Includes bibliographical references and index.

Structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells -- Bacterial pathogenesis -- Essentials of the immune system -- Molecular genetics of bacteria -- Mechanisms of bacterial resistance to the action of antibacterial agents -- Antibiotics and synthetic antibacterial agents -- Beta-lactams, and penicillin-binding proteins, and beta-lactamases -- Inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosinthesis : penicillins -- Inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis : cephalosporins -- Inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis : carbapenems and monobactams -- Beta-lactam compounds as beta-lactamase inhibitors -- Bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and beta-lactam inhibitors of beta-lactamases -- Inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis : fosfomycin and d-cycloserine --

Inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis : bacitracin and glycopeptides -- Antibiotics that affect membrane permeability : cyclic peptides -- Antibiotic inhibitors of bacterial protein synthesis -- Inhibitors of the 30s ribosomal subunit : aminoglycosides and tetracyclines -- Inhibitors of the 50s ribosomal subunit : macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins -- An inhibitor of the 50s ribosomal subunit : chloramphenicol -- Inhibitors of the formation of the first peptide bond : oxazolidinones -- An inhibitors of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase : mupirocin -- Inhibitors of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase : rifamycins -- Inhibitors of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV : quinolones --

Antibacterial agents that cause DNA damage in obligate anaerobic organisms : 5-nitroimidazoles -- Antibacterial agents that cause damage to DNA : 5-nitrofurans -- Compounds that interfere with tetrahydrofolic acid biosynthesis : sulfonamides and trimethoprim -- New antibacterial drugs in development that act on novel targets.