David G. Russell and Siamon Gordon (ed.). American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, D.C., 610 p., $179.95.

David G. Russell and Siamon Gordon have assembled a state-of-the-art and highly attractive volume, which is an in-depth exploration of phagocyte-pathogen interactions and macrophages in the host response to infection. The chapters are peripatetic in scope. There is an insightful review of the state of the science which includes basic immunology, microbial genetics, and cell and molecular biology.

There are numerous strengths of this volume, which has an eclectic mixture of topics. The biochemical and immunologic events, which occur in the phagosome, are described in considerable detail and in numerous biologic systems. The cellular processes reviewed range from autophagy to phagocytosis and host interaction with microbes, and are discussed in chapters by leading world experts in these fields. The sections of the book are well organized: Section I-Biology of the Professional Phagoctye; Section II-Membrane Receptors: Recognition, Adhesion, Phagocytosis, Chemotaxis, and Migration; Section III-Phagocytosis: Signaling, Cytoskeleton, and the Phagosome; Section IV- Bridging the Gap Between the Innate and Acquired Immune Response; Section V-Pathogens of the Professional Phagocyte; and Section VI-Models of Host- Pathogen Interactions.

Several of the chapters are noteworthy and provide particular insights into the functions and interactions of phagocytes. In particular, the chapters by Joel A. Swanson, "Signaling for Phagosytosis" (Chapter 12) and by Donald C. Vinh and Steven M. Holland, "Macrophage Classical Activation" (Chapter 19), provide new insights into these important topics. Further, numerous model of phagocytes biology and models for host-pathogen interaction are considered; from Dictyostelium discoideum to Drosophila, and finally, the utility of zebrafish, and genomic studies are considered.

This is an attractive and readable volume. The chapters are well referenced and accurate in content. The editors are outstanding authorities who have made major contributions to this field, and the Forward by Dr. Samuel C. Silverstein sets the tone: "What Would Darwin Have Said?" The volume is rich in illustrations, in schema, and color plates.

The contributors from throughout the world are international experts in each of their fields, and this is a marvelous volume. As in most multiauthor volumes, there is some unevenness in the style and depth in some of the chapters. As noted by the editors, the scope is far reaching. The volume is recommended to students of phagocytes at all levels (graduate, postgraduate, and investigators). There are a number of limitations which do not, however, detract from the overall merit of the book. The pathogenetic role of the phagocytes in many human and animal diseases is incomplete with regard to discussion of many of the disorders to which the phagocyte has a major component. For example, it is surprising that the function the macrophage as an antigen-presenting cell, the role of macrophages and giant cells in granuloma formation, and the role of macrophages in HIV/AIDS are dealt with in a relatively brief manner. These omissions, however, are perhaps beyond the scope and intent of this volume, and are considered in other venues. In aggregate, this volume provides the reader with outstanding chapters on phagocyte-pathogen interactions. It is an attractive and highly informative volume and is highly recommended for the scientific community at large.

Steven D. Douglas
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia