Sulfate-reducing bacteria comprise a diverse and ecologically
interactive group of anaerobic prokaryotes which share an extraordinary
trait: growth by sulfate respiration with hydrogen sulfide as a major
end-product. Sulfate-reducers are found in diverse environments ranging
from estuaries to geological oil-bearing formations. They have attracted
considerable scientific and commercial interest. These organisms have
been actively investigated by researchers in microbial energetics,
protein chemistry, ecology and more recently molecular biology. This
interest has increased greatly over the past decade, and this volume
presents the first book-length summary of our knowledge of
sulfate-reducing bacteria in nearly 10 years. Featuring an introduction
by the eminent microbiologist John Postgate and comprehensive reviews
from recognized authorities, this book will be of interest to
microbiologists with interests in physiology, evolution, and ecology.