Integrative Strategies for Bioremediation of Environmental Contaminants, Volume Two: Avenues to a Cleaner Society focuses on the exploitation of various biological treatment technologies and their use to treat toxic contaminants present in industrial effluent to restore contaminated sites. The book includes coverage of combined treatments of microbes for reuse of wastewater and contaminated soil to successfully achieve eco-restoration, environment protection and sustainable development. In 14 chapters, this reference compiles current and advanced biotechnologies as well as future directions for research. This is a valuable resource for researchers in microbiology, biotechnology, environmental engineering and environmental science, and all those who wish to broaden their knowledge in the field of applied microbiology to develop sustainable waste management.

The book emphasizes role of functional microbes in soil to improve fertility and plant health in agro-ecosystem. In this compendium main emphasis is on occurrence and distribution of microbial communities, In situ active microbial quorum in rhizosphere, metratranscriptomics for microflora- and fauna, and fnctional diversity in rhizosphere. The book also highlights the importance of PGPRs in rhizosphere, root endotrophic microbes, functional niche under biotic stress, functional niche under abiotic stress, functional root derived signals, as well as functional microbe derived signals. Approaches deployed in metatranscriptomics, and molecular Tools used in rhizosphere are also discussed in detail. The book presents content is useful for students, academicians, researchers working on soil rhizosphere and as a policy document on sustenance of agriculture.

Microbial Diversity in Hotspots provides an introduction to microbial diversity and microbes in different hotspots and threatened areas. The book gives insights on extremophiles, phyllosphere and rhizosphere, covers fungal diversity, conservation and microbial association, focuses on biodiversity acts and policies, and includes cases studies. Microbes explored are from the coldest to the hottest areas of the world. Although hotspots are zones with extremely high microbiology activities, the knowledge of microbial diversity from these areas is very limited, hence this is a welcome addition to existing resources.

Pollution has accompanied polar exploration since Captain John Davis' arrival on the Antarctic continent in 1821 and has become an unavoidable consequence of oil spills in our polar regions. Fortunately, many of the organisms indigenous to Polar ecosystems have the ability to degrade pollutants. It is this metabolic capacity that forms the basis for bioremediation as a potential treatment for the hydrocarbons that contaminate the pristine polar environments. The only book to cover the breadth of microbial ecology and diversity in polar regions with an emphasis on bioremediation, Polar Microbiology: The Ecology, Biodiversity, and Bioremediation Potential of Microorganisms in Extremely Cold Environments examines the diversity of polar microorganisms and their ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in polar terrestrial and aquatic environments. Providing a unique perspective of these microorganisms in extremely cold temperatures, the book focuses on their taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, population structure, bioremediation potential, and potential for biotechnology applications. Leading investigators in the field provide complete coverage of the microbiology relevant to the study of biodiversity and biodegradation of pollutants in the Arctic and Antarctic, including: Microbial extremophiles living in cold and subzero temperature environments Genetics and physiology of cold adaptation of microorganisms Biodegradative microbial consortia in a defined closed environment Molecular characterization of biodegradative microbial populations Molecular approaches to assess biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons Environmental impact of hydrocarbon contamination Microbial biodiversity across Antarctic deserts By bringi

The microbial engineering technologies have been identified as an essential and important subject area of engineering and applied biological sciences. A microbial engineer works on the biological, chemical and engineering aspects of biotechnology, manipulating microbes and developing new uses for microbes. In agriculture, bioprocess engineering, in biotechnology, genetic engineering, microbial vaccines, and the development of bionanotechnology, microbial engineering could be recognized as high potential technologies in the current scenario for economic development. Scientists and engineers are motivated for sustainable green technology as a part of an upcoming industrial revolution turning more and more to processes involving microorganisms. Applications of Microbial Engineering provides a better understanding of industrially important genetically manipulated and engineered prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell systems. The content of this book are based on most recent developments in microbial engineering. The contributions by specialists on the respective topics provide a profound scientific basis for further research. It is expected that this book will be a valuable resource for researchers as well as students dealing with microbiology and biotechnology.

