Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture is the first book to present the core concepts of working with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve agricultural crop productivity. Highlighting the use of indigenous AM fungi for agriculture, the book includes details on how to maintain and promote AM fungal diversity to improve sustainability and cost-effectiveness. As the need to improve production while restricting scarce inputs and preventing environmental impacts increases, the use of AMF offers an important option for exploiting the soil microbial population. It can enhance nutrient cycling and minimize the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as soil-borne disease, drought, and metal toxicity. The book offers land managers, policymakers, soil scientists, and agronomists a novel approach to utilizing soil microbiology in improving agricultural practices.

The Bifidobacteria and Related Organisms: Biology, Taxonomy, Applications brings together authoritative reviews on all aspects of Bifidobacteria and related genera. Their place within the Phylum Actinobacteria is discussed first, and this is followed by descriptions of the genera Bifidobacterium, Alloscardovia, Aeriscardovia, Bombiscardovia, Gardnerella, Metascardovia, Parascardovia and Scardovia and the currently accredited species within those genera. The increased availability of genome sequences and molecular tools for studying bifidobacteria provides important information about their taxonomy, physiology and interactions with their host. Also considerations about common bifidobacterial core maintenance during the mutual coevolution of a host and its intestinal microbes could be relevant for health claims for the ability of symbiotic gut bacteria to provide health benefits to their host, and for evaluating such claims in scientifically valid experiments. Chemotaxonomy is important to our understanding of these genera and so is considered along with physiological and biochemical aspects before proceeding to examine clinical and other practical aspects. The ability to maintain pure cultures and to grow cells in industrial quantities when required for applications requires that the cells' environmental and nutritional needs are well understood. Some species are important clinically and as animal digestive tract synbionts-and even play a part in honey production-so these matters are considered along with milk oligosaccharides' roles in gut flora development in neonates.

This volume provides a comprehensive review of concepts and protocols related to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) applied to microbial cells. Chapters will serve guide for the design of new probes and the development of novel FISH-based protocols. 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, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) for Microbial Cells: Methods and Concepts aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

This book is an overview considering yeast and fermentation. The similarities and differences between yeasts employed in brewing and distilling are reviewed. The implications of the differences during the production of beer and distilled products (potable and industrial) are discussed. This Handbook includes a review of relevant historical developments and achievements in this field, the basic yeast taxonomy and biology, as well as fundamental and practical aspects of yeast cropping (flocculation), handling, storage and propagation. Yeast stress, vitality and viability are also addressed together with flavor production, genetic manipulation, bioethanol formation and ethanol production by non-Saccharomyces yeasts and a Gram-negative bacterium. This information, and a detailed account of yeast research and its implications to both the brewing and distilling processes, is a useful resource to those engaged in fermentation, yeast and their many products and processes.

Early Warning for Infectious Disease Outbreak: Theory and Practice is divided into three parts, with the first section introducing basic theory and key technologies of early warning and the basic principles of infectious disease surveillance. The second section introduces the technical details in the process of establishment, operation and usage of CIDARS and Pudong Syndromic Surveillance and the Early Warning System of the Shanghai World Expo. The third part explores the study of early warning technology, collecting some useful exploration in the fields of infectious diseases involving sentinel setting, data analysis, influence factors study, calculation and evaluation of early warning models.

Arthropod Vector: Controller of Disease Transmission, Volume 2: Vector Saliva-Host Pathogen Interactions is built on topics initially raised at a related Keystone Symposium on Arthropod Vectors. Together with the separate, related Volume 1: Controller of Disease Transmission, this work presents a logical sequence of topic development that leads to regulatory considerations for advancing these and related concepts for developing novel control measures. The three themes of symbionts, vector immune defenses and arthropod saliva modulation of the host environment are central to the concept of determinants of vector competence that involves all aspects of vector-borne pathogen development within the arthropod that culminates in the successful transmission to the vertebrate host. These three areas are characterized at the present time by rapid achievement of significant, incremental insights, which advances our understanding for a wide variety of arthropod vector species, and this work is the first to extensively integrate these themes.

