Methods in Microbiology serial highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

Systems biology is the study of interactions between assorted components of biological systems with the aim of acquiring new insights into how organisms function and respond to different stimuli. Although more and more efforts are being directed toward examining systems biology in complex multi-cellular organisms, the bulk of system-level analyses conducted to date have focused on the biology of microbes. In, Microbial Systems Biology: Methods and Protocols expert researchers in the field describe the utility and attributes of different tools (both experimental and computational) that are used for studying microbial systems. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Microbial Systems Biology: Methods and Protocols introduces and aids scientists in using the various tools that are currently available for analysis, modification and utilization of microbial organisms.

Aimed at research scientists and biotechnologists, this book is an essential reading for those working with extremophiles and their potential biotechnological application. Here, we provide a comprehensive and reliable source of information on the recent advances and challenges in different aspects of the theme. Written in an accessible language, the book is also a recommended as reference text for anyone interested in this thriving field of research. Over the last decades, the study of extremophiles has provided ground breaking discoveries that challenge our understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology. In the applied side, extremophiles and their enzymes have spawned a multibillion dollar biotechnology industry, with applications spanning biomedical, pharmaceutical, industrial, environmental, and agricultural sectors. Taq DNA polymerase (which was isolated from Thermus aquaticus from a geothermal spring in Yellowstone National Park) is the most well-known example of the potential biotechnological application of extremophiles and their biomolecules. Indeed, the application of extremophiles and their biologically active compounds has opened a new era in biotechnology. However, despite the latest advances, we are just in the beginning of exploring the biotechnological potentials of extremophiles.

The control of food safety in modern food processing relies upon HACCP and other systems that identify hazards and define processes to control them. These demand a thorough understanding of the properties of microbial pathogens under all the conditions that could be found in foods and the food processing environment. Detailed information about each of the main organisms responsible for causing microbial food poisoning is presented here in an accessible and systematic way. An overview of key properties for each organism is followed by a series of tables detailing the response of the organism under a range of variable conditions. This information has been prepared by the International Commission for the Microbiological Specifications of Foods (ICMSF).

Success in meeting the challenge to produce the commercial products anticipated by the exploitation of biological processes depends upon provid ing effective separation protocols. Effectiveness can be measured in terms of selectivity, purity, resolution and validatory success. The major processing problems are associated with either the selective recovery of molecules which are present in low concentrations from complex mixtures or the selective removal of contaminants from the desired molecule. Central to the evolution of processes satisfying this demand are the regulatory requirements being imposed by governments on the purity of a product, especially in the health care market. Synthetic organic chemists are increasingly finding it advantageous to conduct one or more steps using either enzymic biotransformations where molecules with a single and consistent stereochemistry or chirality are required. The underlying princi ples behind the methods, techniques and processes currently being used and developed commercially rely upon the biospecific nature and properties of the desired molecule. When these factors are married to the more traditional techniques of precipitation, chromatography, liquid-liquid extraction and membrane processes, powerful tools emerge, allowing highly selective separations to be designed. The logical extension of these combinations is to apply genetic engineering techniques to influence the separations at a more fundamental and structural level by modifying the target protein at source, during its synthesis, to facilitate its separation in a given, selective manner, leading to the distinct possibility of producing 'designer' separation programmes."

Humans have utilized the bioactive principles of different plants for various beneficial physiological properties including antimicrobial properties for many centuries. However, interests of using medicinal plants declined in the 20th century with the availability of effective synthetic antimicrobial drugs. The development of microbial resistance to various drugs has accelerated research interests towards the use of phytochemicals as alternatives to synthetic drugs in the recent years. This book presents an comprehensive reviews on the antimicrobial and antiviral properties of numerous recently reported phytochemicals, and their mechanisms of antimicrobial actions. Some of the chapters have critically discussed the beneficial and adverse effects of antibacterial, and stimulatory activities of dietary phytochemicals on rumen microbial populations, and gut microbial populations of humans and animals. Microbial adaptation and resistance of microbes to phytochemicals has also been highlighted. On the applied apects, the use of phytochemicals against drug resistance microbes, to treat microbial diseases, for food preservation, to inhibit methanogenic archaea in the rumen, and to modulate lipid biohydrogenating microbial populations to increase conjugated linoleic acids in animal-derived foods have been presented in different chapters.

Metal contamination is an increasing ecological and eco-toxicological risk. Understanding the processes involved in metal mobilization, sorption and mineralization in soils are key features for soil bioremediation.

Following an introduction to the physical, chemical and biological components of contaminated soils, various chapters address the interactions of soil, microorganisms, plants and the water phase necessary to transfer metals into biological systems. These include topics such as potential hazards at mining sites; rare earth elements in biotic and abiotic acidic systems; manganese redox reactions; biomineralisation, uranium in seepage water; metal-resistant streptomycetes; mycorrhiza in re-forestation; metal (hyper)accummulation in plants; microbial metal uptake; and their potential for bioremediation.

