F̀or anyone interested in the management of UTI-a very common bacterial infection both in domiciliary and hospital patients - especially in these days of cost-effectiveness, this book has a lot to offer.'

Proceedings of the FEMS Symposium on Genes and Proteins Underlying Microbial Urinary Tract Virulence: Basic Aspects and Applications, held September 16-19, 1999, in Pécs, Hungary. Urinary tract infections are among the most frequent diseases caused by microbial pathogens. In this volume, researchers, clinical microbiologists and clinicians exchange the latest ideas covering four major aspects of this important topic: Genetic information, synthesis and assembly of virulence factors in urinary pathogens; Regulation of genes involved in the phenotypic appearance of virulence; Host-parasite interactions determining the process and outcome of the infection; Possible applications of the above aspects in diagnosis, therapy and prevention.

Offering a comprehensive guide, the Oxford Textbook of Urological Surgery is a practical resource mapped to the curriculum for urological training as approved by the General Medical Council (GMC), making it particularly useful in preparation for the Intercollegiate Examination. Presented in a clear and accessible way, this evidence based volume covers all major areas, including functional urology, stone disease, infection, andrology, nephrology, transplantation, uroradiology, and paediatric urology. This highly illustrated full colour textbook has an innovative and user-friendly style, including over 500 photographs, clinical images, and line drawings. Bringing together the expertise of over 100 specialist contributors in the field, the Oxford Textbook of Urological Surgery is a highly valuable source of information, and will become the standard reference text for all who study urological disease and its treatment.

The emergence of pathogens resistant to conventional antimicrobial agents has forced us to intensify the efforts in search for new approaches to prevent infectious diseases. Such a direction was indicated in studies over the last two decades showing that adhesion of pathogens, primarily via glycoconjugate or protein receptors of the host tissue, is crucial for the infectious process. Moreover, it was found that infection can be prevented by blocking adhesion of the pathogen to mucosal surfaces of the host. The various aspects of interference with the process of microbial adhesion as a way of preventing diseases were the subject of the Bat-Sheva Seminar, "Towards Anti-Adhesion Therapy of Microbial Infectious Diseases," held in Zichron Yaakov, Israel, February 25 to March I, 1996. A major aim of the Bat-Sheva de Rothschild Foundation for the Advancement of Science in Israel, which sponsors a series of seminars, ours among them, is to provide the necessary tools and settings for international forums and exposure of young scientists and promising students to the state of the art of the field. This goal has been achieved during the week's discussions, and its major aspects are presented in this compendium. The seminar's participants, as well as the readers of this book, thank the founder and Foundation for their support. This book includes the major themes of this rapidly growing area. However, by no means do we intend to cover every bit and piece in it. The book's first section deals with the lectin-sugar interactions and their inhibitors.