Parasites and Infectious Disease bt Gerald Esch

ISBN: 9780521675390

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, May 2007

Paperback, 355 pages

This series of entertaining essays provides a unique insight into some of the key discoveries that have shaped the field of parasitology. Based on interviews with 18 of the world's leading parasitologists and epidemiologists, the stories of their contributions to discovery in contemporary parasitology and infectious disease biology are told. Taken together, the essays provide a historical account of the development of the field, serving as a bridge between these discoveries and current research. The book provides a real insight into the thought processes and approaches taken in generating break through scientific discoveries, ranging from immunology to ecology and from malaria and trypanosomiasis to schistosomiasis and Lyme disease. This engaging and lively introduction to discovery in parasitology will be of interest to all those currently working in the field and will also serve to set the scene for future generations of parasitologists.

Includes biographical sketches of each of the leading scientists whose stories are discussed, to give the reader a sense of why they became interested in their specialties and how they made their discoveries
The author's own experience as editor of the Journal of Parasitology for more than 10 years allows him to put these insightful interviews into the context of the history of the field of parasitology
Provides a unique personal perspective on how and why science is done and how discoveries take place