Microbial Biotechnology: An Interdisciplinary Approach covers all aspects of microbial biotechnology, whilst bringing the field of functional foods and microbial bioremediation to the fore. Recounting the interdisciplinary scope of biotechnology and its discoveries, this text presents innovative ideas in the field of emerging biotechnology providing the scientific community with a much needed new resource. Acting as an important means of information for researchers working in interdisciplinary areas of research, this text: Envisages the recent ideas of novel findings in microbiology Provides insight into the various interdisciplinary research avenues Uniquely covers a diverse range of topics Presents groundbreaking new findings in key areas of modern biotechnology Enhanced and straight forward descriptions cater to the needs of researchers working in areas of bacterial exopolysaccharides, microalgal proteomics, applications of Microbial L-asparaginases, novel aspects of bioremediation, Probiotics and their impact on society, and microbial community analysis in waste water treatment techniques. It will also prove crucial reading for senior undergraduate and graduate students and professionals working in areas of modern biotechnology.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, Human Respiratory Viral Infections is set at the level between the definitive reference work and an essential clinical manual. Exploring recent advances in human respiratory viral research, the text builds on the basic sciences of epidemiology, virology, molecular biology, and immunology to cover clinical diagnosis, mechanism of pathogenesis, manifestations of disease, impact, treatment, and management strategies. Provides a comprehensive review of all the major human respiratory viral infections Supplies a detailed description of the anatomy of the respiratory system Discusses the salient features of specific viruses Examines the latest diagnostic tools Covers risk factors associated with incidence of respiratory viral infections in children and adults in different occupational and environmental settings Presenting the latest knowledge in human respiratory viral infections, this text will be immensely valuable for pulmonologists, biomedical scientists, research scholars, virologists, vaccinologists, immunologists, clinicians, pharmacologists, and public health specialists.

This book focuses on various types of bioactive compounds, including secondary metabolites, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, flavonoids, peptides/proteins, carotenoid pigments, quinones, terpenes, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and presents an overview of their nutraceutical activities. It covers the current status and future potential of food compounds, as well as extraction technologies for bioactives derived from plant, fungi and marine-derived bioactive agents. Finally, health-promoting effects of plant, fungi and marine-derived bioactive agents are discussed. Chapters come from top researchers in this area from around the globe. The volume caters to the needs of undergraduate and post-graduate students in the area of food biotechnology, food bioprocessing, biotechnology, food engineering, etc., and also contains information pertinent to researchers.

This updated second edition of Molecular Typing in Bacterial Infections, presented in two volumes, covers both common and neglected bacterial pathogenic agents, highlighting the most effective methods for their identification and classification in the light of their specific epidemiology. New chapters have been included to add new species, as well as another view of how bacterial typing can be used. These books are valuable resources for the molecular typing of infectious disease agents encountered in both research and hospital clinical laboratory settings, as well as in culture collections and in the industry. Each of the 21 chapters provides an overview of specific molecular approaches to efficiently detect and type different bacterial pathogens. The chapters are grouped in five parts, covering respiratory and urogenital pathogens (Volume I), and gastrointestinal and healthcare-associated pathogens, as well as a new group of vector-borne and Biosafety level 3 pathogens including a description of typing methods used in the traditional microbiology laboratory in comparison to molecular methods of epidemiology (Volume II). Comprehensive and updated, Molecular Typing in Bacterial Infections provides state-of-the-art methods for accurate diagnosis and for the correct classification of different types which will prove to be critical in unravelling the transmission routes of human pathogens.

The second edition of a bestseller, this book provides a comprehensive reference for the cultivation of bacteria, Archaea, and fungi from diverse environments, including extreme habitats. Expanded to include 2,000 media formulations, this book compiles the descriptions of media of relevance for the cultivation of microorganisms from soil, water, and air. The format allows easy reference to the information needed to prepare media for the cultivation of microorganisms required for environmental analysis, including the determination of water safety. The media are organized alphabetically, and each listing includes medium composition, instructions for preparation, commercial sources, and uses.

