The editor of the book Acinetobacter Molecular Biology, Ulrike Gerischer from the University of Ulm, Germany, has succeeded in finding competent authors to write about different aspects of the genus Acinetobacter. Acinetobacter, of the order Pseudomonadales and belonging to the gamma-Proteobacteria, comprise a group of microorganisms from soil and water, which contribute to mineralization of, for example, aromatic compounds. As the name implies, they are non-motile. Through their resistance to many classes of antibiotics, they also cause infections especially in a hospital environment.

In Chapter one, the diversity of the genus Acinetobacter is described. The chapter starts with taxonomy, which is regarded as complicated and chaotic for this genus. Additionally, a box with comprehensive information about taxonomy practices is very helpful. The following part of this chapter describes very clearly different identification methods, mainly PCR-based fingerprtinting methods. Taxonomy is also the one subject of the 2^nd chapter, which stresses its importance especially for the discussed genus. The suitability of using the 16S rRNA gene for identification is construed. Unfortunately, this interesting subject is not written in the best English. Additionally, sentences are sometimes to long, which makes it difficult to comprehend. The catabolism of aromatic compounds in Acinetobacter is very briefly discussed in Chapter four.

The most important species of the genus is A. baylyi, which is reflected by the fact that four chapters deal almost exclusively with that species. The strain is very much appreciated as research tool for scientists, long before the genome of A. baylyi ADP1 was completely sequenced in 2004. One of the most important features is its natural transformation mechanism (Chapter five). The highly effective competence of A. baylyi makes it a very valuable research tool. Different aspects of transformation such as physiology, genetic analysis, transcriptional regulation etc. are explained in a very descriptive way. The subject of transformation comes briefly back in Chapter six, which is dedicated to Genetics. A brief overview of aspects of the A. baylyi genome and tools for genetic engineering is given. The following two chapters (Chapters seven and eight) detail information about LysR-type transcriptional regulators and the beta-ketoadipate pathway.

In Chapter nine, the different applications of Acinetobacter in biotechnology are construed. These applications are, besides others, biodegradation, bioremediation, novel lipid and peptide production and biosurfactant production. A summary of this chapter would have been helpful.

The biomedical importance of Acinetobacter is reflected in Chapters three, ten, eleven and twelve. In Chapter three lipoplysaccharides are extensively reviewed, including its contribution to bacterial virulence. The molecular basis of virulence and pathogenicity is dealed with in Chapter ten, of which the most part is about biofilm formation. In the following chapter (Chapter eleven) the epidemiology of Acinetobacter is reviewed. Various typing methods are briefly explained, which have been partly discussed in Chapter one. Antibiotic resistance is the subject of Chapter twelve. Besides others, multidrug resistance and the different classes of antibiotics are described.

The book covers a broad range of interesting and important aspects of the moleclar biology of Acinetobacter. It is mainly written for specialists in the area of Acinetobacter. Today, even for this readership, it is almost impossible to cite all avaliable literature. Therefore, this book comes in handy with all gathered information about the molecular biology of Acinetobacter. Each chapter contains an extensive reference list, up-to-date and ample appropriate diagrams and tables. A separate section about future aspects at the end of four of the twelve chapters and also the index at the end of the book are very much appreciated.

Overall, this book is a valuable contribution to the literature and suitable to anyone involved in Acinetobacter research. The price of the book is somewhat expensive.

Review by: Mareike Viebahn, PhD, Centocor BV, Einsteinweg 92, 2333 CD Leiden, The Netherlands

Full details of the book available at Acinetobacter Molecular Biology