In an age of antibiotic resistant infections, the study of biofilms is increasingly important. Microbes more than often exist in complex multi-species or polymicrobial communities, making infections difficult to detect, diagnose and treat. Given the increased focus on studying biofilms in research and laboratory settings, particularly under conditions that closely mimic the clinical state, it is important to get an overview of the recent methods, model systems and tools being developed and employed in this context. This book offers readers the opportunity to learn more about current methods being used in the investigation of multi-species biofilms, both in vivo and in vitro. For this, the book highlights new technologies built and designed for the study of multiple species within biofilm communities, including those that can be leveraged for the evaluation of antimicrobial treatment approaches. The application of these state-of-the-art techniques to further our understanding of multi-species biofilms will be discussed and the reader will learn how the clinical microenvironment and the development of biofilm communities are considered when developing such tools. With cutting-edge contributions from experts in the respective domains, this book will benefit translational and basic research scientists, as well as clinicians, and is an informative resource for educators and their students.

This book describes many novel approaches of microbial bioremediation including conventional and modern approaches, metagenomics, biosurfactants and nano-based bioremediation. Also presents up-to-date knowledge about biodegradation of solid and liquid contaminants in the rhizospheric zone by plant (rhizo)-microbiome interface. It also illustrates communication pathways based on evolving methodologies, bioinformatic tools which provides insights into the functional dynamics of bioremediation process by the host-microbiome interface. The different chapters explain the mechanism and outcomes during the process of bioremediation. The book broadly depicts the following: Advances in bioremediation through nanoremediation, rhizo-remediation, bioremediation of different ecosystems like polluted waters, industrial effluents, bioremediation of metal and organic pollutants, toxic dyes etc. The book is very useful for researchers and students in the fields of applied and environmental microbiology. It is also meant for industry experts and professionals working in the field of bioremediation and waste management.

Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation: Techniques and Case Studies for Environmental Pollution, Second Edition describes the successful application of microbes and their derivatives for bioremediation of potentially toxic and relatively novel compounds in the environment. Our natural biodiversity and environment is in danger due to the release of continuously emerging potential pollutants by anthropogenic activities. Though many attempts have been made to eradicate and remediate these noxious elements, thousands of xenobiotics of relatively new entities emerge every day, thus worsening the situation. Primitive microorganisms are highly adaptable to toxic environments, and can reduce the load of toxic elements by their successful transformation and remediation. This completely updated new edition presents many new technologies and techniques and includes theoretical context and case studies in every chapter. Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation: Techniques and Case Studies for Environmental Pollution, Second Edition serves as a single-source reference and encompasses all categories of pollutants and their applications in a convenient, comprehensive format for researchers in environmental science and engineering, pollution, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology.

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.

This book collates the latest trends and technological advancements in bioremediation, especially for its monitoring and assessment. Divided into 18 chapters, the book summarizes basic concepts of waste management and bioremediation, describes advancements of the existing technologies, and highlights the role of modern instrumentation and analytical methods, for environmental clean-up and sustainability. The chapters cover topics such as the role of microbial fuel cells in waste management, microbial biosensors for real-time monitoring of bioremediation processes, genetically modified microorganisms for bioremediation, application of immobilized enzyme reactors, spectroscopic techniques, and in-silico approaches in bioremediation monitoring and assessment. The book will be advantageous not only to researchers and scholars interested in bioremediation and sustainability but also to professionals and policymakers.

This book discusses soil and recycling management in the Anthropocene era. Nitrogen shortage is one of nature's most important productivity regulators, but since the advent of technical nitrogen fixation (TNF), biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) input has nearly doubled, particularly in grass and arable lands covering over 13 million km2 of the Earth's surface. This book explores how monoculture grass, arable lands and forests are often over fertilized with TNF, animal slurries, sewage sludge, or municipally produced composts, and as a result, flora and fauna that have adapted to a nitrogen shortage in the soil will have to adjust to a surplus; those that are unable to adapt will disappear.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei, China, and has resulted in an ongoing pandemic. As of July 2020, more than 13.8 million cases have been reported across 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 590,000 deaths. COVID 19: Tackling Global Pandemics through Scientific and Social Tools, is an amalgamation of scientific and social perspective. The book provides a selection of handpicked themes and topics relevant to COVID 19 pandemic across various disciplines delivered by experts in the domain. The Opinion section is a unique component of this book discussing important issues concerning the COVID 19. COVID 19: Tackling Global Pandemics through Scientific and Social Tools serves as single source of information ranging from clinical research to social science and even biotechnology to engineering in a single platform. But there is scarcity of a quality document that summarizes various aspects of a single event. Therefore, the purpose of this book is to provide scientific and social information on COVID 19 to all sectors of readers i.e. from students to researchers and even policy makers Divided into 13 chapters, the book begins with an in-depth introduction to the highly infectious disease COVID19. Followed by chapters on interventions, vaccine development, prevention and control COVID 19: Tackling Global Pandemics through Scientific and Social Tools also provides insights to current global situation, mathematical models and social factors like distancing and hand-washing. The book closes with a review on the use of artificial intelligence and engineered intervention. All are presented in a practical short format, making this volume a valuable resource for very broad academic audience.

