Organohalide-Respiring Bacteria

This book summarizes the current state of knowledge concerning bacteria that use halogenated organic compounds as respiratory electron acceptors. The discovery of organohalide-respiring bacteria has expanded the range of electron acceptors used for energy conservation, and serves as a prime example of how scientific discoveries are enabling innovative engineering solutions that have transformed remediation practice. Individual chapters provide in-depth background information on the discovery, isolation, phylogeny, biochemistry, genomic features, and ecology of individual organohalide-respiring genera, including Dehalococcoides, Dehalogenimonas, Dehalobacter, Desulfitobacterium and Sulfurospirillum, as well as organohalide-respiring members of the Deltaproteobacteria. The book introduces readers to the fascinating biology of organohalide-respiring bacteria, offering a valuable resource for students, engineers and practitioners alike.

PD Dr. Lorenz Adrian, Senior Scientist, Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany

Frank E. Löffler, Ph.D., Governor’s Chair and Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA