Phototrophie / Bakterien.

Bacteria have been the dominant forms of life on Earth for the past 3.5 billion years. They rapidly evolve, constantly changing their genetic architecture through horizontal DNA transfer and other mechanisms. Consequently, it can be difficult to define individual species and determine how they are related. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology examines how bacteria and other microbes evolve, focusing on insights from genomics-based studies. Contributors discuss the origins of new microbial populations, the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that keep species separate once they have diverged, and the challenges of constructing phylogenetic trees that accurately reflect their relationships. They describe the organization of microbial genomes, the various mutations that occur, including the birth of new genes de novo and by duplication, and how natural selection acts on those changes. The role of horizontal gene transfer as a strong driver of microbial evolution is emphasized throughout. The authors also explore the geologic evidence for early microbial evolution and describe the use of microbial evolution experiments to examine phenomena like natural selection. This volume will thus be essential reading for all microbial ecologists, population geneticists, and evolutionary biologists.

Beginning with the germ theory of disease in the 19th century and extending through most of the 20th century, microbes were believed to live their lives as solitary, unicellular, disease-causing organisms . This perception stemmed from the focus of most investigators on organisms that could be grown in the laboratory as cellular monocultures, often dispersed in liquid, and under ambient conditions of temperature, lighting, and humidity. Most such inquiries were designed to identify microbial pathogens by satisfying Koch's postulates.3 This pathogen-centric approach to the study of microorganisms produced a metaphorical "war" against these microbial invaders waged with antibiotic therapies, while simultaneously obscuring the dynamic relationships that exist among and between host organisms and their associated microorganisms-only a tiny fraction of which act as pathogens. Despite their obvious importance, very little is actually known about the processes and factors that influence the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities. Gaining this knowledge will require a seismic shift away from the study of individual microbes in isolation to inquiries into the nature of diverse and often complex microbial communities, the forces that shape them, and their relationships with other communities and organisms, including their multicellular hosts. On March 6 and 7, 2012, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the emerging science of the "social biology" of microbial communities. Workshop presentations and discussions embraced a wide spectrum of topics, experimental systems, and theoretical perspectives representative of the current, multifaceted exploration of the microbial frontier. Participants discussed ecological, evolutionary, and genetic factors contributing to the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities; how microbial communities adapt and respond to environmental stimuli; theoretical and experimental approaches to advance this nascent field; and potential applications of knowledge gained from the study of microbial communities for the improvement of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health and toward a deeper understanding of microbial diversity and evolution. The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary further explains the happenings of the workshop.

Although we can't usually see them, microbes are essential for every part of human life-indeed all life on Earth. The emerging field of metagenomics offers a new way of exploring the microbial world that will transform modern microbiology and lead to practical applications in medicine, agriculture, alternative energy, environmental remediation, and many others areas. Metagenomics allows researchers to look at the genomes of all of the microbes in an environment at once, providing a "meta" view of the whole microbial community and the complex interactions within it. It's a quantum leap beyond traditional research techniques that rely on studying-one at a time-the few microbes that can be grown in the laboratory. At the request of the National Science Foundation, five Institutes of the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy, the National Research Council organized a committee to address the current state of metagenomics and identify obstacles current researchers are facing in order to determine how to best support the field and encourage its success. The New Science of Metagenomics recommends the establishment of a "Global Metagenomics Initiative" comprising a small number of large-scale metagenomics projects as well as many medium- and small-scale projects to advance the technology and develop the standard practices needed to advance the field. The report also addresses database needs, methodological challenges, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting this new field.

Pasteurization, penicillin, Koch's postulates, and gene coding. These discoveries and inventions are vital yet commonplace in modern life, but were radical when first introduced to the public and academia. In this book, the life and times of leading pioneers in microbiology are discussed in vivid detail, focusing on the background of each discovery and the process in which they were developed — sometimes by accident or sheer providence.

Microbe Microbe THIRD EDITION Brings the excitement, breadth, and power of the modern microbial sciences to the next generation of students and scientists. This third edition of the bestselling Microbe textbook is an eloquent and highly readable introduction to microbiology that will engage and excite science majors and pre-health professionals. The authors have carefully crafted a lively narrative with stunning, detailed illustrations to bring key concepts to life and promote a lifelong passion for the microbial sciences. Microbe is replete with case studies, ranging from a MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) outbreak in an NFL locker room to the search for life outside of Earth, that illustrate relevant microbiology concepts in real-world scenarios. To further engage students and deepen their understanding of both the principles and practice of science, each chapter includes activities that encourage students to demonstrate and apply their knowledge of the topics presented. Questions are posed throughout each chapter to introduce important subjects and to prompt students to actively participate in the learning experience. This new edition also features highlight boxes exploring the varied roles and applications of microbes at work in our world as well as profiles of the diverse array of individuals who work in and adjacent to the field of microbiology. An equally valuable tool for instructors of all classroom modalities, Microbe integrates key concepts, learning outcomes, and fundamental statements directly from the ASM Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology. The new edition also provides robust instructor materials, including slides with figures and tables from the text, access to more than 250 peer-reviewed questions for microbiology education, and an instructors’ manual featuring answers for end-of-chapter questions as well as supplemental exercises and resources to challenge students to dig deeper into their understanding of the material. "This is a fantastic text that makes microbiology accessible to students. The new edition highlights a One Health perspective and the impact of microbiology on society and the human experience. The stories of Microbiologists at Work reflect the diversity of individuals making contributions to the field through a range of career paths. The conversational, engaging writing style; the learning outcomes that provide roadmaps for guided reading; and the clear, concise figures make this a text my students enjoy." —Mary E. Allen, Professor of Biology & Coordinator of Academic Assessment, Hartwick College "Microbe is one of the best undergraduate textbooks I have used to teach microbial metabolism. It has the perfect mix of examples from both the research literature and the real world for explaining challenging concepts to students. The new human gut microbiome chapter is amazing and does a great job of tying in concepts students learn in earlier chapters." —Kersten Schroeder, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences-College of Medicine, University of Central Florida