The book considers the plague – the most dangerous bacterial infection having caused three devastating pandemics in the human history. The author suggests to consider the subject of the study from different points:  first, the bacterium as the prima in the opera (Italian: case) and its impact on history and culture; second, human fates - heroes and war criminals. The book contains numerous illustrations and clinical case descriptions; therefore, it is designed primarily for students of medical universities for profound study. It may be used as well by students of biological and veterinary universities, residents and post-graduate students, in professional training and advanced training programs for physicians and in training programs for specialists in working with pathogens of especially dangerous infections. In addition, the style of the presentation allows to recommend the book to everyone who is interested in the astonishingly dangerous world of microorganisms or is preparing to enter a medical university.

Recommended by the Academic Council of the State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (Obolensk) as a textbook (manual) for in-depth study by students of medical, biological and veterinary higher educational institutions, as a manual for students of professional training courses (postgraduate course) on work with pathogens of especially dangerous infections.

First published in the Moscow University Press (russian version)