Chemical Methods in Bacterial Systematics

Book excerpt: Current chemosystematics owes much to the availability of highly sensitive analytical techniques. Many of these involve a quantitative approach, utilising computers and a variety of statistical techniques. This book contains up-to-date procedures on chemical methods being developed and used for the classification and identification of bacteria, including medically and economically significant ones. Detailed protocols are given on how valuable taxonomic data can be derived from analyses of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and whole-organisms. Of general interest to microbiologists, the volume should also be an essential reference to those actively engaged in diagnostic bacteriology or microbial systematics. FROM THE PREFACE: Chemical methods not only are well established in bacterial systematics but are also rapidly changing our views on how bacteria should be classified and identified. Chemotaxonomy, which owes much to the availability of new and highly sensitive analytical techniques, can be used to establish relationships between bacteria at all levels in the taxonomic hierarchy. However, many of the new approaches are designed for the identification of bacteria and some are quantitative, employing computers and a variety of statistical techniques. This book contains detailed procedures on many of the chemical methods currently being used for the classification and identification of bacteria. As such, it will be of value generally to microbiologists and is an essential reference for those actively engaged in diagnostic bacteriology.