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Acta Biotechnol. 23 (2003) 4 , 382 Book Review H. BAHL / P. DÜRRE (editors) + 18 contributing authors Clostridia Biotechnology and Medical Applications Weinheim, New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Singapore, Toronto: Wiley-VCH, 1st edition 2001 279 pages; € 129.00 ISBN: 3-527-30175-5 “Got a bad reputation but I don’t believe it’s true.” Deep Purple (Ramshackle Man) “What a bad smell!” With this remarkable confession the authors open the preface of their book. The approximately three-hundred pages that follow are devoted to convincing the reader that behind the evil odours that shroud clostridial cultures there lies a realm of fascinating biology. As a group, clostri- dia indeed boast anything but a good reputation. Being notorious for causing harm through the production of extremely powerful protein toxins with nasty effects, most biotechnologists have pro- bably never thought of these bugs as agents that could possibly be put to any good use. Any food technologist’s nightmare (and preoccupying a minority of bizarrely twisted minds in the military industry who seriously pondered harnessing their dreadful powers for chemical warfare) this “shadow existence” far away from biotech’s mainstream may then be not too surprising. Until quite recently, the only biotechnological application of clostridia has been the butanol/acetone fermentation that is the topic of the fifth chapter of this intriguing book. The truly unusual use of botulinum toxin – the most poisonous substance of biological origin known to man – in cosmetic medicine has catapulted Clostridium botulinum into the limelight. Chapter 7 of this monograph deals with the molecular biology of this group of proteinaceous toxins, some of which have become valued chemical tools for molecular neurobiologists. A front-line application of clostridial species in mankind’s raging battle against cancer is described and discussed in the concluding eighth chapter. Although still largely experimental and somewhat speculative, it is a refreshing token of man’s imaginative potential. The first three chapters – spanning some one-hundred pages – concern themselves with the fundamen- tal biology of bacteria of the clostridial type. Encompassing one third of the book, these chapters on basic, non-applied topics, identify its sub-title “Biotechnology and Medical Applications” as an understatement. A whole chapter – featuring more than a hundred referenced entries – discusses in depth the complex systematics of the clostridial taxonomic cluster – a challenging field which – just like the rest of bacterial taxonomy – is likely to undergo considerable shifts and rearrangements in the future. “Clostridia” is a well-produced handy volume on a highly interesting prokaryotic clan that covers basic and applied (biotechnological) aspects in a well-balanced way. Covering a moving field of current microbiology with interesting applications and a biotechnological potential that is likely not yet fully exploited, it is stimulating reading that might even trigger novel, as yet unthought-of uses for these “stinking poison-mixers”. The breadth of the book’s scope in combination with its authoritative presentation will probably make it a sought-after source of reference. It is recommended reading for anyone interested in microbiology beyond Escherichia coli. Th. LAZAR
Acta Biotechnologica – Wiley
Published: Dec 1, 2003
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