Woodford and Johnson, both affiliated with the Specialist and Reference Microbiology Division of the Health Protection Agency, present reviews of genomics applications in bacterial investigation and the understanding of bacterial pathogenicity. Contributors evaluate the applications of genomics to diagnostic bacteriology, highlighting both current and likely future issues. Discussion encompasses genomic approaches to antibacterial discovery, the nature of pathogenicity, the discovery of new pathogens, and bacterial taxonomics. Introductory material explains the relevance of genomics to the clinical laboratory. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)