Microbe, a brand-new, general microbiology textbook intended for upper-division undergraduate courses, is an exciting introduction to the world of microbes. With a distinct ecological and evolutionary orientation, Microbe invites readers to partake of the most current advances in the field. Written by prominent scientists with practical teaching, textbook writing, and research experience, this new textbook will engage students in the learning process with its clear, reader-friendly style and unique perspective of the field. Microbe is paradigm-driven rather than fact-driven. Key concepts are illustrated by inspiring examples that convey the excitement of the field. This is not a compendium of facts, but rather a textbook in the older, traditional sense: a book that can be used for studying rather than for looking up factual information. The book is divided into seven sections covering the most pertinent information related to the study of microbes, including microbial