This text presents a new technique for detecting microorganisms, specifically bacteria found in all levels of the biosphere. It also discusses methods for enzymatic release of these microbes as well as their interactions in all ecosystems. Drawings and micrographs help to illustrate this concept. Part one is devoted to the mechanisms of adherence. The second part discusses microbial ecology and the bacterial population of tissues as well as both land and aquatic microbiocenoses in general. Part three specifically covers technique. What is known about the mechanisms of adherence justifies the choice of techniques suggested. Applications in areas such as nature, medicine, environmental hygiene and the food industry are discussed. The explanation of useful techniques, the author's research results, and practical application methods make this volume an essential reference tool for researchers, technicians and practitioners.

This book explores microbial symbiosis, with a particular focus on soil microorganisms, highlighting their application in enhancing plant growth and yield. It addresses various types of bacterial and fungal microbes associated with symbiotic phenomena, including rhizobium symbiosis, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, algal/lichen symbiosis, and Archeal symbiosis. Presenting strategies for employing a diverse range of bacterial and fungal symbioses in nutrient fortification, adaptation of plants in contaminated soils, and mitigating pathogenesis, it investigates ways of integrating diverse approaches to increase crop production under the current conventional agroecosystem. Providing insights into microbial symbioses and the challenges of adopting a plant-microbe synergistic approach towards plant health, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, graduate students and anyone in industry working on bio-fertilizers and their agricultural applications.

A ubiquitous tool in mathematical biology and chemical engineering, the chemostat often produces instabilities that pose safety hazards and adversely affect the optimization of bioreactive systems. Singularity theory and bifurcation diagrams together offer a useful framework for addressing these issues. Based on the authors' extensive work in this field, Dynamics of the Chemostat: A Bifurcation Theory Approach explores the use of bifurcation theory to analyze the static and dynamic behavior of the chemostat. IntroductionThe authors first survey the major work that has been carried out on the stability of continuous bioreactors. They next present the modeling approaches used for bioreactive systems, the different kinetic expressions for growth rates, and tools, such as multiplicity, bifurcation, and singularity theory, for analyzing nonlinear systems. ApplicationThe text moves on to the static and dynamic behavior of the basic unstructured model of the chemostat for constant and variable yield coefficients as well as in the presence of wall attachment. It then covers the dynamics of interacting species, including pure and simple microbial competition, biodegradation of mixed substrates, dynamics of plasmid-bearing and plasmid-free recombinant cultures, and dynamics of predator-prey interactions. The authors also examine dynamics of the chemostat with product formation for various growth models, provide examples of bifurcation theory for studying the operability and dynamics of continuous bioreactor models, and apply elementary concepts of bifurcation theory to analyze the dynamics of a periodically forced bioreactor. Using singularity theory and bifurcation techniques, this book presents a cohesive mathematical framework for analyzing and modeling the macro- and microscopic interactions occurring in chemostats. The text includes models that describe the intracellular and operating elements of the bioreactive system. It also explains the mathematical theory behind the models.

M icrobial biotechnology is an important area that promotes advanced research into using microbes for value-added products, human nutrition, and the overall wellbeing of society. This book presents the latest information on the use of microbes for sustainable development, and highlights state-of-the-art biotechnological techniques used to harness microbial biotechnological traits on a commercial scale. Gathering contributions from authoritative researchers in the field, it addresses recent advances in microbial biotechnological approaches that offer sustainable options for future generations. Exploring a broad range of microbial products and their uses, the book specifically places emphasis on the application of microorganisms in healthcare, the environment and industry. It also discusses various compound classes derived from microbial metabolites. Pursuing a holistic approach to recent advances in the utilization of various microbes as biotechnological tools, the book also covers traditional uses, and explores emerging strategies to harness their full potential. Accordingly, it offers a valuable resource for researchers and graduate students alike.

