Bücher der Reihe Springer Series in Microbiology

This concise yet comprehensive text surveys the field of bacterial metabolism in terms useful to students and researchers. In addition, it examines pathways used by bacteria for the degradation of organic compounds, the synthesis of cellular constituents, the regulation of bacterial metabolism and the fixation of molecular nitrogen.

Sponsored by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology of the International Council of Scientific Unions

With contributions by numerous experts

The intent of this publication is to bring together reviews and discussions from several disciplines, all treating the basidium and basidiocarp of the Basidiomy cotina (= basidiomycetes), a subdivision of the true or higher fungi.

Antibiotics are among the most widely prescribed drugs in both human and veterinary medicine. When we started to teach our course on the science of antibiotics at the University of Pavia and the University of Milan, we realized that there was no book that presented the basic facts and concepts on all aspects of this diverse science.

This new and completely revised edition brings several new elements to the reader. Each chapter begins with aseries of Major Study Topics and con- cludes with some Questions for Reviewand Discussion. I also have added a glossary to assist students with unfamiliar terms. This edition offers a greater emphasis on molecular biology and genetics than was present in either of the previous editions. The sequence of topics has also changed so that basic regulation and recombination are introduced early to provide a basis for subsequent discussion. I have preserved the pre- sentation of basic virology and genetic transfer processes while expanding coverage of plasmid molecular biology. All of what I would consider to be essential material occurs within the first 13chapters. The final four chapters are shorter, optional material and are not interdependent; they can be used in any order or omitted at an instructor's discretion. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the able assistance of the editorial and production staff of Springer-Verlag. I am also grateful to my colleagues who were so patient with my questions and to Rene Allard for his helpful com- ments on the first six chapters.