Book Reviews

Pili and Flagella

Current Research and Future Trends

Ken F. Jarrell (ed.). Caister Academic Press, Norfolk, UK (2009). ISBN 978-1-904455-48-6. X and 238 pages, multiple figures, tables and illustrations/pictures with a colour plates appendix, hard cover. USD 310.00/GBP 150.00.

Research on bacterial pili and flagella has a long history, e. g. also in terms of genetic research. A classical example is the research in STDs (Sexually Transmit-table Diseases), e.g. in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Flagella-dependent motility is a widespread phenomenon in bacteria and very well recognized in bacterial genera such as Proteus and Vibrio. This flagella-dependent possibility to migrate is a competitive benefit of motile bacteria, e. g. when assessed by aspects such as nutritional and environmental advantages. The gaining of new knowledge on pili and flagella is a steadily ongoing scientific process which is comprehensively demonstrated within this monography. The variety of classes of pili and the corresponding functions are highlighted. Aspects such as impact of pili and flagella on pathogenicity and virulence, host colonization, and bio-film formation are properly addressed. The reader gets aware that pili – in this special case type IV pili – even facilitate motility of bacteria across solid surfaces.

For a better overview of the potential reader a list up of the 14 different chapters of this book which are followed by an index and a colour plates part: 1. Type IV Pilus Structure (L. Craig); 2. Type IV Pilus Biogenesis, Structure and Function: Lessons from Type IV a Pilin System (M. Koomey); 3. The Bundle-forming Pilus and Other Type IVb Pili (E. Milgotina et al); 4. Structure, Function and Biogenesis of Pili Formed by the Chaperone/Usher Pathway (H. Remaut et al.); 5. Gram-positive Bacterial Pili and the Host-Pathogen Interface (A. Mandlik et al.); 6. What is Essential for Flagellar Assembly? (S.-I. Aizawa); 7. The Coordination of Flagellar Gene Expression and the Flagellar Assembly Pathway (J. Brown et al.); 8. Structure and Mechanism of the Flagellar Rotary Motor (D. F. Blair); 9. Flagellum Structure (F. A. Samatey); 10. Glycosylation of Flagellins (S. M. Logan); 11. Lateral Flagella Systems (S. Merino et al.); 12. The Bacterial Flagellum as a Surface Display and Expression Tool (K. Majander et al.); 13. Origin and Evolution of the Bacterial Flagellar System (R. Liu); 14. Archaeal Flagella and Pili (K. F. Jarrell et al.).

A monography written by internationally outstanding experts and top scientists within this field which is comparatively not so broadly addressed from the publication perspective and unfortunately almost a niche topic in current bacteriology.

Genetical and structural aspects as well as perspectives deriving from molecular biology and the holistic assembly and function of pili and flagella structures are comprehensively dealt with in this monography in a balanced manner. Topics cover biogenesis, structure, and function of various pili in Gram-negative and -positive organisms, flagellar gene expression, structure and assembly, the flagella motor, posttranslational modifications of flagella systems, lateral flagella systems, the origin and evolution of flagella, applications of flagella as surface display and expression system including insights in flagella and pili of Archaea.

All chapters are edited in a very harmonized way and the book also gets vivid by the appropriate illustrations and last but not least by the outstanding colour plates. References are restricted to really important primary publications and are absolutely up to date including the 2008 stand of scientific insight and publication. But also older, historical considerations and publications, e.g. by Charles Darwin, are not neglected and reflected under the context of the up to date scientific insights within this field today.

Taken all together an essential monography for scientists especially involved in topics such as microbial adhesion, pathogenesis and virulence, host colonization, microbial motility, biofilm aspects, and structural biology of pili and flagella. Comparatively this monography might be considered for not being in the low to intermediate price segment. Nevertheless, from the perspective of the excellent scientific, editorial and layout quality the price should be considered as reasonable.

Axel Schmidt, Witten/Herdecke