This book provides an authoritative overview of emerging pollutants in sewage sludge and soils. It traces the latest research and new trends on the characterization, removal and treatment of such pollutants in urban and industrial sewage sludge and soils. The book covers topics such as antibiotic resistance, fate and environmental impact of contaminants of emerging concern, environmental transmission of human pathogenic viruses and their effect on soil, and the repercussion of various emerging pollutants on biodiversity. It also offers a case study of the epidemiology-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and sludge. The book appeals not only to researchers and professionals working with emerging contaminants, but also to policy makers and a broader audience interested in learning more about the effects of these contaminants in human and environmental health.

Ebola's Curse: 2013-2016 Outbreak in West Africa is about hemorrhagic fever viruses, especially Ebola, its initial origin in central Africa 1976, its unprecedented appearance in West Africa in 2013. The book records in sequence and detective style how the initial outbreak of Ebola from the index case in rural Guinea traveled to Sierra Leone, the work and fate of those working in the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) isolation ward in Sierra Leone. The book provides vignettes of the three main players involved with Ebola at KGH, Sheik Khan, Pardis Sabeti, and Robert Garry. Khan was the head of the unit, declared a national hero by his Sierra Leone government. He died fighting Ebola and was/is recognized in the USA by American societies by awards created for his historic work and death. Pardis Sabeti, a geneticist from Harvard and Broad MIT Institute, who was honored as a "Scientist of the Year" by Time Magazine and the Smithsonian Institute. Robert Garry, head of the operation to fight hemorrhagic fevers and Ebola, shuttled between Tulane University, KGH, and The White House to make aware through the press and others the dilemma and tragedy that was unfolding, and the need to obtain additional medical and health care support and supplies. Sabeti and Garry currently work with Oldstone on Ebola at KGH and thus personal communication and knowledge was/is available to the author for the book.

There is a growing global awareness of the link between good diet and health. This fascinating book reviews various functional foods or nutraceuticals and the bio-active compounds they contain in order to identify the role of bioactive compounds such as nisin, micronutrients, and hydrocolloids in the diet in overall human health. It also provides up-to-date information on functional elements like antioxidants, dietary fibres, pre & probiotics, vitamins and mineral-enriched foods in the human diet. Consisting of fifteen chapters, the book offers a systematic review of the key factors in the preparation of functional foods from selected sources, and also describes the processing, preservation and packaging of a range of functional food products. This book is a valuable resource for students and researchers working in the field of food science, food technology, and nutrition, as well as for industry experts.

An Indispensable Roadmap for Nucleic Acid Preparation Although Friedrich Miescher described the first isolation of nucleic acid in 1869, it was not until 1953 that James Watson and Francis Crick successfully deciphered the structural basis of DNA duplex. Needless to say, in the years since, enormous advances have been made in the study of nucleic acids, and these have become a cornerstone for all branches of modern biological sciences. The Handbook of Nucleic Acid Purification provides researchers and students with an all-encompassing volume on nucleic acid extraction strategies. Due to the complexities within prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, purification of the nucleic acids often forms a vital first step in the study of molecular biology of living organisms as well as in the evolutionary/phylogenetic analysis of ancient specimens. Bringing together contributions from leading researchers, the handbook presents a comprehensive catalog of nucleic acid isolation methods. It includes dedicated sections on strategies for viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, insects, mammals, and plants, as well as for ancient samples, with an additional emphasis on sample preparation methods for direct molecular applications. Each chapter in this handbook: Explores the biological background important to understanding specific organisms and specimens Reviews principles and current techniques for efficient isolation Discusses challenges and future trends relating to improved recovery of nucleic acids Besides providing an updated, reliable reference for anyone with an interest in molecular biology, this book offers a practical guide for clinical, forensic, and research scientists involved in molecular analysis of biological specimens. It also constitutes a convenient resource for students in other areas of biological sciences, and an indispensable roadmap for both new and experienced researchers wishing to acquire or sharpen their skills in nucleic acid preparation.

