Over 90% of bacterial biomass exists in the form of biofilms. The ability of bacteria to attach to surfaces and to form biofilms often is an important competitive advantage for them over bacteria growing in suspension. Some biofilms are good in natural and engineered systems; they are responsible for nutrient cycling in nature and are used to purify waters in engineering processes. Other biofilms are bad when they cause fouling and infections of humans and plants. Whether we want to promote good biofilms or eliminate bad biofilms, we need to understand how they work and what works to control them. Mathematical models help us understand the complex phenomena that occur in biofilms. In recent years, biofilm modelling has rapidly advanced, resulting in a diversity of modeling approaches and tools. On the one hand, complex three-dimensional biofilm models can describe many aspects of the formation of heterogeneous biofilms. On the other hand, it is not always necessary to use such complex models. Simple models - ones that can be solved easily with a spreadsheet sometimes provide the information we need.Mathematical Modeling of Biofilms provides guidelines for the selection and use of mathematical models of biofilms. The whole range of existing models -- from simple analytical expressions to complex numerical models -- is covered. The application of the models for the solution of typical problems is demonstrated, and the performance of the models is tested in comparative studies. With the dramatic evolution of the computational capacity still going on, modeling tools for research and practice will become more and more significant in the next few years. This report provides the foundation to understand the models and to select the most appropriate one for a given use. The different types of biofilm models are described and compared for specific applications. For example, mathematical models often are used to quantify substrate conversion in biofilm reactors used for water treatment. A different application is for describing how heterogeneous biofilms develop in time and space. Mathematical Modeling of Biofilms gives a state-of-the-art overview that is especially valuable for educating students, new biofilm researchers, and design engineers.Through a series of three benchmark problems, the report demonstrates how to use the different models and indicates when simple or highly complex models are most appropriate.

Preventing Legionellosis covers the biology of Legionella and presents a comprehensive review of best practices for legionellosis prevention from around the world. Recent outbreaks, climbing incidence rates and pending lawsuits have raised public awareness about legionellosis, a serious, preventable form of pneumonia that can be contracted from water systems in buildings. Legionellosis has harmed millions of people worldwide and causes annual monetary losses in the billions. However, to really understand the effects of the disease, one must listen carefully as the victims, or their survivors, describe the suffering they have endured. Victims who recover from legionellosis often suffer severe pulmonary disease that can cause long-term or permanent damage. Debilitating effects to kidneys and in the nervous system can occur within days after becoming infected. Therefore, curing the acute illness is not nearly good enough. Prevention of the disease is necessary. Fundamentally, legionellosis is evidence of the failure to properly maintain water systems. It is the only cause of serious pneumonia that people get from their building's water systems. Most cases result from inadequate water treatment and poor water system management. Commercial conflicts of interest often impede correct action for the prevention of legionellosis. Legionellosis is preventable. The biological hazard caused by Legionella bacteria in water systems can be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels under operating conditions. Many thousands of legionellosis cases could be prevented each year if hazard control methods were used within the context of well-designed hazard analysis and control plans. Every building water facility should have a water management plan and budget that includes water safety. Preventing Legionellosis provides concise detail for: . Improving awareness and education . Implementing water management plans . Mitigating against commercial conflict of interest The book will give the scientific basis for the worldwide technical consensus on the prevention of legionellosis. It will be an invaluable source of information for public health administrators, epidemiologists, infection control professionals, facility safety managers, industrial hygienists, and academic engineers and scientists.

How did the Bhagavadgata first become an object of German philosophical and philological inquiry? How were its foundational concepts initially interpreted within German intellectual circles, and what does this episode in the history of cross-cultural encounter teach us about the status of comparative philosophy today? This book addresses these questions through a careful study of the figures who read, translated and interpreted the Bhagavadgata around the turn of the nineteenth century in Germany: J.G. Herder, F. Majer, F. Schlegel, A.W. Schlegel, W. von Humboldt, and G.W.F. Hegel. Methodologically, the study attends to the intellectual contexts and prejudices that framed the early reception of the text. But it also delves deeper by investigating the way these frameworks inflected the construction of the Bhagavadgata and its foundational concepts through the scholarly acts of excerpting, anthologization, and translation. Overall, the project contributes to the pluralization of Western philosophy and its history while simultaneously arguing for a continued critical alertness in cross-cultural comparison of philosophical and religious worldviews.

