Microbial Products: Applications and Translational Trends offers complete coverage of the production of microbial products, including biopolymers, biofuels, bioactive compounds, and their applications in fields such as bioremediation, agriculture, medicine, and other industrial settings. This book focuses on multiple processes including upstream procedures and downstream processing, and the tools required for their production. Lab-scale development processes may not be as efficient when aiming for large-scale industrial production, so it is necessary to utilize in silico modeling tools for bioprocess design to ensure success at translational levels. Therefore, this book presents in silico and mathematical simulations and approaches used for such applications. Further, it examines microbial products produced from bacteria, fungi, and algae. These major microbial categories have the capacity to produce various, diverse secondary metabolites, bioactive compounds, enzymes, biopolymers, biofuels, probiotics, and more. The bioproducts examined in the book are of great social, medical, and agricultural benefit, and include examples of biodegradable polymers, biofuels, biofertilizers, and drug delivery agents. Presents approaches and tools that aid in the design of eco-friendly, efficient, and economic bioprocesses. Utilizes in silico and mathematical simulations for optimal bioprocess design. Examines approaches to be used for bioproducts from the lab scale to widely applied microbial biotechnologies. Presents the latest trends and technologies in the production approaches for microbial bio-products manufacture and application. This book is ideal for both researchers and academics, as it provides up-to-date knowledge of applied microbial biotechnology approaches for bio-products.

Systematic investigations of the structure, mechanics, and dynamics of biological surfaces help us understand more about biological processes taking place at cell and bacteria surfaces. Presented here is a study of the role membrane-bound saccharides play in the modulation of interactions between cells/bacteria and their environments. In this thesis, membrane structures were probed perpendicular and parallel to the surface, and sophisticated planar models of biomembranes composed of glycolipids of various structural complexities were designed. Furthermore, specular and off-specular X-ray and neutron scattering experiments were carried out. This research has led to the development of several new methods for extracting information on the structure and mechanics of saccharide-rendered biomembranes from the measured scattering signals. In fact, more is now known about the influence of the saccharide structure. These results demonstrate that the study of planar model systems with X-ray and neutron scattering techniques can provide comprehensive insight into the structure and mechanics of complex biological surfaces.

Aerobic endospore-forming bacteria are found in soils of all kinds, ranging from acid to alkaline, hot to cold, and fertile to desert. It is well known that endospores confer special properties upon their owners and play dominant parts in their life cycles and dispersal, and much has been written about the spores, genetics, and economic importance of these organisms. Much has also been written about soil ecology, but there is a relative dearth of literature that brings together different aspects of the behaviour and characters of endospore-formers with their contributions to soil ecosystems. This Soil Biology volume fills that gap. Following chapters that describe the current classification of these organisms, that review methods for their detection and for studying their life cycles in soils, and that examine their dispersal, other chapters show that they are active and dynamic members of soil floras that interact widely with other soil inhabitants, with roles in nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and soil remediation.