Das Buch behandelt ein umfassendes Spektrum an Themen, die unseren derzeitigen Kenntnisstand auf dem Gebiet darlegen, insbesondere die historischen Kenntnisse und Missverstandnisse uber Motilitat; die Evolution der Motilitat von Diatomeen (Kieselalgen); die OEkologie und Physiologie von Diatomeen; die Zellbiologie und Biochemie der Motilitat von Diatomeen sowie die Anatomie beweglicher Diatomeen; Beobachtungen zum Bewegungsverhalten von Diatomeen; die Konkurrenzfahigkeit von Diatomeen und einzigartige Formen der Motilitat von Diatomeen wie bei der Gattung Eunotia; sowie Motilitatsmodelle. Dieses Werk ist das erste Buch, in dem Informationen rund um die Motilitat von Diatomeen zusammengefuhrt werden und das sich dabei allein diesem Thema widmet. Es wird sowohl der aktuelle Kenntnisstand uber die potenziellen Mechanismen und oekologischen Regulatoren der Motilitat vermittelt als auch dargestellt, mit Hilfe welcher moeglichen Modelle und Ansatze zu erklaren ist, wie Diatomeen so unterschiedliche Verhaltensweisen wie tageszeitliche Bewegungen, Anhaufung in Lichtbereichen und Nischenaufteilung an den Tag legen koennen, um den Erfolg der Art zu steigern. In Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass Diatomeen zu den oekologisch wichtigsten Einzellern in den aquatischen OEkosystemen gehoeren, hoffen wir, dass dieses Werk als Sprungbrett fur die kunftige Forschung zur Motilitat von Diatomeen dient und dazu beitragt, noch bessere Loesungen fur einige Fragen in Bezug auf die Motilitat zu finden.

Resource Recovery in Industrial Waste Waters provides a holistic approach for discovering and harnessing valuable resources from industrial wastewaters, the cutting-edge technologies required, and a discussion on the new findings. In three volumes, the books stress the importance of contaminated waters' remediation, including surface waters, municipal or industrial wastewaters and treating these waters as a new source of nutrients, minerals and energy. It introduces polluted waters as new and sustainable sources, rather than seeing wastewaters as only a source of hazardous organic and inorganic matters. Sections discuss wastewater treatment and recovery and contribute to generate a sustainable approach of wastewater by providing the main advantages and disadvantages of both wastewater/polluted water treatment and recovery.

Resource Recovery in Drinking Water Treatment concentrates on techniques and methods for water purification. The book develops a new approach—resource recovery—toward drinking water, including the role of methods (adsorption, membrane, ion – exchange, biosorption, coagulation, etc.) and nanocomposites (such as biochar, sludge-based composites, chitosan, polymer, magnetic particles, etc.) in water resource recovery. It provides an in-depth overview on emerging water treatment techniques and the resource recovery of materials during the treatment process. Finally, the book aims to introduce polluted waters as new and sustainable sources rather than seeing wastewaters only a source of hazardous organic and inorganic matters. This book is part of a three-volume set that stresses the importance of contaminated water remediation, including surface waters, municipal or industrial wastewaters, and waters as a new source of nutrients, minerals and energy.

An examination of the research and translational application to prevent and treat biofilm-associated diseases In the decade since the first edition of Microbial Biofilms was published, the interest in this field has expanded, spurring, breakthrough research that has advanced the treatment of biofilm-associated diseases. This second edition takes the reader on an exciting, extensive review of bacterial and fungal biofilms, ranging from basic molecular interactions to innovative therapies, with particular emphasis on the division of labor in biofilms, new approaches to combat the threat of microbial biofilms, and how biofilms evade the host defense. Chapters written by established investigators cover recent findings, and contributions from investigators new to the field provide unique and fresh insights. Microbial Biofilms is a useful reference for researchers and clinicians. It will also provide insight in the dynamic field of microbial biofilms for graduate and postgraduate students.

Of major economic, environmental and social importance, industrial microbiology involves the utilization of microorganisms in the production of a wide range of products, including enzymes, foods, beverages, chemical feedstocks, fuels and pharmaceuticals, and clean technologies employed for waste treatment and pollution control.