Providing specific knowledge in the theory of image analysis, optics, fluorescence, and imaging devices in biomedical laboratories, this timely and indispensable volume focuses on the theory and applications of detection, morphometry, and motility measurement techniques applied to bacteria, fungi, yeasts and protozoa.

Investigations on various aspects of plant-pathogen interactions have the ultimate aim of providing information that may be useful for the development of effective crop disease management systems. Molecular techniques have accelerated the formulation of short- and long-term strategies of disease management. Exclusion and eradication of plant pathogens by rapid and precise detection and identification of microbial pathogens in symptomatic and asymptomatic plants and planting materials by employing molecular methods has been practiced extensively by quarantines and certification programs with a decisive advantage. Identification of sources of resistance genes, cloning and characterization of desired resistance genes and incorporation of resistance gene(s) into cultivars and transformation of plants with selected gene(s) have been successfully performed by applying appropriate molecular techniques. Induction of resistance in susceptible cultivars by using biotic and abiotic inducers of resistance is a practical proposition for several crops whose resistance levels could not be improved by breeding or transformation procedures. The risks of emergence of pathogen strains less sensitive or resistant to chemicals have been reduced appreciably by rapid identification of resistant strains and monitoring the occurrence of such strains in different geographical locations.

This volume discusses the oral microbiome, and oral and systemic health. The chapters in this book cover topics such as analytical techniques for identifying and measuring oral bacteria; strategies for controlling common sources of variability in oral microbiome methods for viral bacterial and fungal analysis; ways to study oral DNA and RNA samples to identify molecular pathways to disease; approaches to functional assays for oral bacteriophage, antibiotic purging of systemic bacteria; and metaproteomic analysis of various oral samples. 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. Cutting-edge and practical, The Oral Microbiome: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for any scientist or researcher looking to further study this exciting and developing field.

This book describes the accomplishments of a curious and imaginative scientist, and his endeavours to translate or even to extrapolate scientific insights into the world of art.The science section in this volume concerns studies on S-layers, a very important class of proteins found on the surface of numerous Bacteria and nearly all Archaea. S-layer proteins are one of the most abundant biopolymers on our planet, and assemble into the simplest type of biological membrane. Moreover, they are unique building blocks and patterning elements for the production of complex supramolecular structures and nanoscale devices in nanobiotechnology, molecular nanotechnology, synthetic biology, biomimetics and nanomedicine.In the second part of this book the author goes on to passionately describe how his scientific activities stimulated his art work, which in particular concerns the visualization of results and the potential of synthetic biology and evolutionary events induced by genetic manipulations. Most importantly, the engagement in art allowed him to leave the rather curtailed canon of science and reach a mental state of unlimited freedom of thoughts. Mask-like sculptures are used as examples to visualize the intersection between science and art, and in particular the unpredictability and mystery of scientific visions.

Studies on the phenomenon of plant pathogenesis (disease development) have been useful to have a deep insight into the interactions between host plant and the pathogen. Depending on the levels of susceptibility (compatibility) or resistance (incompatibility) of the host plant and virulence of the pathogen, disease development may progress, either leading to symptom expression or result in the suppression of pathogen proliferation. Molecular techniques have been applied to elucidate the nature of interactions between the gene products of the plant and pathogen at cellular and molecular levels. Successful evasion of hosta (TM)s surveillance system and subsequent activities of metabolites of the pathogen (enzymes and toxins) encoded by pathogen genes counteracting the effects of various defense-related antimicrobial compounds present already or produced by the host plants, after initiation of infection have been critically studied by applying various molecular techniques. In addition to studying various phases of disease development in individual plants, molecular methods have been demonstrated to be effective, in gathering data on various aspects of epidemiology under natural conditions where the interaction of pathogen with populations of plants is influenced significantly by the environmental conditions existing in different ecosystems. This volume focuses on the possibility of applying the knowledge on pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology to determine the vulnerable stages in the life cycles of the pathogens that can be disrupted to achieve more effective disease control.

