Bioluminescence

An addition to the “Tutorial Text” series, the 88-page Bioluminescence for Food and Environmental Microbiological Safety is targeted to engineers, scientists, students and managers who are involved in the design and/or use of biosafety assays. Its objective is to provide information on bioluminescent assays in microbiology. It discusses theoretical and practical aspects of the tests, along with strengths and weaknesses of the various techniques. Sections are devoted to the basics of bioluminescence, including the mechanisms of bioluminescent reactions and bioluminescent systems that are relevant to analytical applications. The principles of bioluminescent analysis and their use for bacterial detection are covered. Experimental protocols available for bioluminescent detection of bacteria in various food and environmental samples are provided. Lubov Brovko; SPIE Press, Bellingham, Wash., 2007; $35, SPIE members; $44, nonmembers.