The Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria: Contemporary Perspectives (Brock Springer Series in Contemporary Bioscience)

Sulfate-reducing bacteria comprise a diverse and ecologically interactive group of anaerobic prokaryotes which share an extraordinary trait: growth by sulfate respiration with hydrogen sulfide as a major end-product. Sulfate-reducers are found in diverse environments ranging from estuaries to geological oil-bearing formations. They have attracted considerable scientific and commercial interest. These organisms have been actively investigated by researchers in microbial energetics, protein chemistry, ecology and more recently molecular biology. This interest has increased greatly over the past decade, and this volume presents the first book-length summary of our knowledge of sulfate-reducing bacteria in nearly 10 years. Featuring an introduction by the eminent microbiologist John Postgate and comprehensive reviews from recognized authorities, this book will be of interest to microbiologists with interests in physiology, evolution, and ecology. Front Matter....Pages i-xxi The Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria: An Overview....Pages 1-20 Carbon Metabolism of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria....Pages 21-40 Bioenergetic Strategies of the Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria....Pages 41-76 Genetics of the Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria....Pages 77-87 Molecular Biology of the Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria....Pages 88-130 Phylogeny of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria and a Perspective for Analyzing Their Natural Communities....Pages 131-160 Ecological Actions of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria....Pages 161-188 Industrial and Environmental Activities of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria....Pages 189-210 Back Matter....Pages 211-290 In this well-illustrated reference, contributors summarize current research on sulfate-reducing bacteria and examine their relationship to biotechnology processes.