This book will be of interest to soil biologists, geologists and chemists, researchers and graduate students, as well as consulting companies and small enterprises involved in bioremediation.

A description of a microbial colony grown on suitable agar usually involves the observation of its immediate surroundings. This applies to most bacteria and fungi and is of considerable taxonomic importance. This book discusses the more abundant pigments of microbial origin, their unique function in microbial life and their biotechnological significance.

Incorporating contributions from microbiologists, molecular biologists, plant breeders and soil scientists this volume reports the results and recommendations of an FAO/IAEA meeting of twelve experts on biological nitrogen fixation. This volume will be invaluable to scientists working on nitrogen fixation, soil microbiology, agronomy and crop production as well as farm advisers and extension specialists.
Maximising the Use of Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Agriculture is unique in that it:

-reviews the latest thinking on various aspects of biological nitrogen fixation technology and applications;
-reviews the possibilities in enhancing nitrogen fixation in various cropping systems;
-shows ways how biological nitrogen fixation can be used to enhance crop production;
-considers the applicability of these technologies to small farmers in developing countries.

This concise volume reviews the most current and topical aspects of Acinetobacter genetics and molecular biology and is aimed at a readership of research scientists, graduate students and other specialists. Expert international authors have contributed chapters on diverse topics including taxonomy, lipopolysaccharides, catabolism of aromatic compounds, transformation systems, transcriptional regulation, applications in biotechnology, the molecular basis for virulence and pathogenicity, molecular epidemiology, and antibiotic resistance. This book is highly recommended for anyone involved in Acinetobacter research.

Antimicrobial Peptides: Challenges and Future Perspectives covers the latest developments about antimicrobial peptides in the scenario of drug resistance. The book is divided into 16 chapters arranged in sequence and preceded by chapters on historical developments and their role as regulatory molecules in innate defense mechanism. Emphasis is given to purification techniques and characterization suitable for interdisciplinary research. Chapters provide an inventory of various antimicrobial peptides, from a diverse array of organisms such as bacteria, fungi, insects, amphibians, plants and mammals. A section on marine ecosystem broadens readers understanding on marine based antimicrobial peptides. Additional sections provide an informative overview on peptides with antiviral properties and those targeting multi-drug resistant bacteria. Recent reports and mechanism on resistance against antimicrobial peptides are also provided, along with key insights into the challenges and future perspectives of peptide drug development.

The NATO Advanced Research Workshop from which this book derives was conceived during Biotec-88, the Second Spanish Conference on Biotechnology, held at Barcelona in June 1988. The President of the Conference, Dr. Ricardo Guerrero, had arranged sessions on bacterial polymers which included lectures by five invited participants who, together with Dr. Guerrero, became the Organizing Committee for a projected meeting that would focus attention upon the increasing international importance of novel biodegradable polymers. The proposal found favour with the NATO Science Committee and, with Dr. R. Clinton Fuller and Dr. Robert W. Lenz as the co-Directors, Dr. Edwin A. Dawes as the Proceedings Editor, and Dr. Hans G. Schlegel, Dr. Alexander J.B. Zehnder and Dr. Ricardo Guerrero as members of the Organizing Committee, the meeting quickly took shape. To Dr. Guerrero we owe the happy choice of Sitges for the venue, a pleasant coastal resort 36 kilometres from Barcelona, which proved ideal. The sessions were held at the Palau de Maricel in appropriately impressive surroundings, and invaluable local support was provided by Mr. Jordi Mas-Castella and by Ms. Merce Piqueras. Much of the preparatory work fell upon the broad shoulders of Mr. Edward Knee, whose efforts are deeply appreciated. The Organizing Committee hopes that this Workshop will prove to be the first of a series which will aim to keep abreast of a rapidly expanding and exciting area of research that is highly relevant to environmental and industrial interests.

This volume provides a comprehensive coverage of the principal extreme soil ecosystems of natural and anthropogenic origin. Extreme soils oppose chemical or physical limits to colonization by most soil organisms and present the microbiologist with exciting opportunities.

Described here are a range of fascinating environments from permafrost to Martian soils. The book includes chapters on basic research in addition to applications in biotechnology and bioremediation.

Introductory Microbiology Lab Skills and Techniques in Food Science covers topics on isolation, identification, numeration and observation of microorganisms, biochemistry tests, case studies, clinical lab tasks, and basic applied microbiology. The book is written technically with figures and photos showing details of every lab procedure. This is a resource that is skills-based focusing on lab technique training. It is introductory in nature, but encourages critical thinking based on real case studies of what happens in labs every day and includes self-evaluation learning questions after each lab section. This is an excellent guide for anyone who needs to understand how to apply microbiology to the lab in a practical setting.

