The co-editors, Drs Jean-Paul Latge and William Steinbach, are both experienced in the basic sciences of the organism and disease manifestations caused by this fungus. The text is extremely timely given the emerging interest in the medical mycology and infectious disease community to treat and diagnose these infections. It is also important to focus upon A. fumigatus since by far it is the most common offending pathogen among the aspergilli. Aspergillosis is the most common infection caused by a filamentous fungus, and in the case of invasive aspergillosis (IA), a high mortality is associated with outcome. The text also goes beyond IA to examine allergic and bronchopulmonary manifestations, the non-invasive forms of these diseases, which in many instances are often forgotten among scientists and clinicians since the latter forms are not usually life-threatening. It is very clear that research into this organism has advanced at many levels, especially in biochemistry and molecular biology. Thus, the literature is rapidly expanding on subjects ranging from virulence, diagnostics, treatments, immune responses, with long-term goals of developing novel therapies and diagnostics to treat an otherwise very devastating disease (IA). The expansive subject matter has in part resulted in three international conferences on 'Advances Against Aspergillosis', with a 4th planned for February 2010. Thus, this text is perfect for all interested readers in that it centralizes all areas of studies.

There are 9 sections, each of which includes a variable number of chapters on: 1, the species; 2, growth and sensing; 3, immunity; 4, the spectrum of disease; 5, diagnosis; 6, therapy; 7, timing of anti-fungal therapy; 8, disease and patient populations; and 9, future directions of research. There are 41 chapters in all. The authors are to be cited for a good balance of material distributed among clinical and basic science chapters. One of the many outstanding features of the majority of chapters is the use of multiple authors. This of course is harder to co-ordinate, given the proclivities of scientists to develop their own theme, but, nevertheless, many chapters thus reflect each viewpoint. The text is quite comprehensive. It is therefore difficult to focus upon a critique of each chapter; however, chapters on comparative genomics (chapter 4), growth and biofilm formation (chapters 11 & 12), the cell wall as a dynamic structure (chapter 14), innate defenses (chapter 18), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (chapter 26), prophylaxis, and current consensus and controversies over IA (chapters 36, & 37) are especially relevant, but in no way is this comment meant to minimize the quality of the other contributed chapters.

A critical component of the text is, not surprisingly, the last chapter (chapter 41) on a perspective on A. fumigatus research for the next 10 years. The first 40 chapters tackle the state-of-the-art in regard to the many subjects mentioned above. Given all of this, what is next? It is clear that defining virulence factors of this organism remains difficult to accomplish, given the tried and true definitions of virulence. Thus, is auxotrophy a virulence determinant? The answer is a resounding 'no' and the authors are to be given credit for saying so. Are the current animal models representatives of these diseases? How does one begin to decipher virulence functions among genes that comprise large, redundant families? These questions not only complicate definitions of virulence, but point to the lack of defined virulence targets for the development of new antifungal drugs. Aspergillosis scientists, and really all of us, need to believe in the concept of avirulence therapies which have become quite fashionable among scientists that advocate this approach with bacterial pathogens. There is also discussion of the -omics approach to discovery, and both pros and cons are discussed. New therapies and diagnostics remain at the forefront of discovery. In regard to diagnostics, a theme that is developed is the identification of specific host responses, rather than features of the fungus, i.e. galactomannan antigenemia or PCR- based techniques. Perhaps a combination of host and fungal factor diagnostics is needed. The prophecy herein is that the development of new therapies is exciting but unrealistic, of which one could debate this point of view. Rather, emphasis is placed upon increasing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of current drugs. Immune therapy and approaches are discussed.

I would conclude by saying that all of us who study these pathogens need to become stronger advocates of this science. Fungi continue to cause disease and death, and health care costs to patients and hospitals are staggering. Somehow we have not convinced the people who make decisions on funding research on fungal diseases (which is badly needed) to continue the cause of delivering better health care.

In summary, this text is a welcome addition to the library of basic and clinical scientists, graduate and medical students, and to those of us that teach graduate and medical students. Especially in regard to the upcoming generation of physicians, unless we tell them the significance of these infections, we will only remain hopeful with 'promising' approaches to improved health care. This text is important to spark interest in doing fungal research.