A modern, research-driven approach that helps students move beyond memorization
Built around today’s most relevant topics
With activities designed to turn reading into application, students gain a deeper understanding of microbiology and its role in solving today's biggest challenges. Authored by outstanding microbiology instructors with experience teaching a wide range of students, this edition delivers up-to-date, concise content and highlights how microbiology is useful for upper-level coursework, the MCAT, graduate school, and future careers.
Abundant human microbiome coverage
Chapter 23 (The Human Microbiome) now focuses exclusively on the human microbiome, including new coverage of the connection between the gut and the brain, how to maintain a healthy microbiome, and microbiome-based treatments for disease.
Connections between microbes and ecological examples
Our new theme, soil ecology, highlights the importance of microbes to agriculture, forestry, sustainability, and other industries. A new icon indicates where soil ecology is covered throughout the book.
A streamlined presentation of content
Newly condensed and abbreviated chapters focus on the most important concepts students will need for upper-level coursework in microbiology, the MCAT, and their future careers. The authors, all active teachers of the general microbiology course at diverse institutions, scrutinized every chapter for extraneous detail. The resulting chapters are as much as 10% briefer. Instructors can assign more details through the eResearch Activities and Supplemental Content eAppendix.
Additional Highlights in the Seventh Edition:
- New and updated Primary Literature activities in our online platform Smartwork help students approach, read, and understand research while seeing the relevancy of microbiology in their everyday lives.
- Check Your Understanding questions have been written by the authors to appear at the end of each section of the Norton Illumine Ebook to ensure students understand key concepts.
- eResearch Activities in each chapter of the Norton Illumine Ebook have been updated to focus on exciting research studies. We’ve also included new primary literature suggestions in the Instructor’s Guide.
- And more!
About the authors
John W. Foster received his BS from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia) and his PhD from Hahnemann University (now Drexel University School of Medicine). After postdoctoral work at Georgetown University, he taught in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine until retiring in 2017.
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Meet Your Marketing Manager: Courtney Zanosky
Hi! I’m Courtney. I’m in my eighth year with Norton, and I am endlessly fueled by connecting instructors with the perfect resources for their unique courses.
When I'm not doing that, you can find me exploring Western Colorado, running, going to a yoga class, reading memoirs, daydreaming, writing on Substack, or FaceTiming my niece and nephew.
I can't wait to chat with you and all the cool things you're doing in your classes! Feel free to respond and say "Hi!" when you see my name in your inbox this year.
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