Environmental Metal-Microbe Interactions

Booknews

Scholars of microbiology and other biological sciences, chemical and civil engineering physics, pharmacy, and other disciplines explore the major impact microorganisms have on metal chemistry in the environment, summarizing the current understanding, and providing an overview of the field and a basis for making improved models of metal cycling. Beginning with the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, they discuss such aspects as phylogenetic and biochemical diversity among acidophilic bacteria that respire on iron, interactions between trace metals and phytoplankton in aquatic systems, and the microbially influenced corrosion of steel. Then they take up microbial interactions with toxic metals that can be used in biominteralization and bioremediation. The topics there include microbial mercury reduction, the dissimilatory reduction of selenate and arsenate in nature, and the influence of fungi on the environmental mobility of metals and metalloids. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)