It is generally assumed that microorganisms synthesize, release, detect and respond to small signaling hormone-like molecules. These molecules are used for a process termed "quorum sensing" (QS), a phenomenon that enables bacteria to sense when the minimal number of cells, or "quorum," is achieved for a concerted response to be initiated. Words such as "language" and "behavior" are frequently used to depict QS in the literature. More simply put, language and cross-talk between bacteria, and between bacteria and animal or plant hosts, determines the behavior (e.g., beneficial or pathogenic effects) of bacteria. Currently, the major concern is to understand and decode this language. Overall, bacterial cross-talk was mainly studied on environmental, plant, and human pathogenic bacteria. Few studies considered food-related lactic acid bacteria. The cross-talk between bacteria influences the behavior and, in turn, the environmental adaptation and phenotypes. Therefore, it is understood that bacterial cross-talk has important applicative repercussions. The language spoken between bacteria populating the same food ecosystem may condition the phenotypic traits of starter lactic acid bacteria and, consequently, their performance. This Brief aims to define the basis of cell-to-cell signalling in food fermentation and will highlight: (i) microbiology, nutritional, chemical and functional aspects; (ii) functional properties due to microbial adaptation to the gastrointestinal tract; (iii) principal phenotypes under control of QS circuitries; (iv) quorum quenching. This Brief will be the first reference on this topic and it will highlight the main results for a more productive industrial application. Draft content 1. Signals of food related Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria The chapter will describe the different signaling languages used by Gram-negative bacteria (N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones) and Gram-positive bacteria (based on the synthesis of post-translationally modified peptides) and the universal chemical lexicon, shared by both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria (autoinducer-2 through the activity of the LuxS enzyme). 2. Phenotypes related to quorum sensing The chapter will describe the bacterial phenotypes, such as virulence, biofilm maturation, bacteriocin synthesis, and secondary metabolite production under control of QS circuitries. 3. Cell-to-cell signalling in fermented food: sourdough The chapter will describe the language spoken between bacteria populating the same food ecosystem (sourdough) and will provide an overview of the conditioned phenotypic traits of starter lactic acid bacteria and, consequently, their performance. 4. Cell-to-cell signalling in fermented food: yoghurt The chapter will describe the language spoken between bacteria populating the same food ecosystem (yoghurt) and will provide an overview of the conditioned phenotypic traits of starter lactic acid bacteria and, consequently, their performance. 5. Probiotic message at the intra-, inter-species and inter-kingdom level The chapter will describe the mechanisms that regulate the interaction between microorganism and host, and the capacity of the microorganism to adapt to environment. Particular reference will also be made to: (i) pathogen inhibition and restoration of microbial homeostasis through microbe-microbe interactions; (ii) enhancement of epithelial barrier function; and (iii) modulation of immune responses. 6. New Perspectives of quorum sensing This chapter will provide an overview of the future perspective regarding quorum sensing, showing that bacterial cross-talk may have important applicative repercussions. It will highlight the interference on the language of QS, which is defined as quorum quenching (QQ). Increasing translation of the bacterial cross-talk has shown that in some environmental circumstances, quenching of the language may occur.

To cope with the increasing problems created by agrochemicals such as plant fertilizers, pesticides and other plant protection agents, biological alternatives have been developed over the past years. These include biopesticides, such as bacteria for the control of plant diseases, and biofertilizer to improve crop productivity and quality. Especially plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are as effective as pure chemicals in terms of plant growth enhancement and disease control, in addition to their ability to manage abiotic and other stresses in plants. The various facets of these groups of bacteria are treated in this Microbiology Monograph, with emphasis on their emergence in agriculture. Further topics are Bacillus species that excrete peptides and lipopeptides with antifungal, antibacterial and surfactant activity, plant-bacteria-environment interactions, mineral-nutrient exchange, nitrogen assimilation, biofilm formation and cold-tolerant microorganisms.

Bacterial infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. These infections always remained enigmatic due to initial reluctance of cancer researchers in understanding their etiologic potential. Etiological association of bacteria with cancer gained credibility after discovery of carcinogenic potential of Helicobacter pylori. Moreover, other suspected associations including Salmonella typhi and gallbladder cancer, Streptococcus bovis and colon cancer, Chlamydia psittaci and ocular adnexal lymphoma and Chlamydia pneumoniae with lung cancer, etc. are looking for a legitimate appraisal to unravel their etiologic potential without prejudice. In contrary, bacteria also show protective role in certain types of cancer. Certain agents derived from bacteria are successfully in practice for the management of cancer. The integrate association of bacteria and cancer is evident in both positive and negative aspects. The role of bacteria in cancer etiology and treatment is vigorously studied since last few years. Present book tries to provide current status of research undergoing in above direction, with the glimpses of future possibility for using microbiological knowledge in the management of this deadly killer. This book will interest specialists dealing with cancer associated infectious complications, researchers working in the field of cancer biology, teachers and scientists in the field of microbiology, biotechnology, medicine and oncology. The unique coverage of bacteriology and cancer association in both positive and negative way can usher into development of novel thrust area for microbiology students and experts.