This book includes papers from keynote lecture and oral presentations of Plant and Microbe Adaptations to Cold (PMAC) 2012, an international conference on winter hardiness of crop and pathogenic microbes. The PMAC has been started in 1997 in Japan as an interdisciplinary forum for scientists and extension people working in the field in plant pathology, plant physiology, microbiology, and crop breeding to increase our knowledge and improve our understanding of overwintering of crops, forages and grasses and solve the problems associated with losses due to freezing and heavy snow cover. Successive meetings have been held in Iceland (2000), Canada (2003), Italy (2006), and Norway (2009). PMAC2012 will be a special meeting with a focus on global climate change, food security and agriculture sustainability and the whole program will be arranged to reflect this theme. The topics covered by this proceedings includes, global warming in agricultural environment, plant adaptations to cold, microbial adaptations to cold, plant-microbe interaction under cold, and molecular breeding for winter hardiness. The researches range from molecular biology to ecology and breeding. Experts in the field will report cutting edge research and thoughtful strategies for sustainability.

The marvelous microbes that made life on Earth possible and support our very existence For almost four billion years, microbes had the primordial oceans all to themselves. The stewards of Earth, these organisms transformed the chemistry of our planet to make it habitable for plants, animals, and us. Life's Engines takes readers deep into the microscopic world to explore how these marvelous creatures made life on Earth possible—and how human life today would cease to exist without them. Paul Falkowski looks "under the hood" of microbes to find the engines of life, the actual working parts that do the biochemical heavy lifting for every living organism on Earth. With insight and humor, he explains how these miniature engines are built—and how they have been appropriated by and assembled like Lego sets within every creature that walks, swims, or flies. Falkowski shows how evolution works to maintain this core machinery of life, and how we and other animals are veritable conglomerations of microbes. A vibrantly entertaining book about the microbes that support our very existence, Life's Engines will inspire wonder about these elegantly complex nanomachines that have driven life since its origin. It also issues a timely warning about the dangers of tinkering with that machinery to make it more "efficient" at meeting the ever-growing demands of humans in the coming century.

Studies on molecular biology of pathogens, infection process and disease resistance, have provided information essentially required to understand the vulnerable stages at which the pathogens can be tackled effectively and to adopt novel strategies to incorporate disease resistance genes from diverse sources and /or to induce resistance of cultivars with desirable agronomic attributes using biotic or abiotic agents. The nature of interaction between the gene products of the pathogen and plant appears to determine the outcome of the interaction resulting in either disease progression or suppression. Transgenic plants with engineered genes show promise for effective exploitation of this approach for practical application. Research efforts during the recent years to sequence the whole genomes of the pathogens and plants may lead to development of better ways of manipulating disease resistance mechanisms enabling the grower to achieve higher production levels and the consumer to enjoy safer food and agricultural products. Experimental protocols included in appropriate chapters will be useful for researchers and graduate students.

Extremely diverse and complicated bacterial and protozoan populations inhabit the rumen and intestinal tract of animals, and there is a delicate balance among the individual populations within this complex microbial community. This authoritative edited volume, the first in a two-volume set, reviews the gut environment and the fermentations taking place in animal digestive tracts. It is an essential source of reference for microbial ecologists and physiologists, medical microbiologists and gastroenterologists, biochemists, nutritionists, veterinarians and animal scientists, and wildlife ecologists.

Virus as Populations: Composition, Complexity, Dynamics, and Biological Implications explains fundamental concepts that arise from regarding viruses as complex populations when replicating in infected hosts. Fundamental phenomena in virus behavior, such as adaptation to changing environments, capacity to produce disease, probability to be transmitted or response to treatment, depend on virus population numbers and in the variations of such population numbers. Concepts such as quasispecies dynamics, mutations rates, viral fitness, the effect of bottleneck events, population numbers in virus transmission and disease emergence, new antiviral strategies such as lethal mutagenesis, and extensions of population heterogeneity to nonviral systems are included. These main concepts of the book are framed in recent observations on general virus diversity derived from metagenomic studies, and current views on the origin of viruses and the role of viruses in the evolution of the biosphere.