Aquatic environments - marine and freshwater basins - are increasingly subject to anthropogenic stresses. Likewise, there is an increasing demand for better and more reliable methods for the monitoring and assessment of these large and important ecosystems and the interrelations between the physical and chemical features of water bodies. The use of radioisotopic techniques offers a wide range of methodological possibilities because all biologically active compounds contain long-living radioisotopes which make the analytical field and laboratory work possible without the precautions involved in direct radiation health hazards.

When I undertook the production of the First Edition of this book it was my first foray into the world of book editing, and I had no idea of what I was undertaking! I was not entirely alone in this, as in asking me to produce such a book the commissioning Editor, Mr George Olley of Elsevier Ap plied Science Publishers, had pictured a text of perhaps 300 pages, but on seeing my list of chapter titles realized that we were talking about a - chapter, two-volume work. We eventually decided to go ahead with it, and the result was more successful than either of us had dared to hope could be It was therefore with rather mixed emotions that I contemplated the case. a second edition at the suggestion of Blackie Press, who had taken over the title from Elsevier. On the one hand, I was naturally flattered that the book was considered important enough to justify a second edition. On the other hand, I was very well aware that the task would be even greater this time.

Associations and interactions between species of organisms are phenomena shared by all living things. What varies is the extent to which the more long-lasting interactions are beneficial or destructive to a given species and the degree of intimacy and reliance which one organism may have developed in association with another. Many of the more highly evolved relationships that have been studied involve microorganisms, either in consort with other microorganisms or with so-called higher forms of life. Mycologists are rarely surprised-but often fascinated-by the variety of kinds of living substrates and specialized organismal relationships that evolutionary processes have produced among the fungi. The present book deals in some detail with the specialized dependence of a unique group of fungi, the trichomycetes, upon certain arthropods. There has been no comprehensive and worldwide treatment of the tri chomycetes since their discovery by Joseph Leidy in 1848. The literature is scattered and in several languages, and many articles are now not only a bit old but out of date as well. As in many areas of biology, our knowledge about trichomycetes has increased somewhat exponentially in recent years."

Worldwide concern in scientific, industrial, and governmental com munities over traces of toxic chemicals in foodstuffs and in both abiotic and biotic environments has justified the present triumvirate of specialized publications in this field: comprehensive reviews, rapidly published progress reports, and archival documentations. These three publications are integrated and scheduled to provide in international communication the coherency essential for nonduplicative and current progress in a field as dynamic and complex as environmental contamination and toxicology. Until now there has been no journal or other publication series reserved exclusively for the diversified literature on "toxic" chemicals in our foods, our feeds, our geographical surroundings, our domestic animals, our wild life, and ourselves. Around the world immense efforts and many talents have been mobilized to technical and other evaluations of natures, locales, magnitudes, fates, and toxicology of the persisting residues of these chemicals loosed upon the world. Among the sequelae of this broad new emphasis has been an inescapable need for an articulated set of authorita tive publications where one could expect to find the latest important world literature produced by this emerging area of science together with documentation of pertinent ancillary legislation."

Man-made textile fibers are frequently encountered as trace evidence in criminal investigations. This study examined the effects of burial in soil on the biodeterioration of synthetic textile fibers such as cellulose acetate, nylon, polyesters and acrylics. Cellulose acetate fibers began to show signs of decomposition within two months after burial in common garden topsoil and were completely degraded within four to nine months. It was found that severely decomposed cellulose acetate fibers could be identified by pyrolysis-gas liquid chromatography even when other methods such as polarized light microscopy and dispersion staining failed. The solubility behavior of the cellulose acetate fibers also was altered. The other types of fibers showed no detectable alteration at the end of the twelve-month study. REFERENCES American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (1971). AATCC Technical Manual, AATCC, Triangle Park, NC. Cook, R., and Paterson, M.D. (1978). New techniques for the identifi- tion of microscopic samples of textile fibers by infrared spectroscopy. Forensic Sci. Int., 12, 237-243. DeForest, P.R., Geansslen, R.E., and Lee, H.C. (1983). Forensic Science: An Introduction to Criminalistics, McGraw-Hill Book Company, NY. Federal Bureau of Investigation (1978). Solubility schemes by generic class. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC. Fong, W. (1982). Rapid microscopic identification of synthetic fibers in a single liquid mount. ~ Forensic Sci., 27, 257-263.

