Methods for General and Molecular Microbiology 3rd Edition

This book will be an invaluable resource to every serious practitioner of microbiology in academia, industry, and government, and in clinical laboratories for traditional methods of microbiology as well as commonly used modern molecular microbiological methods. New chapters cover important topics such as molecular genetics of archaea; molecular genetic manipulations using phages as tools; state-of-the-art technology used in studying complex, naturally occurring microbial communities; metabolism of natural polymers including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin; DNA microarray technology; physiology, metabolism, molecular genetic approaches to the study of filamentous fungi, and general and molecular approaches for studying microbial symbioses. Each section details reliable methods applicable to basic studies. Additionally, chapters present background principles to facilitate understanding of the how and why of a given method, followed by a step-by-step description of the procedure. Common problems, precautions, and pitfalls of the methods are also presented as well as commercial sources for equipment and materials. Content: Front Matter • Preface • Table of Contents •Section 1. Morphology and Ultrastructure• Introduction to Morphology and Ultrastructure 1. Light Microscopy 2. Sampling and Staining for Light Microscopy 3. Laser Scanning Microscopy 4. Electron Microscopy 5. Computational Image Analysis and Reconstruction from Transmission Electron Micrographs 6. Atomic Force Microscopy 7. Cell Fractionation 8. Antigen-Antibody Reactions •Section 2. Growth Introduction to Growth 9. Growth Measurement 10. Nutrition and Media 11. Enrichment and Isolation 12. Culture Techniques 13. Energetics, Stoichiometry, and Kinetics of Microbial Growth 14. Physicochemical Factors in Growth 15. Phenotypic Characterization and the Principles of Comparative Systematics 16. General Methods to Investigate Microbial Symbioses •Section 3. Metabolism• Introduction to Metabolism 17. Physical Analysis and Purification Methods 18. Chemical Analysis 19. Enzymatic Activity 20. Permeability and Transport 21. Bacterial Respiration 22. Carbohydrate Fermentations 23. Metabolism of Aromatic Compounds 24. Cellulases, Hemicellulases, and Pectinases 25. Lignin and Lignin-Modifying Enzymes •Section 4. Molecular Genetics• Introduction to Molecular Genetics 26. Similarity Analysis of DNAs 27. Nucleic Acid Analysis 28. Measuring Spontaneous Mutation Rates 29. Transposon Mutagenesis 30. Plasmids 31. Gene Transfer in Gram-Negative Bacteria 32. Genetic Exchange in Gram-Positive Bacteria 33. Genetics of Archaea 34. Genetic Manipulations Using Phages •Section 5. Community and Genomic Analysis Introduction to Community and Genomic Analysis 35. Characterization of Bacterial Genome Sequences by Similarity Searching 36. Reconstructing and Interpreting Evolutionary Relationships 37. Microbial Nucleotide Fingerprints in Nature 38. Construction of BAC and Fosmid Libraries from Naturally Occurring Microbial Populations 39. Single Cell Identification by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization 40. Measurement of rRNA Abundance by Hybridization with Oligodeoxynucleotide Probes 41. Analysis of Microbial Communities with Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism •Section 6. Mycology Introduction to Mycology 42. Methods for Studying Terrestrial Fungal Ecology and Diversity 43. Physiology Metabolism and Molecular Aspects of Filamentous Fungi 44. Microbiological and Genetic Methods for Filamentous Fungi 45. Principles and Practice of DNA Microarray Technology Appendices Index • Color Plate

After thirteen years, the editors of Methods for General and Molecular Microbiology have prepared a new, state-of-the-art volume bringing this invaluable resource up to the present. This book will once again serve as a first source for traditional methods of microbiology as well as commonly used modern molecular microbiological methods. Covering methods for microbes representing all three domains of life--Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya--this manual should be on the bookshelf of every serious practitioner of microbiology in academia, industry, and government, and in clinical laboratories. It will serve as a rich resource on methods for seasoned professionals as well as for students at all levels.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Rebecca T. Horvat, PhD, D(ABMM)(University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description:This new edition of a classic reference in microbiology is put together well. In over 1,000 pages, this book covers the multiple topics and techniques used to investigate microorganisms. With the previous edition of this book over 10 years old, this update was necessary to include the many new investigational tools developed since then.
Purpose:The purpose of this book has remained constant over the years. The previous versions have become the standard source of information for microbiologists in all fields. This book is the "first source for traditional methods of microbiology as well as modern molecular biology." The new version includes new methods and theories as well as new areas of microbiology.
Audience:All scientists and students of microbiology will find this book a valuable resource. It is written at a level appropriate for professional scientists as well as training scientists. All of the chapters are well organized and are written by well established scientists familiar with both the science and technical details.
Features:This book covers both the theory and practical considerations of the various techniques used to study microorganisms. The different sections cover microscopy, analysis of enzymatic reactions, microbial metabolism, and molecular analysis. The authors emphasize the need for multiple types of analyses in order to answer the multiple questions in microbiology. Each chapter contains the basic background and historical information needed to understand the new methods and each method is presented in detail that makes it easy to follow. There is also discussion of potential problems and how to avoid them. In some cases the authors have listed the equipment and reagents needed to successfully use the technique.
Assessment:It is hard to improve on success, but this latest edition of a treasured classic has exceeded expectations. The original edition was my first "real" microbiology textbook and it will be good to have an up-to-date version. This latest edition can be relied upon to teach the new generation of scientists and will remain a treasure in my collection of classic references for many years.

This text updates and expands the previous edition, and offers a comprehensive review of methods used in the fields of general and molecular microbiology. Methods for bacteria, archaea, and filamentous fungi and also many subdisciplines are presented. A new section covers the popular subject of community and genomic analysis 'Mathematical modelling of weld phenomena is an expanding new field of research in which numerical analysis, in conjunction with appropriate experimental studies, is used to make predictions of microstructural and property changes in welds, including changes in states of stress.'