Subject Guide for Microbiology
Contents:- Introduction
- Contact Information
- Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- Finding books
- Finding articles
- Handbooks
- Other web resources
Introduction
Joshua Lederberg in his preface to the Encyclopedia of Microbiology defines microbiology as the "study of microorganisms...Microorganisms do not constitute a well-defined taxonomic group; they include the two kingdoms of Archaebacteria and Eubacteria, as well as protozoa and those fungi and algae that are predominantly unicellular in their habit. Viruses are also an important constituent, albeit they are not quite 'organisms.'" This resource guide will focus on bacteria and viruses. Information on the fungi and algae is found in the guide for botany resources.
Top of pageContact Information
C. Anne Turhollow is the SDSU Library & Information Access's subject specialist in biology. Her contact information is:
- Office: Library Addition 1101A
- Phone 619-594-4921
- E-mail: c.turhollow@sdsu.edu
At San Diego State University, this field is studied in the Biology Department.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- Encyclopedia
of Life Sciences. London: Macmillan Publishing, 2000- .
Off campus access requires current SDSU ID number - An online encyclopedia covering all areas of the life sciences from biochemistry
to biodiversity.
- Jawetz, Melnick, and Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 23rd
edition. Stephen A. Morse. Stamford, CT: Appleton and Lange, 2004.
QR 46 R47 23rd ed. 2004 Reference - A succinct overview on the medical impact of microbes. Many references.
- The Prokaryotes: A Handbook on the Biology of Bacteria, 2nd
edition. Albert Balows, et al., editors. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1992.
4 vols.
QR 72.5 P76 1992 Reference - Comprehensive overview of the prokaryotes. Chapters focus on individual
families, genera, or species. Includes habitat information, isolation techniques,
and identification. Lengthy bibliographies.
- Topley and Wilson's Microbiology and Microbial Infections,
9th edition. Leslie Collier, Albert Balows, Max Sussman, editors. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1998. 6 volumes.
QR 46 T6 1998 Reference - Provides a basic foundation of principles and research in all areas of medical
microbiology. Volumes focus on general microbiology and immunity, systematic
bacteriology, bacterial diseases, and virology. Extensive references.
- Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 3rd edition.
Paul Singleton and Diana Sainsbury. New York: Wiley, 2001.
QR 9 S56 2001 Reference - A very comprehensive dictionary bordering on a simple encyclopedia. Includes
brief descriptions of microbes, diagrams of synthetic pathways, and references
to research literature where appropriate.
- A Dictionary of Virology, 3rd edition. Brian W.J. Mahy. San
Diego: Academic Press, 2001.
QR 358 M34 2001 Reference - Attempts to "include all the names of viruses affecting vertebrate species..." Includes references to the literature.
Finding books
General tips
Tips for using the PAC, finding books, etc.LC headings
List the LC headings that one might use to find books in the field, with links to PAC.Call number areas
Most books in microbiology are shelved beginning with the Library
of Congress
classification (call) number QR. This area includes microorganisms, viruses
and immunology. They are shelved on the north side of the 5th Floor.
Finding articles
Most print journals in microbiology are shelved beginning with the Library
of Congress
classification (call) number QR. This area includes microorganisms, viruses
and immunology. The years, 1986 to presesent are shelved on the 1st Floor, Love
Library; the earlier years are shelved on the 5th Floor.
- Biosis Previews. 1926-to date.
- Off campus access requires SDSU ID number
- Most comprehensive database for the biological sciences indexing over 8,000
journals as well as conference proceedings and books. Covers all areas of
the biological sciences, both pure and applied. Citations with abstracts
are indexed
by author, taxonomic classification, scientific name, and keywords from the
titles and abstracts.
- Medline. 1950s-to date.
- Off campus access requires SDSU ID number
- Computer-based index which covers a large number of references in the area
of medical and some general microbiology. Corresponds in part to the print
Index Medicus, which the Library has in various forms back to
1879 (R 11 I52 to R 11 I536, 1986-2000 1st Floor Periodicals, 1879-1985 5th
Floor Periodicals).
- PubMed. 1950s-to date.
- Publicly accessible version of Medline at the National Center for Biotechnology
Information. Has links to DNA and protein databases
- Web of Science. 1900 to date.
- Off campus access requires SDSU ID number
- A unique index which allows you to trace research forward in time. Covers
all disciplines, but is particularly good for the biosciences.
- Ingenta Connect Complete. 1989 to date.
- Off campus access requires SDSU ID number
- A databases of over 20,000 journals in all disciplines. Includes the subsidized Article Delivery Service allowing SDSU graduate students, faculty and staff to order articles not owned by the Library. Articles are delivered by FAX. The Library pays for all articles costing $50 or less.