Aimed at undergraduates studying the applied aspects of biology, particularly those on biotechnology and microbiology courses and students of food science and biochemical engineering, this text provides a wide-ranging introduction to the field of industrial microbiology. The content is divided into three sections: key aspects of microbial physiology, exploring the versatility of microorganisms, their diverse metabolic activities and productsindustrial microorganisms and the technology required for large-scale cultivation and isolation of fermentation productsinvestigation of a wide range of established and novel industrial fermentation processes and products

Written by experienced lecturers with industrial backgrounds, Industrial Microbiology provides the reader with groundwork in both the fundamental principles of microbial biology and the various traditional and novel applications of microorganisms to industrial processes, many of which have been made possible or enhanced by recent developments in genetic engineering technology.A wide-ranging introduction to the field of industrial microbiologyBased on years of teaching experience by experienced lecturers with industrial backgroundsExplains the underlying microbiology as well as the industrial application.

Content is divided into three sections:

1. key aspects of microbial physiology, exploring the versatility of microorganisms, their diverse metabolic activities and products

2. industrial microorganisms and the technology required for large-scale cultivation and isolation of fermentation products

3. investigation of a wide range of established and novel industrial fermentation processes and products

With contributions from a broad range of experts in the field, this volume, Microbiology for Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Health, and Environmental Protection, focuses on important areas of microbiology related to soil and environmental microbiology associated with agricultural importance. The information and research on soil and environmental microbiology presented here seeks to act as a gateway to sustaining and improving agriculture and environmental security. Part I focuses on soil microbiology, dealing extensively with studies on the isolation, culture, and use of Rhizobium spp. and mycorrhizae to improve soil fertility, plant growth, and yield. This includes research progress on biogeochemical cycles, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), microbial interactions in soil and other soil activities, microbial diversity in soil, biological control and bioremediation, and improvement of beneficial microorganisms (N2 fixers, phosphate solubilizers, etc.). Part 2 goes on to focus on microbiology for crop disease management and pathogenic control in sustainable environment, with chapters on disease management of agricultural and horticultural crop plants through microbial control and how microbial control may a be a potential solution for a sustainability in agriculture. Part 3, Microbiology for Soil Health and Crop Productivity Improvement, features a chapter on the activity and mechanism of nitrogenase enzyme in soil, which is very important for soil health and crop production and productivity. Part 4 presents two chapters entirely devoted to the environmental pollution and its control, looking at the interaction of microbes in aqueous environments and eco-friendly approaches. There is an urgent need to explore and investigate the current shortcomings and challenges of the current innovations and challenges in agricultural microbiology. This book helps to fill that need. This volume will be valuable to those involved with agricultural microbiology, including students, instructors, and researchers.

For as long as humans have been on Earth, we have looked up to the stars for clues to our own existence. Medical doctor and evolutionary biologist William B. Miller, Jr. suggests that we may find more meaningful solutions at the end of a microscope rather than a telescope. Using powerful analogies and exacting science, Bioverse explores the wonders of the perpetual partnership between our personal cells and the microbial world, resulting in an entirely new view of our living planet. To understand life in all its varieties, we must undertake to understand our cells. While the partnership between our cells and our microbes has largely been thought of as that of "host" and "guest," Miller reveals the true partnership under which both our microbial fraction and our own personal cells conduct a life-long dialogue, redefining our traditional conceptions of intelligence and problem-solving. This radical new approach explains exactly how our human choices are centered within the same cellular rules that enable our cells to seamlessly sustain our lives. We are now entering the "Era of the Cell," a time in history during which medical and scientific innovations have spurred growth far beyond ever imagined by our ancestors. For the first time, we are not only building machines to enhance our lives but engineering living organisms to assist our futures. From the biological origins of evolution to the invention of the compound microscope by a Dutch lens maker in the 17th century, to new research that reveals surprising links between our microbiome and our moods and behavior, and surprising stories of the cellular world from the deepest oceans, wildest jungles, and outer reaches of our solar system, Miller introduces readers to a greater understanding of our impact on the planet and the world's reciprocal impact on each of us. By exploring the extent of our deeply integrated cellular world, Bioverse provides profound insights about ourselves, our health and well-being, our social systems, and our permanent relationship to the planet and the cosmos.

