Bacteria are the most ubiquitous of all organisms. Responsible for a number of diseases and for many of the chemical cycles on which life depends, they are genetically adaptable. Vital to this adaptability is the existence of autonomous genetic elements-plasmids-which promote genetic exchange and recombination. The genes carried by any particular plasmid may be found in only a few individuals of any species but can also be shared with other species and thus constitute a horizontal gene pool. This book explains the various contributions that plasmids make to this pool: the replication, stable inheritance and transfer modules, the phenotypic markers they carry, the way they evolve, the ways they contribute to their host population and the approaches that we use to study and classify them. It also looks at what we know about their activity in natural communities and the way that they interact with other mobile elements to promote bacterial evolution.

Molecular Biological Methods for Bacillus Edited by C. R. Harwood, Department of Microbiology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK and S. M. Cutting, The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, USA This volume represents the first major attempt to produce a compendium of the experimental methods used for the analysis of Bacillus, one of the most important procaryotic genera. Since the pioneering work on the transformation and genetic analysis of Bacillus subtilis by John Spizizen and his colleagues in the late 1950s this microorganism has been extensively studied and is now one of the best understood. More than forty of the world’s leading researchers in the field have generously contributed experimental procedures—devised and used in their laboratories—to this book. The aim throughout has been to present methods as simple step-by-step protocols which have been thoroughly tried and tested. The context in which the methods are used is discussed in detail and relevant information provided on the physiology and genetics of Bacillus. In addition valuable support is provided in the form of troubleshooting tips and advice on safety, the preparation of reagents, and the use of equipment. The book will be invaluable to those working with the genus Bacillus and related genera—both established researchers and those wishing to use this important microorganism for the first time.

Many potential applications of synthetic and systems biology are relevant to the challenges associated with the detection, surveillance, and responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. On March 14 and 15, 2011, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats convened a public workshop in Washington, DC, to explore the current state of the science of synthetic biology, including its dependency on systems biology; discussed the different approaches that scientists are taking to engineer, or reengineer, biological systems; and discussed how the tools and approaches of synthetic and systems biology were being applied to mitigate the risks associated with emerging infectious diseases. The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology is organized into sections as a topic-by-topic distillation of the presentations and discussions that took place at the workshop. Its purpose is to present information from relevant experience, to delineate a range of pivotal issues and their respective challenges, and to offer differing perspectives on the topic as discussed and described by the workshop participants. This report also includes a collection of individually authored papers and commentary.