Book Description
Bacteria in Biology, Biotechnology and Medicine is a broadly based textbook of pure and applied bacteriology. Written in clear language, the up-to-date text gives readers access to new ideas and developments in the current literature. The book is intended primarily for undergraduates and postgraduates in biology, biotechnology, medicine, veterinary science, pharmacology, microbiology, food science, environmental science and agriculture; no prior knowledge of bacteria is assumed.

The sixth edition has been extensively updated; much of the text is new, or re-written, and there are many new references. Over 70 genera of bacteria, listed alphabetically, are described in the Appendix. Cross-references and a detailed index, maximise the accessibility of data.

Reviews of previous editions:

"….a useful survey of the subject for students contemplating specialization."
—Nature

"Singleton assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of DNA and gene expression, and does an extraordinary job of explaining things from scratch."
—Quarterly Review of Biology

"….recommended to undergraduates and those seeking clear explanations of basic concepts of bacteriology."
—Journal of Medical Microbiology ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

terse
i am a first year medical student in philadelphia and i have been looking through various microbiology texts. the singleton books is interesting reading and the greatest strength it has exists in its condensed writing.it's short and sweet, but it is about as detailed as a piece of cardboard.good for general bacteriology- even for students who dont know much aboutbiology in general. not a medical text in any way. ... Read more

Book Description
Ninety percent of the cells in the human body are bacteria, and humans may be host to many thousands of different species of bacteria. These striking statistics are part of a new paradigm in microbiology in which bacteria are no longer viewed as disease-causing killers but more as lifelong partners which are often essential for the survival of their host. This book brings together a group of diverse scientists - evolutionary biologists, immunologists, molecular biologists, microbiologists, pathologists and mathematicians - to discuss the evolution and mechanisms of bacteria-host interactions at all levels of complexity. Chapters deal with the evolution of these interactions over the last 60 years (since the introduction of antibiotics) to a period of 3.8 billion years (since the evolution of single-celled life) and discuss bacterial interactions with multicellular life forms from coral reefs to humans. Researchers and graduate students across the life sciences will find this book of interest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Our Little Friends
It turns out that most bacteria is not pathogenic and many species are essential to the proper functioning of the human body. This book presents a whole new way of viewing bacteria, the human body, and their relationship to one another. 90% of the cells in our bodies are, by count, bacteria. We are more collectives of organisms then we are single beings.

This book is highly technical, but very well written and surprisingly easy to follow with a basic understanding of biology. It not only is helpful for scientists, but also for persons interested in new theories about what it means to be human and our relationship with our environment. It provides some ideas to chew on about how to develop a better relationship with our bacteria as sterilizing the body of it does not offer any real benefit and is even harmful to our survival. ... Read more

Book Description
This volume is a comprehensive treatment of the genetics and molecular biology of anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobes share two essential characteristics: an extreme sensitivity to molecular oxygen and a capacity to produce duce energy and perform biosyntheses in its absence. Anaerobes have emerged in recent years as exceptionally interesting and important organisms with respect to their ecology, their role in diseases and in biotransformation, and in the search for alternative renewable sources of energy. The application of modern methods in genetics and molecular biology over the past 15 years has revolutionized our understanding of the biology and evolution of these prokaryotes. In Genetics and Molecular Biology of Anaerobic Bacteria, a distinguished international collection of scientists has contributed an up-to-date resource for all microbiologists involved in research and teaching on anaerobic bacteria. ... Read more

Book Description
A book for anyone interested in halophilic bacteria The Biology of Halophilic Bacteria presents detailed information regarding methods for working with halophilic bacteria.Helpful hints for performing various tests and assays in high salts are given, and information about data presentation and analysis is provided as well. The book will be useful to molecular biologists, biochemists, ecologists, and others interested in halophilic bacteria. ... Read more

Book Description
This book gives a comprehensive overview of our presentmolecular biological knowledge about the Rhizobiaceae, whichcurrently can be called the best studied family of soil bacteria. Formany centuries they have attracted the attention of scientists becauseof their capacity to associate with plants and as a consequence alsoto specifically modify plant development. Some of these associationsare beneficial for the plant, as is the case for theRhizobiaceae subgroups collectively called rhizobia, which areable to fix nitrogen in a symbiosis with the plant hosts. Thissymbiosis results in the formation of root or stem nodules, asillustrated on the front cover. In contrast, severalRhizobiaceae subgroups can negatively affect plant developmentand evoke plant diseases. Examples are Agrobacteriumtumefaciens and A. rhizogenes which induce the formationof crown galls or hairy roots on the stems of their host plants,respectively (bottom panels on front cover). In addition to theobvious importance of studies on the Rhizobiaceae for agronomy,this research field has resulted in the discovery of many fundamentalscientific principles of general interest which are highlighted inthis book. ... Read more