One of the most important organisms in biotechnology, Corynebacterium glutamicum is currently used to produce 2 million tons of amino acids per year for a rapidly expanding market. Until now, research and information have been scattered among individual papers which are often difficult to locate in a timely manner. As the first complete compilation of major findings, Handbook of Corynebacterium glutamicum is a comprehensive source of scientific and technical information required for the understanding and manipulation of C. glutamicum. The book summarizes the current knowledge in the field ofC. glutamicum research from its discovery in 1957 through the most recent studies at the genomic and systemic level, and provides a basis for future work. Written by experts from industry and academia, chapters cover all major aspects of C. glutamicum, including physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and industrial applications. Just as C. glutamicum has proven its profitability in industry and research, this book will demonstrate its value to the scientists striving to understand and develop even more efficient producer strains of this promising microorganism.

The abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria and archaea (SRBA) is impressive and new isolates are being reported continuously. A few decades ago, only two genera of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) had been identified. As of 2018, 92 genera containing more than 420 species of SRB have been isolated and characterized and there are several species of archaea. This book addresses the development of the research with SRBA and includes historical background of this field. Biochemical characterization of the enzymes, cytochromes and electron carriers involved with dissimilatory sulfate reduction are reviewed and the presence of relevant genes in cultured and uncultured SRBA are assessed using genome analysis. The contributions of transmembrane electron transport complexes as related to cell energetics are discussed. This book highlights the unique cellular and molecular features of the SRBA and discusses the biochemical interactions behind their metabolic capabilities which enable SRBA to grow in extreme environments. Examples are provided to detoxify and alleviate pollution situations, to evaluate mechanisms proposed for corrosion of ferrous metals and to examine the effects of SRB on human and animal hosts.

The objective of this book is to present a critical review and evaluation of the so-called conventional methods currently being used for bacterial identification, as well as to discuss the new approaches for the detection and identification of bacteria. Morphological, biochemical, and serological methods of detection and identification of bacteria in clinical specimens are emphasised, and current methods of characterization and enumeration of bacteria in air, water, milk, and other food materials are also described.

Numerous infectious diseases are described as idiopathic, meaning that "the cause is a complete mystery." For many idiopathic diseases, the causes become clear when certain techniques are applied to the patient's blood or other tissues. Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Pathogens, Third Edition describes these techniques. In the case of tuberculosis, a disease that has recently regained importance because the strains have acquired antibiotic resistance, the book describes a method that is widely used abroad. This method typically renders the diagnosis within 72 hours. The book examines a plethora of issues and provides answers to the following questions:
o What organism should be added to the childhood vaccine, especially for boys?
o What bacteria in its pleomorphic state is found in direct smears of synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis cases?
o In which chronic diseases ( presently considered as being of unknown origin) is an acid-fast organism routinely found in smears of 72 hour blood cultures?
o Which "bacterium" has a life cycle in the human erythrocyte as complex as that of Plasmodium malaria?
o Which common pathogen's L Form can permanently damage myocardium mammaliam?
Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Pathogens, Third Edition discloses significant aspects of microbiology, aspects that are not taught, and which go unrecognized in the clinical laboratory.

Spirulena Platensis, a blue-green algae, has been recognized and used worldwide as a traditional source of protein in the food industry. The uses and mass cultivation of this algae have risen substantially due to an increased understanding of its biological systems. This text contains detailed descriptions of both the biology and the biotechnological uses of Spirulena Platensis. Part One focuses on the physiology, morphology, photosyntheses and genetics of laboratory cultures. Part Two discusses the practical uses in biotechnology industries, such as: the cultivation on flat-plate reactors; mass cultures outdoors; uses in wastewater treatment and the use of biomass. It offers critiques of the problems encountered and discussions of the future commercial prospects for large-scale production.

