Easy-to-follow directions and cookbook recipes characterize this compendium of some 7,000 alphabetically arranged formulations (1,500 new to this edition) describing how to use both classic and modern media for the identification, cultivation, and maintenance of bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Particularly useful in protecting the food supply, the expanded repertoire of recent years includes the use of extreme habitats and molecular methods to identify new lineages of bacteria and archaea, and the use of chromogenic substrates to identify strains and species of bacteria. Additionally, plant-based media that eliminate possible contamination with prions, are particularly important for vaccine and pharmaceutical production. This reference is intended for every medical, veterinary, diagnostic, and academic laboratory. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)