This volume focuses on blocking disease transmission and the ecological perspective of pathogens and pathogenic processes. The chapters on blocking transmission cover the environmental safety of space flight, biocides and biocide resistance, as well as infection control in healthcare facilities. The book also offers insights into the ecological aspects of infectious disease, introducing the reader to the role of indigenous gut microbiota in maintaining human health and current discussions on environmentally encountered bacterial and fungal pathogens including species that variously cause the necrotizing skin disease Buruli ulcer and coccidioidomycosis. Further, it explores the influenza A virus as an example for understanding zoonosis. It is a valuable resource for microbiologists and biomedical scientists alike.

This Volume describes methods for investigating microbes in their natural environment and how to obtain representative samples and preserve them for subsequent analyses. Chapters are arranged according to the environments under investigation, which include: oil reservoirs, fracking fluids, aquifers, coal beds, oil sands and their tailing ponds, lakes, rivers, leaves, polar seas and ice, the sea-surface microlayer, mud flats, microbialites, and deep-sea fauna. A variety of downstream analytical procedures are described, including: nucleic-acid extraction and preparation for high-throughput sequencing, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation, and cultivation of aerobic and anaerobic hydrocarbon-degrading microbes. Though most chapters focus on hydrocarbon-rich environments, many of the approaches used are generic, and as such will be of value to researchers embarking on studies of microbes and their processes in the field. Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols There are tens of thousands of structurally different hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives and lipids, and a wide array of these molecules are required for cells to function. The global hydrocarbon cycle, which is largely driven by microorganisms, has a major impact on our environment and climate. Microbes are responsible for cleaning up the environmental pollution caused by the exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs and will also be pivotal in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels by providing biofuels, plastics and industrial chemicals. Gaining an understanding of the relevant functions of the wide range of microbes that produce, consume and modify hydrocarbons and related compounds will be key to responding to these challenges. This comprehensive collection of current and emerging protocols will facilitate acquisition of this understanding and exploitation of useful activities of such microbes.

Allelochemicals play a great role in managed and natural ecosystems. Apart from plant growth, allelochemicals also may influence nutrient dynamics, mycorrhizae, soil chemical characteristics, and microbial ecology. Synergistic action of various factors may better explain plant growth and distribution in natural systems. The book emphasizes the role of allelochemicals in shaping the structure of plant communities in a broader ecological perspective. The book addresses the following questions: (1) How do allelochemicals influence different components of the ecosystem in terms of shaping community structure? (2) Why is it difficult to demonstrate interference by allelochemicals (i.e., allelopathy) in a natural system in its entirety? Despite a large amount of existing literature on allelopathy, why are ecologists still skeptical about the existence of allelopathy in nature? (3) Why are there only scarce data on aquatic ecosystems? (4) What role do allelochemicals play in microbial ecology?.....

Filamentous fungi have long been known for their ability to produce an enormous range of unusual chemical compounds known as secondary metabolites, many of which have potentially useful antibiotic or pharmacological properties. Recent focus on fungal genomics coupled with advances in detection and molecular manipulation techniques has galvanized a revitalization of this field. Fungal Secondary Metabolism: Methods and Protocols is aimed at providing the key methodologies currently in use and necessary for accessing and exploiting the natural product information provided by the genomes of this large and varied kingdom. Written by active researchers in the field, the chapters deal with all the steps necessary, from optimization of fungal culture conditions for metabolite production, through rapid genome sequencing and bioinformatics, and genetic manipulations for functional analysis, to detection and testing of metabolites. In addition, chapters on basic science address approaches to the genetic regulation, protein biochemistry, and cellular localization of the biosynthetic pathways. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) 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. Practical and hands-on, Fungal Secondary Metabolism: Methods and Protocols encourages new investigators to enter the field and expands upon the expertise and range of skills of those already researching fungal natural products.

This book discusses the commercialization of biofuels and the Brazilian government policies for the promotion of renewable energy program in Brazil, which could be a learning module for several countries for implementing biofuels policy to improve their socioeconomic status and make them energy independent.

Researchers in academia and industries, policy makers, and economic analysts will be assisted by important source of information in their ongoing research and future perspectives.

This book will benefit graduate and postgraduate students of chemical and biochemical engineering, forestry, microbiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, applied chemistry, environmental science, sustainable energy, and biotech business disciplines by signifying the applied aspects of bioenergy production from various natural sources and their implications. Graduate and postgraduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers will find clear concepts of feedstock analysis, feedstock degradation, microbial fermentation, genetic engineering, renewable energy generation and storage, climate changes, and techno-economic analysis of biofuels production technologies.

