Myxobacteria are fascinating and important prokaryotes. They have large genomes and exhibit a wide range of interesting behaviors, including multicellular fruiting body formation, social interaction, predation, and secondary metabolite production. Substantial progress is being made in understanding their ecological roles and the evolutionary forces that have shaped their phenotypes and behaviors. Novel species of myxobacteria are regularly described, often producing unusual metabolites and enzymes which can be of significant biotechnological interest. Molecular studies, ranging in subject from individual enzymes to entire ‘omes, continue to provide rich insights into myxobacterial biology. This collected volume brings together five research articles and three reviews, to provide a snapshot of current myxobacterial research in all its diversity. |