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Microbiology: An Introduction: Summary in 5 Key Points

Name: Microbiology: An Introduction
Author: Gerard J. Tortora, Berdell R. Funke, Christine L. Case

Microbiology: An Introduction by Gerard J. Tortora, Berdell R. Funke, Christine L. Case — book cover — Edition and cover reference

Written by brefly editorial teamUpdated October 13, 2026

AI-assisted book brief. Verify important claims against the original book; this page does not claim personal reading or independent expert review.

✍️ Gerard J. Tortora, Berdell R. Funke, Christine L. Case📅 2020📚 Science📖 2 min brief

Scope: Nonfiction overview; claims are attributed to the author and are not universal or clinical guarantees.

The brief

The textbook introduces major groups of microorganisms and structures that distinguish them from one another.

Laboratory methods connect observation and experimentation with microbial growth, identification, and safe handling practices.

Chapters cover host defenses, infectious disease, and ways microbes interact with people and environments.

Visual figures and review prompts are designed to support recall, self-assessment, and student preparation.

It is an academic course text; the selected cover identifies the thirteenth edition and its updated material for students.

Key ideas worth keeping

use figures to connect structures with functions

pair each topic with the chapter review questions

check which edition your course syllabus requires

Questions about this book

What topics does the textbook cover?

It introduces microbes, lab methods, immunity, infectious disease, and related concepts.

Which edition is shown?

The selected English cover identifies the thirteenth edition.

Is it meant for a course?

Yes, it is an introductory textbook for microbiology study.

Sources and scope

Original editorial orientation based on the cited work overview and reference edition. Theme takeaways are interpretation; this is not a chapter-by-chapter synopsis. Page counts vary by edition and are omitted.

Sources checked October 13, 2026. Selected English edition is the 13th edition (2020); 1982 is work first-publication date.

Who should read the full book

Students beginning a microbiology course who want a structured survey and study prompts.

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