Though nothing in the natural world would be quite the same without them, microbes go mostly unnoticed. They are the tiny, mighty force behind the pop in Champagne and the holes in Swiss cheese, the granite walls of Yosemite and the white cliffs of Dover, the workings of snowmaking machines, Botox, and gunpowder; and yet we tend to regard them as peripheral, disease-causing, food-spoiling troublemakers. In this book renowned microbiologist John Ingraham rescues these supremely important and ubiquitous microorganisms from their unwonted obscurity by showing us how we can, in fact, see them-and appreciate their vast and varied role in nature and our lives. Though we might not be able to see microbes firsthand, the consequences of their activities are readily apparent to our unaided senses. March of the Microbes shows us how to examine, study, and appreciate microbes in the manner of a birdwatcher, by making sightings of microbial activities and thereby identifying particular microbes as well as understanding what they do and how they do it. The sightings are as different as a smelly rock cod, a bottle of Chateau d'Yquem, a moment in the Salem witch trials, and white clouds over the ocean. Together they summarize the impact of microbes on our planet, its atmosphere, geology, weather, and other organisms including ourselves, to whom they dole out fatal illnesses and vital nutrients alike. In the end, Ingraham leaves us marveling at the power and persistence of microbes on our planet and gives credence to Louis Pasteur's famous assertion that "microbes will have the last word."

Since Darwin, people have speculated about the evolutionary relationships among dissimilar species, including our connections to the diverse life forms known as microbes. In the 1970s biologists discovered a way to establish these kinships. This new era of exploration began with Linus Pauling's finding that every protein in every cell contains a huge reservoir of evolutionary history. His discovery opened a research path that has changed the way biologists and others think about the living world. In Kin John L. Ingraham tells the story of these remarkable breakthroughs. His original, accessible history explains how we came to understand our microbe inheritance and the relatedness of all organisms on Earth. Among the most revolutionary scientific achievements was Carl Woese's discovery that a large group of organisms previously lumped together with bacteria were in fact a totally distinct form of life, now called the archaea. But the crowning accomplishment has been to construct the Tree of Life-an evolutionary project Darwin dreamed about over a century ago. Today, we know that the Tree's three main stems are dominated by microbes. The nonmicrobes-plants and animals, including humans-constitute only a small upper branch in one stem. Knowing the Tree's structure has given biologists the ability to characterize the complex array of microbial populations that live in us and on us, and investigate how they contribute to health and disease. This knowledge also moves us closer to answering the tantalizing question of how the Tree of Life began, over 3.5 billion years ago.

Bacteriology Methods for the Study of Infectious Diseases provides knowledge, understanding and experience of contemporary, robust methodologies for studies into the pathogenicity and virulence of human/animal bacterial pathogens. This book presents contemporary, yet widely utilized methodologies, for the study of pathogenicity and virulence in bacterial pathogens of human and/or animal origin. Protocols are clearly outlined, with lists of required equipment and reagents, alongside underpinning theory. This text will provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with practical guidance for dissertation projects with protocols for individual project ideas that can be developed further, hence a starting point for additional literature searches is also provided.

Smart Bioremediation Technologies: Microbial Enzymes provides insights into the complex behavior of enzymes and identifies metabolites and their degradation pathways. It will help readers work towards solutions for sustainable medicine and environmental pollution. The book highlights the microbial enzymes that have replaced many plant and animal enzymes, also presenting their applications in varying industries, including pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, biofuels, diagnostics and therapy. In addition, new methods, including genomics andmetagenomics, are being employed for the discovery of new enzymes from microbes. This book brings all of these topics together, representing the first resource on how to solve problems in bioremediation.

Environmental Applications of Microbial Nanotechnology: Emerging Trends in Environmental Remediation discusses emerging trends and recent advancements in environmental remediation. The book provides environmental applications of microbial nanotechnology that helps readers understand novel microbial systems and take advantage of recent advances in microbial nanotechnologies. It highlights established research and technology on microbial nanotechnology's environmental applications, moves to rapidly emerging aspects and then discusses future research directions. The book provides researchers in academia and industry with a high-tech start-up that will revolutionize the modern environmental applications of microbial nanotechnology research.

Industrial wastewater contains a large variety of compounds, such as hazardous organic pollutants, heavy metals, salts and nutrients, which makes its treatment challenging. On the other hand, the sewage treatment with existing technologies is not cost-effective due to high energy demand and contributes to greenhouse gas emission. Thus, the use of conventional water treatment methods is neither sustainable nor always effective. In this sense, BESs has emerged as a promising technology to treat complex industrial wastewater with a sustainable manner. Development in Wastewater Treatment Research and Processes: Bioelectrochemical Systems for Wastewater Management analyses and discusses the potential of microbial and electrochemical based hybrid processes for the treatment of complex industrial wastewater along with the recovery of valuable compounds and water reutilization. The most significant advantages of BES are high effectiveness, low toxicity, gentle operation conditions, environmentally friendly treatment without sludge accumulation and energy conservation. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are emerging as an exciting platform to convert chemical energy of organic wastes into electricity or hydrogen or value-added chemical commodities. In addition, recent and future trends in BES are highlighted.

