Microbial Life captures the richness, the intellectual excitement, and present-day understanding of the role of the microbe in evolution, human health, and in our lives. It is written for sophomore to senior undergraduates who have a general understanding of chemical concepts and biochemistry.
Rob Gunsalus, who has taught introductory microbiology at UCLA for 20 years, has joined the author team and is solely responsible for Parts II and III on physiology, growth, and metabolism.
The Second Edition has been redesigned to help students study and learn more effectively. New pedagogical features include: redesigned chapter openers with clearly defined objectives; Section Highlights and Chapter Summaries that help students retain key information and terminology; an enhanced illustration program, with balloon captions that clarify complex processes and concepts; and icons directing students to additional resources on a new Companion Website.
Table of Contents
Part I. The Scope of Microbiology
1. Evolution, Microbial Life, and the Biosphere
* Origin of Earth and Life
* Tracing Biological Evolution
* Prokaryotic versus Eukaryotic Microorganisms
* Microbial Evolution and Biogeochemical Cycles
* Evolution of Eukaryotes
* Sequence of Major Events during Biological Evolution
* Astrobiology
2. Historical Overview
* Effects of Infectious Diseases on Civilization
* Why Study the History of a Science?
* Status of Microbial Science Prior to 1650
* Microbiology from 1650 to 1850
* Medical Microbiology and Immunology
* Microbiology after 1850: The Beginning of Modern Microbiology
* Transition to the Modern Era
3. Fundamental Chemistry of the Cell
* Atoms
* Electronic Configurations of Molecules
* Molecules
* Chemical Bonds
* van der Waals Forces
* Hydrophobic Forces
* Water
* Acids, Bases, and Buffers
* Chemical Constituents of the Cell
* Major Monomers
* Isomeric Compounds
4. Structure and Function of Bacteria and Archaea
* Microscopy
* Morphology of Bacteria and Archaea
* Structure, Composition, and Cell Function
* The Cell Envelope
* Extracellular Layers
View preview of chapter 4. (PDF, 11.3 MB)
Part II. Microbial Physiology: Nutrition and Growth
5. Nutrition, Cultivation, and Isolation of Microorganisms
* Fundamental Aspects of Diversity
* Uptake of Nutrients into Cells
* Cultivation of Microorganisms
* Isolation of Selected Microbes by Enrichment Culture
6. Microbial Growth
* Cell Division of Bacteria and Archaea
* Population Growth
* Ways to Measure Growth
* Growth of Cells in Batch versus Continuous Culture
* Effect of Environmental Conditions on Cell Growth
7. Control of Microbial Growth
* Historical Perspective
* Physical Methods of Control
* Chemical Methods of Control
* Biological Methods of Control
Part III. Microbial Physiology: Metabolism
8. Cellular Energy Derived from Chemicals
* Basic Principles of Energy Generation
* Substrate Level Phosphorylation
* Respiration-Linked Phosphorylation
* Generation of the Proton Motive Force
* ATP Synthase
* Diversity of Bacterial Electron Transport Chains
9. Cellular Energy Derived from Light
* Photosynthetic Organisms
* The Photosynthetic Apparatus
* The Photosynthetic Bacterial Groups
* Photosynthesis with Rhodopsin
10. Biosynthesis of Monomers
* Macromolecular Synthesis from Precursor Substrates
* Macromolecular Synthesis from 1-Carbon Substrates
* Pathways that Generate Biosynthetic Precursors from Sugars
* Biosynthesis of Amino Acids, Purines, Pyrimidines, and Lipids
* Nitrogen Assimilation
* Sulfur Assimilation
11. Assembly of Bacterial Cell Structures
* Membrane Synthesis
* Peptidoglycan Synthesis
* Protein Assembly, Structure, and Function
* Export of Proteins
* Structure and Function of Cell Appendages
12. Role of Microbes in Biodegradation
* Overview of the Carbon Cycle
* Catabolism of Polymeric Materials
* Catabolism of Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds
* Catabolism of Lipids
* Catabolism of Aromatic and Aliphatic Compounds
Part IV. Genetics and Basic Virology
13. Basic Genetics
* The Nature of the Hereditary Information
* DNA Replication
* Transcription and its Regulation
* Regulation of Gene Expression
* Protein Synthesis
* Regulation by RNA Secondary Structure
* Quorum Sensing
* Mutations
* Mutagens and DNA Repair
14. Viruses
* Origin of Viruses
* Size and Structure of Viruses
* Cultivation of Viruses
* Quantitation of Viruses
* Purification of Viral Particles
* Viral Genomes and Reproduction
* Bacterial Viruses
* Viral Restriction and Modification
* Eukaryotic Viruses
* Animal Viruses
* Insect Viruses
* Plant Viruses
* Fungal and Algal Viruses
* Viroids
* Prions
15. Genetic Exchange
* Plasmids and Bacteriophage
* Recombination
* Genetic Exchange among Bacteria
* Mobile Genetic Elements and Transposons
16. Microbial Genomics
* Basis of Genetic Engineering
* Microbial Genomics
* Functional Genomics
Part V. Microbial Evolution and Diversity
17. Taxonomy of Bacteria and Archaea
* Nomenclature
* Classification
* Taxonomic Units
* Major Groups of Archaea and Bacteria
* Identification
* Computer Internet Resources
View preview of chapter 17. (PDF, 744 KB)
18. Archaea
* Why Study Archaea?
* Biochemical Differences and Similarities to Other Organisms
* Major Groups of Archaea
19. Nonphotosynthetic Proteobacteria
* Class Alphaproteobacteria
* Class Betaproteobacteria
* Class Gammaproteobacteria
* Class Deltaproteobacteria
* Class Epsilonproteobacteria
20. Gram-Positive Bacteria: Firmicutes and Actinobacteria
* Phylum: Firmicutes
* Phylum: Actinobacteria
21. Phototrophic Bacteria
* Light and Dark Reactions
* Phototrophic Phyla
* Proteobacteria
* Chlorobi
* Chloroflexi
* FirmicutesThe Heliobacteria
* Cyanobacteria
22. Exploring Microbial Diversity: Other Phyla, Other Microbial Worlds
* Phyla Containing Thermophilic Bacteria
* Phyla that May Contain Thermophiles
23. Eukaryotic Microorganisms
* Eukaryotic Organelles
* Diversity of Protists
* Opisthokonta
* Excavata
* Rhizaria
* Archaeplastida
* Chromalveolates
* Amoebozoa
Part VI. Microbial Ecology
24. Microbial Ecology
* The Concept of an Ecosystem
* The Microenvironment
* Autoecology: Ecology of the Species
* Microbial Communities
* Major Environments
* Biogeochemical Cycles
* Dispersal, Colonization, and Succession
* Biodiversity of Microbial Life
* Biogeography of Bacteria
25. Beneficial Symbiotic Associations
* Functions of Symbiotic Relationships
* Establishment of Symbioses
* Types of Symbioses
* MicrobeMicrobe Symbioses
* MicrobePlant Symbioses
* MicrobeAnimal Symbioses
26. Human HostMicrobe Interaction
* The Normal Human Microbiota
* Host Barrier Defense
* How Infectious Agents Overcome Barrier Defense: Adherence and Penetration by Pathogens
* Inflammation and Phagocytosis: The Second Level of Host Defense
* Virulence and Pathology
* Life in Host Cells
Part VII. Immunology and Medical Microbiology
27. Immunology
* Cells and General Organization of the Immune System
* Inflammation and Innate Immunity
* Adaptive Immunity
* Bridging Immune Responses
* Vaccines
* Dysfunctions of the Immune System
28. Microbial Diseases of Humans
* Skin Infections
* Respiratory Diseases
* Pneumonia
* Streptococcal Infections
* Tuberculosis
* Leprosy
* Anthrax
* Fungal Diseases
* Bacterial Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract
* Food- and Water-Borne Infections
* Urinary Tract Infections
* Sexually Transmitted Diseases
* Vector-Borne Diseases
* Protists as Agents of Disease
* Zoonoses
29. Viral Diseases of Humans
* Viral Infections Transmitted via the Respiratory System
* Viral Pathogens with Human Reservoirs
* Viral Diseases with Nonhuman Reservoirs
30. Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology
* Epidemiology
* Carriers and Reservoirs
* Modes of Transmission of Infectious Diseases
* Nosocomial (Hospital-Acquired) Infections
* Public Health Measures
* Control Measures for Communicable Diseases
* World Health
* Clinical and Diagnostic Methods
* Identifying Pathogens
* Antibiotic Sensitivity
Part VIII. Applied Microbiology
31. Industrial Microbiology
* Microbes Involved in Industrial Processes
* Major Industrial Products
* Foods, Flavoring Agents and Food Supplements, and Vitamins
* Beverages Containing Alcohol
* Ethanol as Fuel
* Organic Acids
* Enzymes, Microbial Transformations, and Inocula
* Inhibitors
* Genetically Engineered Microorganisms
32. Applied Environmental Microbiology
* Sewage (Wastewater) Treatment
* Drinking Water Treatment
* Landfills and Composting
* Pesticides
* Bioremediation
* Acid Mine Drainage and Acid Rain