In the past decade there has been a rapid increase in waterborne outbreaks of disease associated with viral and protozoan agents, normally in drinking waters that were found to be microbially safe using the Coliform Index. For nearly a quarter of a century indicator organisms, in particular the coliform group, have been used to ensure the microbial quality of drinking water. Currently, world wide legislation to protect consumers is based on these outdated and unreliable tests and while there is considerable concern among scientists over their use, the water industry and regulators continue to place near total reliance on the Coliform Index. This book provides: * the first full account of the nature and applications of the Coliform Index * coverage of new and proposed water quality legislation: * details of emerging pathogens in water: * an evaluation of the role of the "coliform count" in future water quality analysis. It will be an essential tool for water companies at all levels, microbiologists, environmental health inspectors, environmental scientists and water engineers in industry whether working in developed countries or developing countries. Postgraduate students specialising in microbiology, civil and environmental engineering, environmental sciences and environmental health will find it a useful reference work as will undergraduates in these disciplines.

Offers comprehensive coverage of the latest developments in both biochemical and physiological approaches to fungal systematics. Incorporates recent advances in molecular biology into systematics methods that can revolutionize taxonomic schemes.

This is a concise guide to the combined use of classical and molecular methods for the genetic analysis and breeding of fungi. It presents basic concepts and experimental designs, and demonstrates the power of fungal genetics for applied research in biotechnology and phytopathology. Case studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Neurospora crassa, Podospora anserina, Phytophthora infestans and others are included.

Presents the latest advances in the study of the intracellular fate and transport of metal ions in fungi, emphasizing the mechanisms that regulate cellular concentration. The book explains the expanding relationship between molecular genetics and inorganic biochemistry.

Sea cucumbers belong to the Phylum Echinodermata. There are more than 900 recorded species of sea cucumber of which more than 40 are edible. As a food source, sea cucumbers are rich in protein, low in fat, rich in collagen, sulfated polysaccharides, phospholipids, glycolipids, saponins and other functional components. Therefore, sea cucumbers have important nutritional and medicinal value. Growing awareness of these health benefits has promoted growth in marine aquaculture and processing technologies for the development of sea cucumber products for many applications.Novel perspectives of nutritional functions and processing technologies of sea cucumbers are defined in this book. The chemical structure and nutritional function of sea cucumbers are systematically reviewed. These include the functional/nutritional components, the endogenous enzymatic properties related to processing efficiency and product quality, and the efficient preparation technology of functional components. The traditional processing technology is presented as the background context to highlight the advances in new processing technologies including low-temperature cooking technology based on controllable negative pressure system, heat pump-hot-blast air combined drying technology, microwave sterilization of instant sea cucumber, collagen stabilization technology. The book finishes with the authentication of sea cucumber types and origin, quality standards, product quality control systems and food safety requirements.

Handbook of Methods in Aquatic Microbial Ecology is the first comprehensive compilation of 85 fundamental methods in modern aquatic microbial ecology. Each method is presented in a detailed, step-by-step format that allows readers to adopt new methods with little difficulty. The methods represent the state of the art, and many have become standard procedures in microbial research and environmental assessment. The book also presents practical advice on how to apply the methods. It will be an indispensable reference for marine and freshwater research laboratories, environmental assessment laboratories, and industrial research labs concerned with microbial measurements in water.

Antimicrobials: Synthetic and Natural Compounds summarizes the latest research regarding the possibilities of the most important natural antimicrobial compounds derived from various plant sources containing a wide variety of secondary metabolites. With collected contributions from international subject experts, it focuses primarily on natural products as a source of bioactive compounds that may be active against multidrug-resistant pathogens, providing an alternative to established antibiotics in controlling infectious diseases. Covering a wide range of marine, microbial, and plant-origin antimicrobials, the book examines the usefulness of plant products containing antimicrobial molecules against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. It also reports on unusual sources of antimicrobials such as animal fecal actinomycetes, actinobacteria, and cyanobacteria and discusses synthetic chemical compounds and biogenic nanoparticles. The number of drug-resistant bacteria is increasing, posing a major problem to modern medicine. This book explores an important topic: finding and applying alternative means of pathogenic control and treatment via natural sources. It is an important source of information for microbiologists, biotechnologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, botanists, marine biologists, and others involved in research on natural and synthetic antimicrobial compounds. It is also a useful resource for scholars, scientists, academics, and students in various science disciplines.

Over the last three decades, interest in Infrared (IR) technology as a medium to convey information has grown considerably. This is reflected by the increasing number of devices such as laptops, PDAs, and mobile phones that incorporate optical wireless transceivers and also by the increasing number of optical wireless links available for indoor and outdoor use. The popularity of IR is based on the advantages it has over radio including unregulated bandwidth, immunity to radio interference, and inherent security. Optical Wireless Communications examines some of the most important features of optical wireless communication systems. It considers the benefits and limitations of IR as a medium conveying information wirelessly and compares the advantages and disadvantages of infrared to microwave and other radio systems. It also details the evolution of IR communication systems and describes atmospheric and other types of data transmission limitations. The book presents design fundamentals of optical concentrators, as well as a review of some of the most important receiver optical front-ends (containing imaging or non-imaging concentrators and optical filters), including an explanation of the different sources of infrared noise and an introduction to eye safety. It also describes optical wireless transmitter and receiver design issues, typical modulation, coding, and multiple access techniques, and introduces IrDA protocols and wireless IR networking.