The study of the pathogenesis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections encompasses many different disciplines, including clinical microbiology, diagnostics, animal ecology, and food safety, as well as the cellular microbiology of both bacterial pathogenesis and the mechanisms of toxin action. E. coli: Shiga Toxin Methods and Protocols aims to bring together a number of experts from each of these varied fields in order to o- line some of the basic protocols for the diagnosis and study of STEC pat- genesis. We hope that our book will prove a valuable resource for the clinical microbiologist as well as the cellular microbiologist. For the clinical microbiologist, our aim is to detail a number of current protocols for the detection of STEC in patient samples, each of which have their own advantages. Chapter 1 provides an introduction into the medical significance of STEC infections. Chapters 2 7 follow with protocols for the diagnosis and detection of STEC bacteria in patient and animal samples."

As a group of microorganisms, yeasts have an enormous impact on food and bev- age production. Scientific and technological understanding of their roles in this p- duction began to emerge in the mid-1800s, starting with the pioneering studies of Pasteur in France and Hansen in Denmark on the microbiology of beer and wine fermentations. Since that time, researchers throughout the world have been engaged in a fascinating journey of discovery and development - learning about the great diversity of food and beverage commodities that are produced or impacted by yeast activity, about the diversity of yeast species associated with these activities, and about the diversity of biochemical, physiological and molecular mechanisms that underpin the many roles of yeasts in food and beverage production. Many excellent books have now been published on yeasts in food and beverage production, and it is reasonable to ask the question - why another book? There are two different approaches to describe and understand the role of yeasts in food and beverage production. One approach is to focus on the commodity and the technology of its processing (e. g. wine fermentation, fermentation of bakery products), and this is the direction that most books on food and beverage yeasts have taken, to date. A second approach is to focus on the yeasts, themselves, and their bi- ogy in the context of food and beverage habitats.

Biologically active compounds isolated from microorganisms continue to be vital to the development of new drugs and agricultural chemicals. This book was prepared by current and past members of the laboratory of Dr. Satoshi Omura of the Kitasato Institute in Japan. Dr. Omura and his colleagues have discovered and studied a number of important antibiotics, and in their work they have pioneered new methods for screening microbes for interesting and important compounds. This book presents strategies and methods for identifying novel molecules with several types of biological activity. In addition, the book discusses the identification of microbial compounds of agrochemical importance, presents information on chemical screening methods, and concludes with chapters on microbial strain selection, fermentation technology, and genetic engineering of antibiotic-producing microorganisms. This book will be of great interest to scientists working in the very active and competitive fields of antibiotic and agrochemical discovery.

This book is based on the lectures given at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Sensory Perception and Transduction in Aneural Organisms" held in Volterra (Pisa. Italy) from the third to the fourteenth of September. 1984. The Advanced Study Institute was planned as a high level course dealing with several aspects and problems of sensory perception and transduction of diverse environmental stimuli in aneural organisms. Scientists from different fields and cultural backgrounds were present at the meeting. both as lecturers and as students. The lectures and the discussions that followed represented a well integrated interdisci plinary approach to the questions considered. At the end of the Advanced Study Institute course. it was quite clear that. notwith standing the apparent heterogeneity of the topics dealt with. unifying concepts and ideas already existed, among the most important being the role of membranes and their physicochemical properties. All this should be reflected in the content of this book. We gratefully acknowledge the financial sponsorship of the Scientific Affairs Division of NATO (Brussels), that made both the Advanced Study Institute on "Sensory Perception and Transduction in Aneural Organisms" and this book possible. Finally. we are also indebted to Ms. Pat Parham Morgan who expertly retyped all the chapters of the book and Ms. Leslie Schmidt of Plenum Publishing Co. provided us valuable advice and suggestions on the preparation of this book. G. Colombetti F. Lenci P. S."

