Contents: List of contributors,Preface,Introduction to microbial physiology,Bacterial cytoplasmic membranes and cell walls,Biosyntheses of macromolecules in microrganisms I Nucleic acids,Biosynthesis of macromolecules in microrganisms II Proteins,Biosynthesis of lipids in micro organisms,Regulation of macromolecular synthesis in bacterea,Biochemistry of nitrogen fixation,Oxidation of Sulphur in nature.