Bacteriophages were not recognized for about 40 years after the beginning of bacteriology, but this collection of 22 articles proves researchers have made up for lost time. Papers giving general information include the history of phage research and therapy, phage biology, bacteriophage evolution and the role of phages in host evolution, phage ecology and bacteria pathogenesis, phage lysis, and lysogeny, prophage induction and lysogenic conversion. Those on how phages contribute to virulence include lambdoid phages and shiga toxin, the prophage arsenal of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium, pathogenic vibrios, Bordetella and mycoplasma phages, mycobacteriophages, phage involvement with bacterial vaginosis, botulism, and diphtheria, and staphylococcal, streptococcal, pneumococcal phages. Papers covering direct applications of phages to technology include such topics as recombineering in prokaryotes, polysaccharide-degrading phages, phage display and the use of phages in therapy and bacterial detection. The publisher is the American Society for Microbiology. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)