A significant component of many different ecosystems, cyanobacteria occupy almost every niche of the earth, including fresh and salt waters, rice fields, hot springs, arid deserts, and polar regions. Cyanobacteria, along with algae, produce nearly half the global oxygen, making assessment of their ecophysiologies important for understanding climate impacts and potential remediation. Stress Biology of Cyanobacteria: Molecular Mechanisms to Cellular Responses is a compilation of holistic responses of cyanobacteria, ranging from ecological and physiological to the modern aspects of their molecular biology, genomics, and biochemistry. Covering almost every aspect of cyanobacterial stress biology, this book is divided into two parts: Bioenergetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Stress Tolerance and Cellular Responses and Ecophysiology. The first few chapters focus on the molecular bioenergetics of photosynthesis and respiration in cyanobacteria, and provide a clear perspective on different stress tolerance mechanisms. Part I also covers the effect of specific stresses-including heavy metal, high and low temperature, salt, osmotic, and UV-B stress-on a wide range of vital physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes of cyanobacteria. Part II describes mechanisms of symbiosis, stress-induced bioproducts, and the role of environmental factors on nitrogen fixation, which along with photosynthesis is a major contributor to the current geochemical status of the planet. The text also covers mutation and cyanobacterial adaptation, and the most widely studied cyanotoxin, microcystin, which has effects on both human and animal health. With contributions from experts around the world, representing the global importance of cyanobacteria, this book provides a broad compilation of research that deals with cyanobacterial stress responses in both controlled laboratory conditions as well as in their natural environment.

Acinetobacter details the clinical aspects of this bacterium responsible for many infections in hospitalized patients. This reference explains the importance of these organisms, both from the patient's viewpoint and the economic perspective, and provides clinicians with the knowledge they need to control these bacteria.

This volume describes the structure and function of bacterial toxins and presents a comprehensive review of virulence factors, providing recent information concerning cell physiology and biochemistry, as well as new toxin tools for experimental studies and clinical therapy. A wide variety of toxic proteins, including the toxins that cause diptheria, cholera, pertussis, shigellosis, tetanus, botulism and anthrax, are discussed.;The work is aimed at microbiologists, biochemists, endocrinologists, toxicologists, infectious disease specialists, pathologists, public health officials, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.

Drug-resistant bacteria ― known as superbugs ― are one of the biggest medical threats of our time. Here, a doctor, researcher, and ethics professor tells the exhilarating story of his race to beat them and save countless lives.

When doctor Matt McCarthy first meets Jackson, a mechanic from Queens, it is in the ER, where he has come for treatment for an infected gunshot wound. Usually, antibiotics would be prescribed, but Jackson’s infection is one of a growing number of superbugs, bacteria that have built up resistance to known drugs. He only has one option, and if that doesn’t work he may lose his leg or even his life.

On the same day, McCarthy and his mentor Tom Walsh begin work on a groundbreaking clinical trial for a new antibiotic they believe will eradicate certain kinds of superbugs and demonstrate to Big Pharma that investment in these drugs can save millions of lives and prove financially viable. But there are seemingly endless hoops to jump through before they can begin administering the drug to patients, and for people like Jackson time is in short supply.

Superbugs is a compelling tale of medical ingenuity. From the muddy trenches of the First World War, where Alexander Fleming searched for a cure for soldiers with infected wounds, to breakthroughs in antibiotics and antifungals today that could revolutionise how infections are treated, McCarthy takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the history ― and future ― of medicine. Along the way, we meet patients like Remy, a teenage girl with a dangerous and rare infection; Donny, a retired firefighter with a compromised immune system; and Bill, the author’s own father-in-law, who contracts a deadly staph infection. And we learn about the ethics of medical research: why potentially life-saving treatments are often delayed for years to protect patients from exploitation.

Can McCarthy get his trial approved and underway in time to save the lives of his countless patients infected with deadly bacteria, who have otherwise lost all hope?

Fimbriae are the best-studied bacterial colonization factors. They are of paramount importance in bacterial pathogenesis and microbial ecology. Due to the advent of new and powerful techniques, an impressive amount of information has been accumulated on these important surface organelles over the last decade. The first book of its kind, Fimbriae brings together into one volume the state of the art of this very active field. Internationally recognized researchers give both a horizontal and lateral approach to fimbriology. Selected types of fimbriae are extensively reviewed and fundamental questions such as evolution, control or regulation, biogenesis, bacteria-host interaction, and fimbriae-based vaccines are examined.

A book for anyone interested in halophilic bacteria
The Biology of Halophilic Bacteria presents detailed information regarding methods for working with halophilic bacteria. Helpful hints for performing various tests and assays in high salts are given, and information about data presentation and analysis is provided as well. The book will be useful to molecular biologists, biochemists, ecologists, and others interested in halophilic bacteria.