The comparative approach to immunology can be traced to the era of Pasteur and Metchnikov in which observations regarding foreign recognition in invertebrates was a factor in the develop ment of the principal concepts that created the foundation of what now is the broad field of immunology. With each major experimental and conceptual breakthrough, the classical, albeit essential, question has been asked "are the immune systems of phylogenetically primitive vertebrates and invertebrates similar to that of mammals?" Somewhat surprisingly for the jawed verte brates, the general answer has been a qualified form of "yes", whereas for agnathans and invertebrate phyla it has been "no" so far. The apparent abruptness in the appearance of the immune system of vertebrates is linked to the introduction of the somatic generation of the diversity of its antigen specific receptors. Therefore the questions regarding the origin and evolution of the specific immune system revolve around this phenomenon. With respect to the origin of the system (aside from the or igin of the rearranging machinery itself, the study of which is still in its infancy) one can ask questions about the cellular and mo lecular contexts in which the mechanism was introduced.

"Lymphocyte Development" presents an extremely up-to-date account of molecular processes involved in the development of lymphocytes. This well written book is based on a graduate course taught by the author. Topics include the selection processes involved in lymphocyte maturation, immune receptor gene rearrangement, signaling pathways involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis, and the transcriptional regulation of lymphoid ontogeny. The book also covers T cell development and differentiation of helper and cytotoxic T cells as well as the development of Natural Killer lymphocytes. The book finishes with an account of the molecular basis of immunodeficiency syndromes. It will interest researchers in immunology and it will be useful as a supplementary text for a graduate level immunology course.

During the course of the last two decades, the health effects of tea and its catechins have been docmnented in nmnerous scientific studies and the scientific basis of these effects has been elaborated. Professor Kuroda and Dr. Hara provide in this volmne a translation of a thorough and extensive book published earlier (in Japanese), which will be of considerable interest to scientists worldng in the field, and to members of the general public interested in naturaJ ways of maintaining health. Both authors are themselves eminent researchers with extensive experience. Dr. Kuroda is best known for his publications employing tissue cultures. Dr. Ham has published nmnerous research papers on the health effects of green tea and its catechins. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the historical use of green tea in Japan and elsewhere, followed by a description of the many disease conditions against which these teas have preventive (protective) effects. Of particular interest to "senior citizens" is the chapter on the ability of tea components to ameliorate a wide range of age-related diseases including cancer, arteriosclerosis, and various forms of senile dementias. For scientists and others interested in infectious diseases caused by bacteria and viruses, a chapter dealing with the ability of tea components to inhibit these organisms will be of special interest.

The microbiology of drinking water remains an important worldwide concern despite modem progress in science and engineering. Countries that are more technologically advanced have experienced a significant reduction in water borne morbidity within the last 100 years: This reduction has been achieved through the application of effective technologies for the treatment, disinfec tion, and distribution of potable water. However, morbidity resulting from the ingestion of contaminated water persists globally, and the available ep idemiological evidence (Waterborne Diseases in the United States, G. F. Craun, ed. , 1986, CRC Press) demonstrates a dramatic increase in the number of waterborne outbreaks and individual cases within the United States since the mid-1960s. In addition, it should also be noted that the incidence of water borne outbreaks of unknown etiology and those caused by "new" pathogens, such as Campylobaeter sp. , is also increasing in the United States. Although it might be debated whether these increases are real or an artifact resulting from more efficient reporting, it is clear that waterborne morbidity cannot be ignored in the industrialized world. More significantly, it represents one of the most important causes of illness within developing countries. Approxi mately one-half the world's population experiences diseases that are the direct consequence of drinking polluted water. Such illnesses are the primary cause of infant mortality in many Third World countries.