This first volume in a two-volume work enhances readers' understanding of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in selected bacterial species that cause diseases in major food producing animals. It provides an overview of the current legislation and policies seeking to regulate the authorisation, manufacturing, distribution and use of veterinary antimicrobials in practice in a way that helps to contain the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The focus is put on Europe, without neglecting the global context. Moreover, attention is paid to various uses of antimicrobials in livestock, considering both their risks and benefits, from the distant past to the present. Growth promotion, prophylaxis, metaphylaxis, diagnostics and treatment are discussed not only with regard to food production and animal health, but also considering the One Health concept, which combines public and animal health with environmental aspects. A summary of various systems for monitoring the use of antimicrobials is provided, as well as an overview of the diseases that European veterinarians most often treat with antimicrobials. In closing, the book addresses the complexity of recent measures that are of key importance for antimicrobial stewardship, e.g. biosecurity, vaccination and other preventive tools including the newest technologies like smart farming. The complete two-volume work provides an extensive review of various aspects related to the use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, especially considering major food producing species, their most common infectious diseases and causative pathogens, and mainly focusing on the situation in Europe, without ignoring the global context. While Volume I discusses more general aspects of antibiotic use such as regulatory, laboratory and practical issues from different perspectives, Volume II more specifically discusses medical aspects and the use of antimicrobials in cattle, pigs, poultry and horses, as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, two of the most important factors determining the success of treatment. In both volumes, each chapter confronts the reader with open questions to stimulate further discussions and future research on the topics covered.

"Advanced Techniques in Soil Microbiology" presents a wide range of biotechnological methods for application in soil microbiology analysis. These include all essential methods involving molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, and structural biology, such as transcriptome analysis, RNAi technology, molecular matchmaking, RAPD, T-RFLP and FT/MS.

The techniques and procedures have been selected with the aim of offering practical guides for immediate use in the laboratory. The systems investigated range from individual molecules and cells to entire eukaryotic organisms, with a focus on bacteria, fungi, mycorrhiza, and higher plants. This volume of state-of-the-art, practice oriented methods will be of great use both to the first-timer and to the experienced scientist.

Microbiome and Metabolome in Diagnosis, Therapy, and Other Strategic Applications is the first book to simultaneously cover the microbiome and the metabolome in relevant clinical conditions. In a pioneering fashion, it addresses not only the classic intestinal environment, but also the oral, gastric, lung, skin and vaginal microbiome that is in line with the latest investigations. Nonbacterial microbiomes, such as fungi and viruses are not overlooked, and the plasma microbiome is also discussed. As plasma, brain, placenta, tumor cells, and other sterile fluids and tissues, are increasingly recognized to potentially host a microbiome, albeit a limited one, this is a timely resource. The book's editors were fortunate to have the input of renowned collaborators from nearly all continents. This is truly an international effort that brings the latest in the field to students and professionals alike.

This book examines the effect of whole-wheat bread on health, with evidence linking the consumption of whole-wheat products to a decrease in the relative risk of non-communicable diseases in comparison with products baked from refined flour. The authors focus on key areas such as milling and refining procedures, bakery products, and assessment of the present consumption of wheat products. They offer a detailed description of all available ingredients of wheat-kernel, with particular attention paid to the health benefits of wheat-kernel antioxidants and dietary fiber ingredients. Vitamins, glutathione, choline and betaine, carotenoids, sterols and stanols are covered, and the book concludes with a general overview of the effect of whole-wheat bread on colon activity and immune capacity. Methods of improving bread nutritional quality, and the potential for the upgrading of the nutritional qualities of whole-bread, are also discussed. Consumption of whole-wheat in Western societies, however, has either not increased or increased very slightly. The authors intend for this book to highlight the health benefits of whole-wheat bread and the factors that contribute to these benefits.

