The availability of Next Generation sequencing has resulted in the recent explosion in microbial genome sequencing projects, creating a wealth of data for analysis. This volume is primarily aimed at researchers and lecturers in the area of comparative genomics of pathogens ('pathogenomics') and aims to illustrate the kind of analysis that can be carried out on genomic data and how this, coupled with experimental data can inform on the biology of pathogens.

The volume consists of 14 reviews, four of which cover general aspects of pathogenomics and ten which focus in on specific organisms. The authors of each review are well-known experts in their fields and have produced excellent and topical reviews. However there are a few problems I see with this volume: first, in a field advancing as fast as this it is difficult so see how long this book will be relevant; and second, at US$290 it is hugely expensive for such a monograph.