Worldwide concern in scientific, industrial, and governmental com munities over traces of toxic chemicals in foodstuffs and in both abiotic and biotic environments has justified the present triumvirate of specialized publications in this field: comprehensive reviews, rapidly published progress reports, and archival documentations. These three publications are integrated and scheduled to provide in international communication the coherency essential for nonduplicative and current progress in a field as dynamic and complex as environmental contamination and toxicology. Until now there has been no journal or other publication series reserved exclusively for the diversified literature on "toxic" chemicals in our foods, our feeds, our geographical surroundings, our domestic animals, our wild life, and ourselves. Around the world immense efforts and many talents have been mobilized to technical and other evaluations of natures, locales, magnitudes, fates, and toxicology of the persisting residues of these chemicals loosed upon the world. Among the sequelae of this broad new emphasis has been an inescapable need for an articulated set of authorita tive publications where one could expect to find the latest important world literature produced by this emerging area of science together with documentation of pertinent ancillary legislation."

Aquatic microbial ecology, a growing interdisciplinary field, has become increasingly compartmentalized in recent years. The aim of this volume is to propose a framework for biochemical and molecular approaches, which are employed ever more widely in studies of aquatic microbial communities and ecosystem functioning. The book presents state of the art applications of modern molecular research techniques to a range of topics in ectoenzymes microbial carbon metabolism bacterial population dynamics RNA chemotaxonomy of microbial communities plasmids and adaptation to environmental conditions. Written for limnologists, marine biologists, and all researchers interested in environmental microbiology and molecular aspects of ecology, this volume will provide a stimulating introduction to this emerging field.

Results of this third Feldafing Meeting can be considered as the harvest of novel techniques in spectroscopy, biochemistry and molecular biology to the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center. New information pertains to the crystallographic and electronic structure as well as to the dynamics of primary events and the role of the protein. The answer to one long-standing problem, the mechanism of primary charge separation, converges towards a sequential scheme, supported by femtosecond spectroscopy on reaction centers with selectively modified energetics.

During the past few decades we have witnessed an era of remarkable growth in the field of molecular biology. In 1950 very little was known of the chemical constitution of biological systems, the manner in which in formation was transmitted from one organism to another, or the extent to which the chemical basis of life is unified. The picture today is dramati cally different. We have an almost bewildering variety of information detailing many different aspects of life at the molecular level. These great advances have brought with them some breath-taking insights into the molecular mechanisms used by nature for replicating, distributing and modifying biological information. We have learned a great deal about the chemical and physical nature of the macromolecular nucleic acids and proteins, and the manner in which carbohydrates, lipids and smaller mole cules work together to provide the molecular setting of living systems. It might be said that these few decades have replaced a near vacuum of information with a very large surplus. It is in the context of this flood of information that this series of mono graphs on molecular biology has been organized. The idea is to bring together in one place, between the covers of one book, a concise assess ment of the state of the subject in a well-defined field."

The eye has fascinated scientists from the earliest days of biological in vestigation. The diversity of its parts and the precision of their interaction make it a favorite model system for a variety of developmental studies. The eye is a particularly valuable experimental system not only because its tissues provide examples of fundamental processes, but also because it is a prominent and easily accessible structure at very early embryonic ages. In order to provide an open forum for investigators working on all aspects of ocular development, a series of symposia on ocular and visual devel opment was initiated in 1973. A major objective of the symposia has been to foster communication between the basic research worker and the clinical community. It is our feeling that much can be learned on both sides from this interaction. The idea for an informal meeting allowing maximum ex change of ideas originated with Dr. Leon Candeub, who supplied the nec essary driving force that made the series a reality. Each symposium has concentrated on a different aspect of ocular development. Speakers have been selected to approach related topics from different perspectives."

those who deal with infectious diseases on a daily This two volume work stems from the belief of the Editors that infectious diseases are not only very basis. much with us today but, more importantly, that they There are several excellent textbooks dealing will continue to playa significant global role in mor with medical microbiology, and there are equally well-recognized books devoted to infectious dis bidity and mortality in all people. A continuing need for an informed and knowledgeable community of eases. The Editors of this work, on the other hand, laboratory scientists is fundamental. Data describing were persuaded that there was a need for a publica the global impact of infectious diseases are difficult tion that would bring together the most pertinent and to come by. Fortunately, a recent thoughtful and relevant information on the principles and practice of provocative publication by Bennett et al. (1987) pro the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases and vides us with data derived from several consultants include clinical relationships. While this two volume that clearly delineate the impact of infectious dis text is directed toward the role of the laboratory in eases on the United States today."