The first International Conference on Oral Mucosal Immunity and Microbiome (OMIM) aimed to highlight cutting-edge basic and translational research from an oral immunological and microbiological perspective. Oral diseases with a microbial etiology are the most prevalent chronic diseases of humans. Whilst not life-threatening, they can significantly compromise quality of life, are associated with increased risk for certain systemic diseases, and pose heavy financial burdens to national health systems. Hence, periodontal and peri-implant diseases, dental caries, root canal infections and mucosal infections are significant global public health problems. In this book global experts summarize and discuss the latest progress made in oral mucosal immunity and the oral microbiome. Target audience is basic and/or translational researchers with expertise in host immunity and microbiome research, and interest in oral health and disease. This volume provides a much needed quantum leap in the field, by joining forces to address gaps at the oral mucosal immunity-microbiome cross-talk.

This edited book explores the three interrelated concepts - biomass, bioenergy, and bioeconomy - from the point of view of sustainable advanced conversion processes. It elaborates on processing routes, i.e., how biomass from various sources can be converted into bioenergy like bioethanol, biodiesel, biobutanol, and biogas. Chapters are organized into three sections - "Biomass," "Bioenergy," and "Bioeconomy." The first section very much focuses on biomass-based global research trends and their utilization for future bioenergy options, very particular to microbial activities associated and their practically real-time challenges during lab to land approach. The second section deals with biomass-based applications like biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, biohydrogen, and biomass cookstoves and their future perspectives and challenges. The past, present, and future trends of biomass-based research applications have been assessed and critically evaluated to make the gathered knowledge available in the simplest form for academicians and researchers. The third section focuses on biomass-based policies on implementation and governmental strategies needs a attention to make it smooth for social groups and communities too. The role and impacts of bioeconomy with biomass-based bioenergy options and applications are also targeted here. Sustainable Development Goals are addressed in this section to achieve three objectives (trio), i.e., social, economic, and ecological status, which are the need of the hour for bioeconomic security. Contributions of bioenergy to environmental security have also been addressed in this section, very particular to linkage of sustainable human development. This book is a useful compilation of latest information for researchers and teachers in bioenergy and microbiology. The book also serves as reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of environmental sciences, microbiology, and bioenergy.

This book provides all the aspects of microbes for food additives, and a detailed description of their different categories. The chapters provide a step-by-step overview of microbial food additives as enzymes, antioxidants, stabilizers, emulsifiers, organic acids, colorants, sweeteners, flavoring compounds that have been used commercially by industrialists. In addition, an emphasis on the use of microbes as therapeutic agents such as probiotics and enzymes have also been given in the respective chapters. Furthermore, the book also comprises the detailed description of legislation and policies for the use of microbial additives at large scale in different food industries. Therefore, this book provides a comprehensive, state of art updated literature which can be used by the food scientists, nutritionists, microbiologists and a health-conscious layman to check the food additive list on a product for a nutritious and safer food.

Applied Microbiology and Bioengineering: An Interdisciplinary Approach discusses recent advances in microbiology and cutting-edge biotechnology that have generated interest among researchers. The book is divided into several sections, including Enzymes in Bioprocessing, Human Health, Microbial Physiology and Biomedical Applications, and Bioprocess Development. Included are some of the latest developments in the field, like smart actuators for innovative biomedical applications, microalgal antenna engineering for improved bioprocess of biofuel, cell line engineering, and synbiotic foods. It is a useful reference for those in the applied microbiology and biotechnology fields, but will also be useful for practitioners in biotech.

The new series "Microbiology Monographs" begins with two volumes on intracellular components in prokaryotes. In this first volume, "Inclusions in Prokaryotes," the components, labeled inclusions, are defined as discrete bodies resulting from synthesis of a metabolic product. Research on the biosynthesis and reutilization of the accumulated materials is still in progress, and interest in the inclusions is growing. This comprehensive volume provides historical background and comprehensive reviews of eight well-known prokaryotic inclusions.

Recent Developments in Applied Microbiology and Biochemistry provides a comprehensive treatment and understanding on application oriented microbial concepts, giving readers insights into recent developments in microbial biotechnology and medical, agricultural and environmental microbiology.

This book compiles the latest research in the area of Trichoderma Rhizosphere Biology. It covers topics such as microbial interaction, crosstalk between plants and microbes, interactions with abiotic and biotic factors, and advances in biocontrol agents, biofertilizers and biostimulants. The respective chapters describe innovative ways of adapting fungal communities to improve their survival in highly dynamic environments and agroecosystems. In closing, the book discusses the use of Trichoderma as a bio-growth enhancer and biostimulant for organic agriculture.