Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology

Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology is a comprehensive reference book that provides a systematic classification of bacteria. It was first published in 1923 by David Hendricks Bergey and his colleagues, and it has been revised and updated several times ever since.

The manual serves as an essential resource for researchers, clinicians, and educators who study bacteria. It presents detailed descriptions of bacterial taxa, including morphology, metabolism, and genetic characteristics. The manual also provides information on the habitat and ecology of each bacterial group, as well as their significance for human health and disease.

The manual is organized into four volumes, with each volume covering a particular group of bacteria: archaea and the deeply branching and phototrophic bacteria; proteobacteria; firmicutes; and bacteroidetes, spirochaetes, tenericutes (mollicutes), acidobacteria, fibrobacteres, fusobacteria, dictyoglomi, gemmatimonadetes, lentisphaerae, verrucomicrobia, chlamydiae, and planctomycetes.

• Volume one provides an overview of the early evolutionary history of bacteria, including the archaea and the deeply branched and phototrophic bacteria. The volume also includes descriptions of medically important bacteria such as mycobacteria and nocardia, as well as some less well-known bacteria such as the purple non-sulfur bacteria.
• Volume two covers the proteobacteria, which include some of the most well-known and medically important groups such as the enterobacteriaceae and pseudomonads. This volume also covers the rickettsiae, which are intracellular bacteria that are important agents of human disease.
• Volume three covers the firmicutes, which include a diverse array of bacteria such as the clostridia, bacilli, and staphylococci. This volume also covers the mycoplasmas, which are small, cell wall-deficient bacteria that cause various diseases.
• Volume four covers a wide range of bacteria such as spirochaetes, chlamydiae, planctomycetes, verrucomicrobia, and others. This volume also includes descriptions of bacteria that have only recently been discovered and characterized, such as the acidobacteria and gemmatimonadetes.

Each volume of Bergey’s Manual provides detailed descriptions of bacterial taxa, including their morphology, physiology, and genetics. The manual also includes information on the ecology and significance of each bacterial group in various fields such as agriculture, industry, environmental science, and medicine.

In addition to its descriptions of bacterial taxa, Bergey’s Manual also includes a range of other useful information such as a glossary of terms and a guide to bacterial taxonomy. The manual also includes detailed instructions and protocols for identifying and classifying bacteria in the laboratory.

Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology is an essential reference for microbiologists, taxonomists, and others who study bacteria. It serves as a valuable resource for research, education, and clinical practice, helping to advance our understanding of bacterial diversity and evolution and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for bacterial diseases.