The current book The Genus Yersinia: Entering the functional genomic era contains 96 timely chapters on different aspects. It summarizes work done both on genome-wide approaches and on detailed microbe-host interactions as well as on genetic, biochemical and chemical characterization of different bacterial components such as lipopolysaccharides, type III secretions systems, porins, virulence effector molecules, gene regulation etc. Futhermore, modern epidemiological and clinical aspects of Yersiniae are covered in a number of chapters as are the current standings in vaccine production and diagnostics methods. The book format is based on the session division used for the presentations given during the 8th International Symposium on Yersinia. However, this book will also be attractive to researchers and students interested in bacterial pathogenesis since the aspects covered include most of the bacterial strategies so far known to overcome the host defence systems.