This concise yet comprehensive text surveys the field of bacterial metabolism in terms useful to students and researchers. Emphasis is on those metabolic reactions occurring only in bacteria. Thus, the book describes in detail the energy metabolism of the various groups of bacteria. In addition it examines pathways used by bacteria for the degradation of organic compounds, the synthesis of cellular consituents, the regulation of bacterial metabolism and the fixation of molecular nitrogen. The general arrangement of the first edition has been retained. However, it has been thoroughly revised and updated in recognition of the rapid progress of research in this field. Readers will also appreciate the increased emphasis on membrane-associated processes. From the review of the second edition: If there is a better textbook in its fields, I'm not aware of it, and I feel the book deserves a place on the shelf of any serious student of microbiology. -ASM News

ISPP2009, the 13th International Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes, was held in Montreal, Canada, from August 9 to August 14. This was only the second time that the ISPP series was in North America. ISPP2009 was well attended with about 280 registered participants from over 30 countries. A stimulating and inf- mative program showcased the recent developments in this ever-evolving eld. This is always one of my favourite conference series to attend because not only does it inform my speci c research passions, it broadly educates me in ways that improve my teaching and increase my breadth of understanding in a variety of outside areas. Indeed, the ISPP series brings together a broad spectrum of interests, techniques, and disciplines. Both established researchers and newcomers to this eld gave oral presentations in a large number (80) of plenary and parallel symposia sessions which proved to have active audience participation and lively discussions. A large number of excellent poster presentations supplemented the oral program. I think that the high quality of the scienti c presentations, as well as the enjoyable social events, was widely appreciated. Things ran very smoothly, from the original registration to the closing ceremony, thanks to Isabel Stengler and her team at IS Event Solutions.

This book provides a detailed account of the physico-chemical properties and biological functions of the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of different pathogenic and non-pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. It also includes an authentic record of the first systematic study that discovered the mechanism of OMV formation by a pathogen, "Vibrio cholerae," and proposed that the process represented a novel secretory activity of bacteria. Furthermore, the authors present clinical and laboratory data on the use of OMVs as immunogens, as effective and licensed vaccines against "Neisseria meningitidis" serogroup B infections and on the development of more effective vaccines against other human and animal pathogens including "Vibrio cholerae. "This volume thus bears witness to the emerging revolution in the field of vaccines against pathogens and closes with a discussion of open questions and future research on OMVs.

It is hardly necessary to define the concept of receptors to readers of this series, but it should be born in mind that in several instances receptors are undefined entities, whose molecular details remain to be established. On the other hand the ligand, which reco izes the receptors, has been identified and characterized in most cases. The current interest in the structure and function of biological membranes gives great expectations that in the near future we may understand the details of ligand-receptor interaction. This interaction involves two defined steps: the first, usually referred to as recognition, is followed by the second step, transduction, in which the ligand-receptor interaction is translated by the cell into a biochemical action. The present two volumes which cover prokaryotic and eukaryotic virus receptors, have been published together in order to illustrate the specificity of virus receptor recognition which appears to be a guiding principle for both bacteria and higher cells. The identification and characterization of the receptors for phages of gram-negative bacteria has to a large extent relied on the genetic techniques available for these organisms. In a similar way the availability of genetic systems has also clarified the interrelationship between animal retrovirus receptors even if the molecular structure remains to be determined. The paucity of defined genetic systems may therefore explain part of our ignorance concerning the molecular details of virus receptors on human cells and possibly also on gram positive bacteria."

Complied by an expert editorial team with noteworthy and remarkable experience, this book covers technological aspects related to probiotics, not only in terms of delivery modes but also in terms of protection technologies. It includes discussions of their therapeutic and physiologic implications and benefits, and provides a contemporary update and a holistic review of the topic. It focuses on the technological aspects of probiotic products, brings together the information needed for their successful development, and examines the international picture regarding regulatory issues.

Due to the possibility that petroleum supplies will be exhausted in the next decades to come, more and more attention has been paid to the production of bacterial pl- tics including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), biopolyethylene (PE), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), and poly(p-phenylene) (PPP). These are well-studied polymers containing at least one monomer synthesized via bacterial transformation. Among them, PHA, PLA and PBS are well known for their biodegradability, whereas PE, PTT and PPP are probably less biodegradable or are less studied in terms of their biodegradability. Over the past years, their properties and appli- tions have been studied in detail and products have been developed. Physical and chemical modifications to reduce their cost or to improve their properties have been conducted. PHA is the only biopolyester family completely synthesized by biological means. They have been investigated by microbiologists, molecular biologists, b- chemists, chemical engineers, chemists, polymer experts, and medical researchers for many years. PHA applications as bioplastics, fine chemicals, implant biomate- als, medicines, and biofuels have been developed. Companies have been est- lished for or involved in PHA related R&D as well as large scale production. It has become clear that PHA and its related technologies form an industrial value chain in fermentation, materials, feeds, and energy to medical fields.