An in-depth resource addressing the ecology of Clostridium botulinum which affects the degree of food contamination, and its control in various foods. The text summarizes worldwide data on this organism in food and the environment and the principles of its control in specific foods and products.

Psychrotrophic Bacteria in Foods: Disease and Spoilage presents a comprehensive review of psychrotrophic bacteria and other pathogens and their role in causing food spoilage in refrigerated and frozen foods. The book focuses on the growth, survival, and subsequent activity of these organisms, especially in meat and poultry products. Metabolic products of bacterial growth in foods as indicators of spoilage are described. The book also discusses the potential microbiological hazard posed to "new generation" minimally processed refrigerated foods. Psychrotrophic Bacteria in Foods: Disease and Spoilage is an informative reference for food microbiologists and other food scientists working in industry and academia. It will also be useful to researchers and personnel in regulatory agencies.

This volume brings together a wide range of methods to explore the structure and function of bacterial chromatin from molecular to the cellular scale. Chapters detail experimental protocols of in vivo and in vitro approaches, approaches to genome structure modeling, and data analysis. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Bacterial Chromatin: Methods and Protocols aims to be useful as an up-to-date reference work for scholars in the bacterial chromatin field, those entering the field from adjacent research fields, and scientists in the eukaryotic chromatin field.

This book is intended to be a general reference for environmental decision makers who are interested in the fate of chlorinated aromatic compounds with respect to microbial activity. It includes reviews of microbial physiology, genetics, and methods of biodegradation assessment.

The future prospects of probiotics lie in the successful application of individual strains with specific beneficial effects on the host. This development implies that not only the most robust strains are selected but also strains with a promising probiotic function with moderate or high sensitivity to processing stresses. This also means an increasing variety of probiotic strains with different functions. Therefore the processing of probiotics becomes an important issue. The strains have to be cultivable and proper growth conditions have to be known. Another very important step in processing is the preservation step. This includes either the freezing and frozen storage or the drying and storage in powder form. The fermentation, drying, and storage processes are highly interrelated. Therefore a holistic approach has to be chosen for the production of highly effective probiotic formulation. The book comprises state-of-the-art knowledge on isolation and characterization of probiotics as well as processing (fermentation, freezing, drying, and storage) and application of probiotics in different food products. This book will serve as a guidebook to researchers, technologists, and industry professionals in the field of probiotics.

The future of agriculture strongly depends on our ability to enhance productivity without sacrificing long-term production potential. An ecologically and economically sustainable strategy is the application of microorganisms, such as the diverse bacterial species of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). The use of these bio-resources for the enhancement of crop productivity is gaining worldwide importance. "Bacteria in Agrobiology: Plant Nutrient Management" focus on the management of plant nutrient to support plant growth and development. The topics treated in this book include mechanisms of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, zinc and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, sulfur oxidizing bacteria, ACC deaminase, siderophores, phytohormones, quorum-sensing, biofilms, antibiotics, volatiles, denitrification and integrated nutrient management.

This handbook acquaints readers with the exciting developments in various areas of cyanobacterial research in the backdrop of the publication of complete genome sequence of the cyanobacterium "Synechocystis sp. "strain PCC 6803 in 1996. It begins with a summary of the current knowledge on the taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of cyanobacteria followed by the sequenced genomes, differentiation of akinetes and heterocyst. The book considers mechanisms of cellular movements (gliding, swimming and twitching motions) exhibited by various cyanobacteria in order to adjust to their environmental niches and the operation of the circadian rhythms. It covers cyanobacterial symbiosis, cyanophages and cyanobacterial toxins, followed by a discussion on stress responses (salinity, temperature, desiccation and oxidation).

A comprehensive account on the developments in all these spheres has been presented in a lucid style with the required background information, molecular techniques employed and models proposed. This handbook constitutes the first such book written by a single author at a level and depth for graduate and research students in botany and microbiology.

This volume provides methods to analyze the meningococcus and its interactions with biologically relevant host cells and sites, to interrogate the population structure and biology of the meningococcus that defines its capacity to cause disease, and to aid in vaccine development and surveillance. Many of these methods are applicable to the close relative, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and several of the methods described can also be used in investigating host-pathogen interactions for a range of other organisms. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Neisseria meningitidis: Methods and Protocols will allow for the use of these methods by more laboratories and foster collaboration and consistency in investigations of this enigmatic and dangerous pathogen.