LibGuides: Infectious Diseases: Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology

Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Second Edition

Quick Guide

Bergey's Manuals are part of the library's reference collection; they can be used only inside the library during open hours and cannot be checked out. You may also request that scans be emailed to you using the Reserve Textbook Scanning Program.

Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology by George M. Garrity (Editor-In-Chief); David R. Boone (Editor); Richard W. Castenholz (Editor)
Call Number: REF QR 81 .B46 2001
Publication Date: 2001
This manual is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative works in the field of prokaryotic systematics. Arrangement of the content of the second edition follows the now familiar and well regarded phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene, yet retains much of the layout of the first edition.

How to Use Bergey's

Bergey’s is useful for researching bacteria, and gathering information on how to isolate and grow specific bacteria in any environment.

***If you are researching a fungi or virus, it is not covered in Bergey’s.

Step 1. Locate the full taxonomy classification of your organism

To locate the taxonomic classification of your organism you can look it up on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System website.

Step 2. Use the taxonomy classification

The volumes are organized by Phylum, so knowing the Phylum will help you to locate the correct volume.

Vol. 1.The Archaea and the Deeply Branching and Phototrophic Bacteria
Vol. 2.The Proteobacteria, Part A (essays), Part B, and Part C [incomplete; missing pages after 703]
Vol. 3.The Firmicutes
Vol. 4.The Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, Tenericutes (Mollicutes), Acidobacteria, Fibrobacteres, Fusobacteria, Dictyoglomi, Gemmatimonadetes, Lentisphaerae, Verrucomicrobia, Chlamydiae, and Plancto
Vol. 5. (Part A & B)The Actinobacteria

Once you select the correct volume, use the Table of Contents to locate the specific genus. Start by locating the Class, then Order, then Family.

Step 3. Locate and collect the taxonomic comments from the Family

This will explain why the family has been classified within the taxonomy.

Step 4. Locate the section on your genus.

Locate and collect the taxonomic comments on the genus.
To learn about the phenotypic characteristics, locate and collect the descriptive information, if available.
To learn about the microbial physiology, locate and collect the:
- nutrition and growth conditions; and
- metabolism and genetics.
To learn about the environment reservoir, locate and collect the ecology.
Locate the Characteristics Table
- Identify those characteristics that are stated in the lab manual from your class (pages 401-405).