1st Edition

Thermophilic Bacteria

Edited By Jakob K. Kristjansson Copyright 1991

    Thermophilic Bacteria is a comprehensive volume that describes all major bacterial groups that can grow above 60-65°C (excluding the Archaea). Over 60 different species of aerobic and anaerobic thermophilic bacteria are covered. Isolation, growth methods, characterization and identification, ecology, metabolism, and enzymology of thermophilic bacteria are examined in detail, and an extensive compilation of recent biotechnological applications and the properties of many thermostable enzymes are also included.

    Major topics discussed in the book include a general review on thermophilic bacteria and archaea; heterotropic bacilli; the genus Thermus; new and rare genera of aerobic heterophophs, such as Saccharococcus, Rhodothermus, and Scotohermus; aerobic chemolithoautotrophic thermophilic bacteria; obligately anaerobic thermophilic bacteria; and hyperthermophilic Thermotogales and thermophilic phototrophs. Extensive bibliographies are also provided for each chapter. The vast amount of information packed into this one volume makes it essential for all microbiologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and students interested in the expanding field of thermophilicity. Biotechnologists will find the book useful as a source of information on thermophiles or thermostable enzymes of possible industrial use.

    Thermophilic Bacteria (J.K. Kristjansson and K.O. Stetter). Heterotrophic Thermophilic Bacilli (R. J. Sharp, P.W. Riley and D. White). The Genus Thermus (R.A.D. Williams). The Heterotrophic, Thermophilic Genera Thermomicrobium, Rhodothermus, Saccharococcus, Acidothermus and Scotothermus. (J.K. Kristjansson and G.A. Alfredsson). The Aerobic, Chemolithoautotrophic, Thermophilic Bacteria (M. Aragno). The Obligately Anaerobic Thermophilic Bacteria (Juergen Weigel). The Thermotogales: Hyperthermophilic and Extremely Thermophilic Bacteria (R. Huber and K.O. Stetter). The Thermophilic Phototrophs (Reidun Sirevåg).

    Biography

    Jakob K. Kristjansson, Ph.D., is Head of the Biotechnology Department, Technological Institute of Iceland, and Docent (Associate Professor) of Microbiology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. Dr. Kristjansson received his B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Iceland in 1976 and his Ph.D. degree in 1980 from the Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. He was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Institute of Microbiology, Phillipps University, Marburg, Germany in 1981 to 1982. He became a research associate at the University of Iceland in 1982, a Lector in 1986 and a Docent in 1989. In 1985 he started his work on the biotechnology of thermophiles at the Technological Institute of Iceland and became Head of the Biotechnology Department in 1988. Dr. Kristjansson is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the German Society for Microbiology, the Icelandic Academy of Sciences, the Icelandic Society for Microbiology and numerous other Icelandic societies. He has served on several committees for the Icelandic National Research Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Industrial Fund. He is now a member of the board of the Icelandic National Research Council. Dr. Kristjansson has received grants from the Fulbright Foundation, the American Scandinavian Foundation, the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He received “the Promotion Award” of the Icelandic National Research Council when awarded for the first time in 1987. He has held numerous research grants from the Icelandic Science Foundation, the Icelandic Research Council, the Research Fund of the University of Iceland, the Nordic Fund for Technology and Industrial Development and private industry. He has published more than 40 papers. His current research interests include the microbiology and biochemistry of thermophiles and thermostable enzymes.