Abstract
There are fundamental differences between the current levels of genomic and proteomic knowledge for bacteria and fungi. With multiple growth forms and over 100,000 known species, the fungi probably present a more complex situation, but genomic studies are hindered by the lack of reliable reference data for many species. As activities such as environmental sampling, and genomic and proteomic profiling, become more important in extending our understanding of ecosystems, there is an increasing imperative for researchers in microbial systematics to develop the methods and concepts required to interpret the information being generated. This volume presents a collection of chapters that provide some insights into how current methods and resources are being used in microbial systematics, together with some thoughts and suggestions about how both methodologies and concepts may develop in the future.