Legionella pneumophila is an emerging human pathogen that resides in
natural environments as a parasite. It has been used as a probe for
macrophage cellular function, which has led to new discoveries in
cellular biology. Legionella has also become a model system for the
study of innate as well as adaptive immunity. Information on Legionella
continues to increase in the U.S. and abroad. Columbia University, for
example, started the first Legionella Genome Project with a
multi-million dollar grant from the NIH. In addition, The European
Working Group for Legionella infections was formed in 1986. This volume
brings together all of the latest research on this pathogen. Editor
Herman Friedman is an acknowledged expert in the study of Legionella. He
has assembled a team of distinguished and internationally recognized
leaders in the field to contribute chapters in their respective areas of
expertise.