This is a review of recent advances on the use of DNA microarray for diagnosing foodborne pathogens. Rapid detection and characterization of foodborne pathogens is critical for food safety. Many relevant technologies have been intensively developed to date. DNA microarray technology offers a new way to food safety involving pathogen detection and characterization. DNA microarray can be used for detection and characterization of pathogens by analyzing hybridization patterns between capture probes and nucleic acids isolated from food samples or bacteria. It allows more rapid, accurate, and cost-effective detection of pathogens compared with traditional approaches of cultivation or immuno-assays. The application of DNA microarrays to different foodborne bacteria, such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, or Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, will improve their rapid identification and characterization of their genetic traits (e.g., antimicrobial resistance, virulence). As bacterial foodborne diseases are posing more serious threats to public healthcare, development of rapid and accurate methods for pathogen detection and characterization is critical to their proper control at the earliest time.

In recent years bacteriocins, especially colicins, have become widely known to molecular biologists as proteins with peculiar ways of killing bacteria. These same bacteriocins have been known for a long time to bacteriology for their unusual activity spectra and enormous variety. In this monograph I have attempted to bring together our detailed knowledge of those few bacteriocins which have already re ceived attention from molecular biologists, and our less detailed hut extensive knowledge of the variety of bacteriocins which exist. The field has been reviewed in whole or in part, by several authors FREDERICQ, 1957, 1964, 1965 (2); IVANOVICS, 1962; HAMON, 1965; REEVES, 1965 (2)]. These reviews have been very useful to the author, and readers will find further references in them, and sometimes alternative viewpoints. We have already referred to bacteriocins as proteins, and in doing so have ex cluded many more complex antibacterial agents which resemble bacteriophages or their tails. In the author's view, these phage-like particles are probably not bacterio cins, but many authors include them within the definition; the more restrictive de finition used here has meant omitting discussion of some excellent studies on what the present author would term defective bacteriophages. In the first chapter we look at the discovery of bacteriocins and an outline of their classification. With this background we can discuss in Chapters 2 to 6 the chemistry, genetics and mode of action of the more intensively studied bacteriocins."

The electrocardiogram (ECG) remains the most accessible and inexpensive diagnostic tool to evaluate the patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial ischemia. It plays a crucial role in decision making about the aggressiveness of therapy especially in relation to reperfusion therapy, because such therapy has resulted in a considerable reduction in mortality from acute myocardial infarction. Several factors play a role in the amount of myocardial tissue that can be salvaged by reperfusion therapy, such as the time interval between onset of coronary occlusion and reperfusion, site and size of the jeopardized area, type of reperfusion attempt (thrombolytic agent or an intracoronary catheter intervention), presence or absence of risk factors for thrombolytic agents, etc. Most important in decision making on reperfusion therapy and the type of intervention is to look for markers indicating a higher mortality rate from myocardial infarction. The ECG is a reliable, inexpensive, non-invasive instrument to obtain that information. Recently it has become clear that both in anterior and inferior myocardial infarction, the ECG frequently allows not only to identify the infarct related coronary artery, but also the site of occlusion in that artery and therefore the size of the jeopardized area. Obviously, the more proximal the occlusion, the larger the area at risk and the more aggressive the reperfusion attempt.

The growing body of information on bacteria pathogenic for humans, mammals and plants generated within the past ten years has shown the interesting conservation of newly identified genes that playa direct role in the pathogenic mechanism. In addition to these genes, there are also genes that confer host specificities and other traits important in pathogenesis on these pathogens. In this volume, we have organized the subject areas to best fit the concept on the way bacterial pathogens recognize, interact and invade the host, on the regulation of genes involved in virulence, on the genes involved in the elaboration of toxins and other pathogenic components such as iron sequestering proteins, and on the mechanisms of circumventing the host defense systems. These areas are divided into Sections. Section I covers the first step when the pathogen seeks its host, and Sections II through VI cover subsequent steps leading to pathogenesis while avoiding host defenses. We conclude this work with a chapter summarizing information on examples of virulence mechanisms that are highly conserved.

