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

The genus Clostridium represents a heterogeneous group of anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, comprising prominent toxin-producing species, such as C. difficile, C. botulinum, C. tetani, and C. perfringens, in addition to well-known non-pathogens like solventogenic C. acetobutylicum. In the last decade, several clostridial genomes have been deciphered and post-genomic studies are currently underway. The advent of newly developed, genetic manipulation tools have permitted functional-based and systems biology analyses of several clostridial strains. Research in this area is at a very exciting stage. In this book, internationally recognized Clostridium experts critically review the most important aspects of clostridial research, providing the first coherent picture of the organism's molecular and cellular biology in this post-genomic era. The first major focus of the book is the genetics and molecular biology of the major clostridial toxins including: botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins, C. difficile large exotoxins, C. perfringens enterotoxin, pore-forming and binary bacterial toxins. Other topics include molecular epidemiology of C. botulinum and C. difficile, metabolic networks in C. acetobutylicum, development of genetic knock-out systems for clostridia, surface structures, anti tumor potential of clostridia, and antibiotic resistance determinants in C. difficile.

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

50 Jahre Schornsteinfegerleben zeigen den Wandel der Gesellschaft in anschaulichen Geschichten und Anekdoten.

Alkali Cation Transport Systems in Prokaryotes is the first book that brings together the physiological, structural, and molecular biological aspects of the transport of sodium, potassium, and ammonium across the bacterial cell membrane. Sodium translocation plays a major role in energy coupling of some prokaryotes, and much of the book is devoted to new and exciting developments in this field. Over 30 experts have contributed to this excellent reference for microbiologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, cell biologists, chemotherapists, and researchers interested in bioenergetics.