I. Methods Species and strain identification methods; Jones and Keis Quantitative proteome analysis of clostridia; Schaffer, Thormann, Hujer, and Durre Gene cloning in clostridia; Davis, Carter, Young, and Minton Gene analysis of clostridia; Tummala, Tomas, and Papoutsakis Anoxic testing and purification of enzymes; Thorsten Selmer II. Metabolic Pathways and Transport Systems Degradation of polymers: cellulose, xylan, pectin, starch; Leschine Genetic organisation and regulation of hexose and pentose utilization in the clostridia; Reid Carbohydrate uptake by the phosphotransferase system and other mechanisms; Mitchell and Tangney Special clostridial enzymes and fermentation pathways; Buckel Degradation of heterocyclic compounds; Andreesen Nitrogen assimilation in the clostridia; Reid and Stutz Nitrogen fixation; Chen Clostridial potassium transport systems; Treuner-Lange and Durre Transport of phosphate; Fischer and Bahl III. Cellular Components and Medical Aspects Membranes lipids of clostridia; Goldfine and Johnston Adhesins; Mastrantonio and Collignon Clostridial toxins versus other bacterial toxins; Popoff and Stiles Clostridial enterotoxins; McClane Clostridial cytotoxins; Barth and Aktories Membrane active toxins; Titball and Tweten Clostridial neurotoxins; Johnson Clostridial diseases of domestic animals; Songer IV. Regulatory Mechanisms Two-component signal transduction systems in the clostridia; Cheung, McGowan, and Rood Comparative genomic analysis of signal transduction proteins in clostridia; Dob, Groger, Knauber, Whitworth, and Treuner-Lange Regulation of catabolic gene systems; Tangney and Mitchell RNA polymerase and alternative s factors; Sonenshein, Haraldsen, and Dupuy Transposable genetic elements of the clostridia; Lyras and Rood V. Complex Regulatory Networks Sporulation (morphology) of the clostridia; Labbe Sporulation in clostridia (genetics); Durre Formation of solvents in clostridia; Durre VI. Special Groups and Ecosystems Bacteriophages of Clostridium; Jones Acetogenic clostridia; Drake and Kusel Halophilic clostridia; Oren Syntrophism among clostridiales; Plugge and Stams Ecology and activity of clostridia in the intestine of mammals; Konstantinov, Smidt, and Akkermans VII. Novel Developments and Applications Industrially relevant fermentations; Ezeji, Qureshi, Cotta, and Blaschek Metabolic engineering of solventogenic clostridia; Tomas, Tummala, and Papoutsakis Biodegradation of hazardous materials by clostridia; Ahmad, Hughes, and Bennett Clostridial collagenase in wound repair; Brett Clostridia as production systems for prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins of therapeutic value in tumor treatment; Van Mellaert, Theys, Pennington, Barbe, Nuyts, Landuyt, Lambin, Minton, and Anne

Providing a comprehensive resource on the complete field of Clostridium, this book also serves as a compilation of critical reviews on the advantages of using Clostridia for new medical and biotechnological applications. Responding to gaps in the literature, Handbook on Clostridia combines information on basic methods, biochemical fundamentals, clinical practice, industrial applications, and novel developments into a single volume. Experts in the field summarize methods, physiology, medical significance, regulation, ecosystems, genomics, and current and potential applications. It is a valuable reference for every specialist, researcher, and student involved in this promising field.