The first volume of Antibiotics was published in 1967 and contained a series of review papers on antibiotic actions. The editors, Drs. GOTTLIEB and SHAW, were aware of the rapid development of this field of study and provided a number of addenda in an effort to keep knowledge up to date while the book was in production. One year after the publication of Antibiotics I, this editor had a conference with Dr. KONRAD F. SPRINGER in which it became clear that another volume on actions of antibiotics would be necessary. For a variety of reasons, this was delayed until 1975 and became Antibiotics III. It did not contain addenda since it was recognized by the editors, Drs. CORCORAN and HAHN, that still another volume would have to follow and that in a moving field, such as the study of the actions of antibacterial drugs, no publication can be definitive or remain current, except for a limited period of time. The editors of Volume III grouped the contributions into sections: 1. Inter ference with nucleic acid biosyntheses, 2. Interference with protein biosynthesis, and 3. Interference with cell wall/membrane biosynthesis, specific enzyme sys tems, and those in which the mode of action was not known with certainty."

More than 270 scientists from 33 countries attended the 6th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria in College Park, Maryland, June 2-7, 1985. The Conference was jOintly sponsored by the International Society of Plant Pathology, Bacteria Section and by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service. The Conference provided an opportunity for the presentation and discussion of recent developments in phytobacteriology. The Conference was organized into five symposia, seven discussion sessions, contributed papers and poster presentations. More than 230 contributions were presented under the following topics: ice nucleating bacteria; detection, identification, nomenclature and taxonomy of phytopathogenic bacteria; applications and impact of new biotechnologies on phytobacteriology; bacterial phytotoxins; diagnostic phytobacteriology; management of bacterial plant diseases; and molecular biology, genetics and ecology, epidemiology of phytopathogenic bacteria. In addition, special sessions focused on Agrobacterium, Erwinia, Psedomonas and fastidious prokaryotes. This reflected the broad spectrum of current research activity in phytobacteriology. Furthermore, interest in this series of conferences clearly continues to increase. Key research scientists who are currently making major advances in phytobacteriology participated in the Symposia and Discussions. One of the most significant recent changes that has occurred in the field of plant pathology generally is the dynamic growth of research in which recombinant DNA technology is being applied in basic studies on bacterial plant pathogens. Results from investigations on the crown gall bacterium have stimulated expansion of research on other bacterial systems.

For a long time, lactic acid bacteria have played an indispensable role in food production.
This book provides an overview and recent findings on their genetics and biochemistry as well as possible applications. The development and use of non-pathogenic lactic acid bacteria in vaccine delivery systems for mucosal immunizations are discussed. Their role in food fermentation, their use in carbohydrate modification and key systems for proteolysis and lantibiotic production are treated in detail. Further, the transformation of organic wastes into food and fertilizers is covered. The volume contains a wealth of useful information and can serve both as an introduction to the field for beginners and as a reference book.

Rhodococcus, a metabolically versatile actinobacteria which is frequently found in the environment, has gained increasing interest due to its potential biotechnological applications. This Microbiology Monographs volume provides a thorough review of the various aspects of the biochemistry, physiology and genetics of the Genus Rhodococcus. Following an overview of its taxonomy, chapters cover the structural aspects of rhodococcal cellular envelope, genomes and plasmids, metabolic and catabolic pathways, such as those of aromatic compounds, steroids and nitriles, and desulfurization pathways, as well as the adaption to organic solvents. Further reviews discuss applications of Rhodococcus in the bioremediation of contaminated environments, in triacylglycerol accumulation, and in phytopathogenic strategies, as well as the potential of biosurfactants. A final chapter describes the sole pathogenic Rhodococcus member, R. equi.

This book is appropriate for advanced undergraduate students of micro biology and biological sciences in universities and colleges, as well as for research workers entering the field and requiring a broad contemporary view of anaerobic bacteria and associated concepts. Obligate anaerobes, together with microaerophils, are characterized by their sensitivity to oxygen. This dictates specialized laboratory methods a fact which has led to many students being less familiar with anaerobes than their distribution and importance would warrant The metabolic strategies such as methanogenesis, an oxygenic photosynthesis and diverse fermenta tive pathways which do not have equivalents in aerobic bacteria also make anaerobes worthy of attention. In these limited pages an attempt has been made to cover the varied aspects of anaerobic bacteria, and a bibliography has been included, which will allow individual topics to be pursued in greater detail. We are grateful to Mrs Winifred Webster and Mrs Hilary Holdsworth for typing the manuscript and to the Leeds University Audio Visual Service for preparing the figures. Finally, our thanks go to the students, postgradu ates and wives who read and criticized the manuscript."

I assume that you already know a good deal of microbiology. In this book, I frequently use the word "we" by which I mean "you and I." Together we are going to consider bacteriology from a broader perspective and we will think our way through the important biological problems that are frequently just skipped over in every microbiology course. My most important reason for writing this book is to make accessible the relevant thinking from fields of science other than microbiology that are important to microbiology. The book is written for people that have already have a fascination with bacteria, but can see that their background for understanding is far complete. This book consists of topics that are largely omitted from microbiology textbooks and includes some mathematics, physics, chemistry, and evolutionary biology. It contains a good deal of my own work, both experimental and theoretical, together with a lot of speculation. If ten times bigger, it would be a full text book on microbial physiology. A third of the microbial physiology is covered by the recent is no longer treated even in textbook by White (2000). Another third current specialized tests and is greatly underrepresented in text books.

Strategies of Bacterial Interaction with Eukaryotic Cells *Tobias A. Oelschlaeger and Jorg Hacker 1. BENEFICIAL BACTERIAL-HOST INTERACTIONS Already during birth and soon thereafter mammals are colonized by bacte- ria belonging to the resident microbial flora. Cutaneous and mucosal sur- faces and the gastrointestinal tract are the areas which become colonized. These indigenous or autochthonous bacteria have a variety of beneficial effects on their hosts. They play a protective role by bacterial antagonism in fighting infections (Hoszowski and Truszczynski, 1997; Hentges, 1979). Pro- duction of vitamin K is another essential contribution of the resident microbial flora to the health of the host (Hill, 1997). Even more important, studies with germ-free animals demonstrated the involvement of the microbial flora on the development of the immune system. Such animals have underdeveloped and relatively undifferentiated lymphoid tissues and low concentrations of serum immune globulins ( Cebra et at., 1998). They TOBIAS A. OELSCHLAEGER and JORG HACKER Institut filr Molekulare lnfektionsbiologie, Universitiit Wiirzburg, 97070 Wiirzburg, Germany. *Corresponding author; Phone: (0)931-312150; FAX: (0)931-312578; E-mail: [email protected] xxix Tobias A. Oelschlaeger and Jorg Hacker also show defects in specific immune responsiveness and in nonspecific resistance induced by endotoxin, which may account for their lowered resis- tance. A more typical example of symbiotic interaction of bacteria with a host are bacteria like Ruminococcus in the gut of ruminants, essential for degradation of cellulose (Hobson, 1988). The closest benefical bacterial-host interactions are those of intracellular symbiotic bacteria and their host cells.

J. M. Olson Institute of Biochemistry Odense University OK-5230 Odense M, Denmark Green photosynthetic bacteria have traditionally included only green sulfur bacteria (Chlorobiaceae) and green filamentous bacteria (Chloro- flexaceae) , but in this volume are included also the recently-discovered heliobacteria (Gram-positive line), whose reaction centers are strikingly similar to those of the green sulfur bacteria. Two important papers on reaction centers (not included in this volume) have been published recently. Nitschke et al. (1987) have discovered 2 early electron acceptors (Fe-S centers) in the reaction center of Chlorobium limicola, and Shiozawa et al. (1987) have shown that the reaction center of Chloroflexus aurantiacus contains 2 (rather than 3) polypeptides of Mr = 24 and 24.5 kOa respectively. This volume begIns with papers describing structures on the molecular and macromolecular level and events on a picosecond time scale. It ends with papers describing organisms and populations, and events on time scales of hours, days and weeks. The scope of the volume covers biophysics, biochemistry, physiology, ecology, taxonomy and phylogeny. There is only one paper (Ormerod, 1988) dealing with genetics, an area which ought to receive much more attention in the near future.

Seeming sometimes more like science fiction than science, anaerobic bacteria have been at the center of a number of exciting new discoveries. This volume discusses and explains the diversity of metabolism, modes of protein transport, molecular biology and physiology of these unusual microbes. It has practical applications ranging from wastewater treatment to clinical diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.