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are the key components for the aggregation of microorganisms in biofilms, flocs and sludge. They are composed of polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other biological macromolecules. EPS provide a highly hydrated gel matrix in which microbial cells can establish stable synergistic consortia. Cohesion and adhesion as well as morphology, structure, biological function and other properties such as mechanical stability, diffusion, sorption and optical properties of microbial aggregates are determined by the EPS matrix. Also, the protection of biofilm organisms against biocides is attributed to the EPS. Their matrix allows phase separation in biofiltration and is also important for the degradation of particulate material which is of great importance for the self purification processes in surface waters and for waste water treatment.

Algae, generally held as the principal primary producers of aquatic systems, inhabit all conceivable habitats. They have great ability to cope with a harsh environment, e.g. extremely high and low temperatures, suboptimal and supraoptimal light intensities, low availability of essential nutrients and other resources, and high concentrations of toxic chemicals, etc. A multitude of physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies enable them to survive and grow in stressful habitats. This book presents a critical account of various mechanisms of stress tolerance in algae, many of which may occur in microbes and plants as well.

Reaction Centers of Photosynthetic Bacteria is an updated record on the most recent insight into the struc- ture/function relationship of reaction centers from photosynthetic bacteria. It addresses in particular, interactions and dynamics which determine the ultra-high quantum yield of photoinduced charge separation in these energy-transforming molecular machines. Of particular interest is the still controversial issue of the primary charge separation mechanism as well as the effects of well-defined modifications, introduced either by mutagenic replacements in the protein matrix or by chemical exchange of reaction center pigments. Also described are the methods used for the characterization of interactions and dynamics important for electron transfer processes in the reaction center.

Biotechnology Biotechnology is is now now established established as as a a major major area area of of technology, technology, concerned concerned with with the' the' application application of of biological biological organisms, organisms, systems systems or or processes processes to to manufac turing turing or or service service industries'. industries'. Although Although the the exploitation exploitation of of organisms organisms by by man man is is not not new, new, many many of of the the techniques techniques which which are are stimulating stimulating the the rapid rapid advances advances in in biotechnology biotechnology have have developed developed from from recent recent scientific scientific discoveries. discoveries. Throughout Throughout history history man man has, has, knowingly knowingly or or not, not, been been exploiting exploiting yeast yeast in in the the production production of of alcoholic alcoholic beverages beverages and and bread, bread, and and these these processes processes still still represent represent major major biotechnological biotechnological industries. industries. The The brewer's brewer's and and baker's baker's yeast yeast Sac charomyces charomyces cerevisiae cerevisiae is, is, however, however, also also a a favoured favoured organism organism for for the the production production of of many many new new biotechnological biotechnological products. products."

As the title suggests, this book presents an open ended system in which computer techniques facilitate encoding, entry, management, and analysis of microbiological data derived from the study of bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa. The system is not constrained by any taxonomie point of view or proprietary computer technology and is freely and easily adaptable to the special needs of special problems. This enables investigators to deal efficiently with unforeseen areas of their investigation or with new data generated by old or new technology. We are sincerely grateful for the invaluable advice and encouragement of Professor V.B.D. Skerman. Many individuals contributed ideas and technical knowledge, and users of the system have contributed data and responsive criticism for more than a decade. Particularly, we acknowledge Lesley Jones for some editorial help; Keith E. McNeil for contributions to Section 7; Elwyn G. McIntyre for invaluable assistance with Section 8; Dr. B. Amdur for major contributions to Section 21; Dr. A.J. Wicken for assistance in expanding and updating Section 23; Dr. S. Feingold for some features of anaerobic bacteria in Section 24; Drs. J.

This volume includes contributions from the speakers of the Second IMD Congress (September 10-15, 2007; Moscow, Russia) who were eager to share some of the academic and clinical enthusiasm that defines the IMD meetings. The goal of the International Immune-Mediated Diseases: From Theory to Therapy (IMD) Congress is to bring the world 's best immunologists and clinicians to Moscow.