温泉など、地球上のどこにでも生育する、生命の最も根源的な形です。病気を引き起こす原因となるだけではなく、良性のものはヒトが健康を保つのに必須であり、生態系の維持にも深く係わり重要な役割を果たしています。細菌の起源や進化、生育環境を概観し、薬剤耐性菌などの課題にも言及します。改訂新版はヒトの微生物叢に関する新章を追加。人工細菌の倫理的意味合い、抗生物質に対する耐性と戦うため進化する技術、人類の進化的発生に細菌が果たす役割などを検討します。
  

• Considers the important role of bacteria in the environment and its role in human civilisation
• Explores the origins and evolution of bacteria over time
• Looks at various types of bacteria and disease, and our efforts to manage bacteria
• Examines the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and humans

New to this Edition:

• A new chapter on 'Microbiota and Microbiome in Man' examines the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and humans
• Outlines the role of rapid bacterial diagnosis in controlling antibiotic resistance

    
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 G. B. Amyes explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, and bacteria and disease. In this new edition, he examines the ethical implications of synthetic bacteria, the evolving technologies used to combat antibiotics resistance, and the role bacteria play in the evolutionary development of humans.