Gram-positive bacteria, lacking an outer membrane and related secretory systems and having a thick peptidoglycan, have developed novel approaches to pathogenesis by acquiring (among others) a unique family of surface proteins, toxins, enzymes, and prophages. For the new edition, the editors have enhanced this fully researched compendium of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens by including new data generated using genomic sequencing as well as the latest knowledge on Gram-positive structure and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and theories on the mechanisms of Gram-positive bacterial pathogenicity. This edition emphasizes streptococci, staphylococci, listeria, and spore-forming pathogens, with chapters written by many of the leading researchers in these areas. The chapters systematically dissect these organisms biologically, genetically, and immunologically, in an attempt to understand the strategies used by these bacteria to cause human disease. "This textbook comprises a superb collection of scientific knowledge making it a must-read for any graduate student, medical doctor, or investigator studying these gram-positive bacteria and inspiring future imaginations of biological knowledge." - William R. Jacobs, Jr., PhD, Professor Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine