Ann Clin Microbiol.  2022 Jun;25(2):67-71. 10.5145/ACM.2022.25.2.5.

Book review: “The New Microbiology: From Microbiomes to CRISPR”

• Kang JO

• KMID: 2530721
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2022.25.2.5

Abstract

At the time when owing to COVID-19 pandemic, the public is more interested in infectious diseases and pathogens than in any other period, a book titled “The New Microbiology: From Microbiomes to CRISPR” by the renowned microbiologist Pascale Cossart was translated and published by our colleague. In this book, the author describes important discoveries and new conceptual advances in the field of microbiology over the past century. The author emphasizes that bacteria form a microbiome and lead a social life and explains the impact and importance of the microbiome on human health and ecosystem. Further, the discovery of ‘CRISPR,’ which led to the era of genome editing and gene therapy, has been described in details. This book will dramatically change our perspective regarding all living things, including bacteria, plants, animals, and even insects, as well as our eating habits and daily life, based on the new understanding of microorganisms. I recommend reading this book as I am sure that it will broaden the perspectives of both clinical microbiologists and health care workers.

Keyword

Microbiome; CRISPR; Bacterial physiology; Environmental microbiology