Genome Engineering, Volume 52 in the Methods in Microbiology series, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors. Topics covered include Whole genome transplantation in Mollicutes, Natural transformation as a tool in Acinetobacter baylyi: evolution by amplification of gene copy number, Natural transformation as a tool in Acinetobacter baylyi: streamlined engineering and mutational analysis, Methods to characterize cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters in Streptomyces, Genome engineering in bacteria: current and prospective applications, Tools for activation and identification of cryptic biosynthesis pathways in Streptomyces.

Taxonomic Guide to Infectious Diseases: Understanding the Biologic Classes of Pathogenic Organisms, Second Edition tackles the complexity of clinical microbiology by assigning every infectious organism to one of 40+ taxonomic classes and providing a description of the defining traits that apply to all the organisms within each class. This edition is an updated, revised and greatly expanded guide to the classes of organisms that infect humans. This book will provide students and clinicians alike with a simplified way to understand the complex fields of clinical microbiology and parasitology.

This book provides in-depth information about the ecology, diversity and applications of Actinomycetes. The book is divided into two major parts. The first part discusses the diversity, chemical biology and ecology of Actinomycetes. It also covers the discovery of natural products from soil, endophytic and marine-derived Actinomycetes. It includes natural product discovery, chemical biology, new methods for discovering secondary metabolites, structure elucidation and biosynthetic research of natural products. The chapters in this part focus on the effects of biological and chemical elicitation at molecular level on secondary metabolism in Actinomycetes. The second part of the book discusses genomic and synthetic biology approaches in Actinomycetes drug discovery. This part includes chapters focused on the application of metabolic engineering to optimize natural product synthesis and the use of omics data in engineering of regulatory genes. It covers the advanced tools of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering including cluster assembly, CRISPR/Cas9 technologies, and chassis strain development for natural product overproduction in Actinomycetes. It describes the use of bioinformatics tools for reprogramming of biosynthetic pathways through polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase engineering. These advanced genomic and molecular tools are expected to accelerate the discovery and development of new natural products from Actinomycetes with medicinal and other industrial applications. The book is useful to researchers and students in the field of microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences and drug discovery.

This textbook addresses global and local environmental problems and the involvement of microorganisms in their development and remediation. In particular, methodological aspects, some of them molecular genetic, for the study of microbial communities are considered. Overall, the prominent role of microorganisms in various material cycles is presented. In addition to biochemical principles for the degradation of environmental pollutants, the use of microorganisms in environmental biotechnological processes for the purification of air, water or soil as well as in environmentally friendly production processes is discussed. The book is intended for biologists with an interest in environmental microbiological issues, but also for students of process or environmental engineering, geoecology or geology, as well as students of other environmental science disciplines. For the 3rd edition, the authors have completely revised, corrected, updated and supplemented the book.

Cyanobacteria constitute the most widely distributed group of photosynthetic prokaryotes found in almost all realms of the earth and play an important role in Earth's nitrogen and carbon cycle. The gradual transformation from reducing atmosphere to oxidizing atmosphere was a turning point in the evolutionary history of the earth and made conditions for present life forms possible. Cyanobacteria: From Basic Science to Applications is the first reference volume that comprehensively discusses all aspects of cyanobacteria, including the diverse mechanisms of cyanobacteria for the advancement of cyanobacterial abilities, towards higher biofuel productivity, enhanced tolerance to environmental stress and bioactive compounds and potential for biofertilizers.

Micro-organisms play a major role in the geochemistry of the planet, forming the basic stage in the food chain, and thus sustaining the existence of higher evolutionary life. The continuing interaction between these living organisms and the environment, combined with their exploitation by man are shaping the material world today. Over the last few years our understanding has increased considerably due to the development of new technology and the emergence of new paradigms which have enabled the microbiologist to view the microbial world, and its significance to life, with new eyes. Combining the basics of science with the most up-to-date new material, and incorporating high quality photographs and graphics, this book is valuable as both a textbook and reference guide for students and professionals.