The Structure and Functions of Bacteria (Classic Reprint)

Explore the Structure and Functions of Bacteria and discover how tiny organisms shape the nitrogen cycle and our world.

This edition assembles the practical and historical knowledge about bacteria, from their roles in putrefaction and ammoniacal fermentation to the biochemical steps of nitrification. It highlights how different bacteria interact with nitrogen in soil, water, and waste, and explains how scientists isolate and study these invisible workers.

• How saprogenic and putrefactive bacteria break down proteins and release ammonia.
• How nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia first to nitrite, then to nitrate, with roles forNitrosomonas, Nitrosococcus, and Nitrobacter.
• How cultures are prepared to study these bacteria, including special media and the need for proto­trophic growth.
• Historical context showing how Winogradsky’s work revealed the biochemical nature of nitrification and soil microbial life.

Ideal for readers seeking a clear, paneled view of bacteria’s functions in nature and the laboratory methods used to uncover them.