Research on the interaction between plants and microbes continues to attract increasing attention, both within the field as well as in the scientific community at large. Many of the major scientific journals have recently reviewed various aspects of the field. Several papers dealing with plant-microbe interactions have been featured on the covers of scientific publications in the past several months, and the lay press have recently presented feature articles of this field. An additional sign of the interest in this field is that the International Society of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions has almost 500 members. This book is a collection of the papers that were given at the Sixth Inlernational Symposium on the Molecular Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions which was held in Seattle, Washington in July, 1992. Approximately 650 scientists attended and approximately 50 lectures covering the topics of Agrobacterium-plant interactions, Rhizobium-plant interactions, bacteria-plant interactions, fungal-plant interactions and new aspects of biotechnology were presented. In addition, many sessions were devoted to the plant response to the microbe. Over 400 posters were presented of which the authors of 20 were selected to give an oral presentation. These papers are included in this volume as well. The symposium also included speakers whose research interests are not directly related to plant-microbe interactions but who are at the cutting edge of research areas that impact on the theme of the symposium. These individuals kindly agreed to summarize their talks and their papers are also included.

This book review series presents current trends in modern biotechnology. The aim is to cover all aspects of this interdisciplinary technology where knowledge, methods and expertise are required from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, chemical engineering and computer science. Volumes are organized topically and provide a comprehensive discussion of developments in the respective field over the past 3-5 years. The series also discusses new discoveries and applications. Special volumes are dedicated to selected topics which focus on new biotechnological products and new processes for their synthesis and purification. In general, special volumes are edited by well-known guest editors. The series editor and publisher will however always be pleased to receive suggestions and supplementary information. Manuscripts are accepted in English.

Fluorescent Probes, Volume 48 in the Methods in Microbiology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on important topics, including Hydrogel microarray technology as a tool for clinical diagnostics, The use of probes and bacteriophages for bacteria detection, Probes used with point-of-care microfluidic devices for pathogen detection, Methods for combining FIB/SEM with three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy using CLEM approaches, Probes and Microbes, Microbial signatures associated with cancers, Fluorescent Aptamers for Detection and Treatment of Pathogenic Bacteria and Cancer, Labelled and Unlabeled Probes for Pathogen Detection with Molecular Biology Methods and Biosensors, and much more.

This book compiles a diverse and interdisciplinary range of scientific literature, laboratory developments, industrial implications and future prospects covering Entomophagy in 3D food printing to fight against hunger and nutritional deficiencies. Recent developments in Entomphagy in 3D printing of Drosophila based materials, and their nutritional, social, economic, scientific and environmental aspects. are comprehensively covered. Readers will also find shortcomings, guidelines, and industrial prospects for these materials, with emphasis on processing methods for the extraction of sustainable materials through 3D food printing.  3D Printing of Sustainable Insect Materials focuses on the methodology, technology and processing used for utilizing insects in 3D food printing applications, establishing technology-driven knowledge to fight against hunger. Chapters cover the principles for Entomophagy, insect processing methods, modern 3D food printing technologies, and the theoretical and practical aspects of Emtomophagy in 3D printing, with a special focus on future prospects and technologies. This ground-breaking book will serve knowledge to researchers and industry professionals across the food industry with broad coverage of emerging technologies, materials developed through Entomophagy, functional characterization and the technical details required to produce sustainable insect-based materials through 3D food printing.

The molecular basis of disease is the driving force in biomedical reserach. Gene detection, quantification, and localization are required to determine disease pathogenesis. In as much as DNA is the genetic potential in a particular organism, RNA and protein expression are the functional result of our genetic program. "Techniques in Localization of Gene Expression" describes in great detail the methods used to quantify and localize gene expression. Sensitive detection of gene expression is hindered by poor recovery or preservation of target sequences. "Techniques" emphasizes optimized methods to ensure full recovery and preservaiton of targets from specimen acquisition through detection of specific targets and final analysis. Situ Analyses of cells and tissues are also discussed. One of the weaknesses in biomedical research has been the use of in vitro model systems consisting of cell lines that may or may not mimic the in vivo conditions. These model systems are necessary to ask several questions on cell s and tissues with controllled variables int he absense of strategies to ask many questions at the same time. Multiparameter analysis can cirmcumvent the necessity fo in vitro model systems by allowing many quesitons to be answered on a cell or tissue at a single point in time. Using fluorescent dyes, on can answer many questions about a particular cell or tissue. One color, one question is an overriding theme of this book. The limitations of this approach are the number of colors in the spectrum and our ability to resolve them. Readers will find working protocols that have been developed and used routinely in the author's laboratory. Representative applications will be described using the various gene quantification and localization protocols to illustrate the utility of the techniques.