Additives have been used in the food sector for centuries, aiming to maintain or improve food quality in terms of freshness, appearance, texture and taste. Most food additives are synthetic chemical compounds classified as antioxidants, antimicrobials, colorants and sweeteners. In the last decades, several synthetic food additives have been correlated with adverse reactions in humans, which has caused the safety of synthetic food additives to be reviewed and discussed by international organizations. At the same time, there is increasing consumer demand for more natural and environmentally friendly food products and additives. Therefore, synthetic food additives have been replaced with natural food additives. Although the use of natural additives is a hot topic in food science, to date no book has systematically reviewed the application of natural additives in food products. Natural additives in foods presents an exhaustive analysis of the most recent advances in the application of natural additives in the food sector. Covering natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, colorants and sweeteners, this text also focuses on unconventional sources of natural additives, valorization and toxicological aspects, consumer attitudes and regulatory aspects. The main applications of natural antioxidants are fully covered, including polyphenols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, tocopherols and proteins. Natural antimicrobial applications from polyphenols and essential oils to poly-L-Lysine are analyzed, as are natural colorants like anthocyanins, annatto, betalains and paprika. The encapsulation, trapping, and adsorption of natural additives are studied, and consumer perceptions and preferences are major focuses. Researchers will find up-to-date regulatory specifics for the United States and European Union. For any researcher in need of an expansive single source containing all relevant and updated information for the use of natural additives in foods, this book is a much needed addition to the field.

This edited compilation explores role of climate change in plant stresses, their mitigators, their role, mode of action and, application. The book discusses molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in plant stress physiology and the working mechanism of stress mitigators. It collates information from latest research conducted on plant stress mitigators, and highlights new strategies related to beneficial microorganisms that support plants under various stresses. These mitigators have gained attention of both farmers and industry for their application in organic farming. Plant stress mitigators have a huge global market. They follow different action mechanism for enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance capacity including nutrient solubilizing and mobilizing, bicontrol activity against plant pathogens, phytohormone production, soil conditioning and many more unrevealed mechanisms. This book elaborates stress alleviation action of different plant stress mitigators on crops grown under optimal and sub-optimal growing conditions. It addresses mainly three subthemes -- (1) Climate change impacts on plant and soil health (2) Microbe mediated plant stress mitigation and (3) Advances in plant stress mitigation. The book is a relevant reading for Post graduate students, researchers in the field of plant stress physiology, Plant-microbe interaction, biochemistry and plant molecular biology and industries related to seed production, biofertilizer and biopesticides.

This book is the second volume on this topic within the series. With unique properties, nanomaterials are rapidly finding novel applications in many fields such as food, medicine, agriculture and pollution. Such applications include to treat cancer, nanosensors to detect food contamination, nanomaterials for food packaging, nanoencapsulation to preserve nutraceuticals, and nanofertilisers for advanced agriculture. After an introductory chapter on property rights of nanomaterials, readers will discover the applications of nanotechnology in food, health, environment, ecotoxicology and agriculture.

Written by the world's leading scientists and spanningover 400 articles in three volumes, the "Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology, Second Edition" is a complete, highly structured guide to current knowledge in the field. Fully revised and updated, this encyclopedia reflects the key advances in the field sincethe first edition was published in 1999

The articles in this key work, heavily illustrated and fully revised since the first edition in 1999, highlight advances in areas such as genomics and food safety to bring users up-to-date on microorganisms in foods. Topics such as DNA sequencing and E. coli are particularly well covered.

With lists of further reading to help users explore topics in depth, this resource will enrich scientists at every level in academia and industry, providing fundamental information as well as explaining state-of-the-art scientific discoveries.
This book is designed to allow disparate approaches (fromfarmers to processors to food handlers and consumers) and interests to access accurate and objective information about the microbiology of foods.Microbiology impacts the safe presentation of food. From harvest and storage to determination of shelf-life, to presentation and consumption. This work highlights therisks of microbial contamination and is an invaluable go-to guide for anyone working in Food Health and Safety.Has a two-fold industry appeal (1) those developing new functional food products and (2) to all corporations concerned about the potential hazards of microbes in their food products."

This book focuses on the importance and roles of seed microbiomes in sustainable agriculture by exploring the diversity of microbes vectored on and within seeds of both cultivated and non-cultivated plants. It provides essential insights into how seeds can be adapted to enhance microbiome vectoring, how damaged seed microbiomes can be assembled again and how seed microbiomes can be conserved. Plant seeds carry not only embryos and nutrients to fuel early seedling growth, but also microbes that modulate development, soil nutrient acquisition, and defense against pathogens and other stressors. Many of these microbes (bacteria and fungi) become endophytic, entering into the tissues of plants, and typically exist within plants without inducing negative effects. Although they have been reported in all plants examined to date, the extent to which plants rely on seed vectored microbiomes to enhance seedling competitiveness and survival is largely unappreciated. How microbes function to increase the fitness of seedlings is also little understood. The book is a unique and important resource for researchers and students in microbial ecology and biotechnology. Further, it appeals to applied academic and industrial agriculturists interested in increasing crop health and yield.

This biography of Dr. Denis Parsons Burkitt, after whom the childhood cancer Burkitt's lymphoma was named, and who was a pioneer of the dietary fiber movement, paints a personal but holistic portrait of both the man and his life's work. Featuring excerpts from Dr. Burkitt's personal diaries, spanning seven decades from his boyhood to just before his passing, and extensive family archives, this book invites readers to follow Burkitt's journey through life and experience his tribulations and successes. Prof. John Cummings was a colleague of Dr. Burkitt and weaves the tale of his life through the lens of family, faith, and science. The journey takes Burkitt from his childhood in Ireland, a country undergoing major social upheaval, through his medical studies in Dublin, to army service in Africa in the midst of WWII and the independence movements that swept the continent in the following years. During his two decades spent in Uganda, working for the Colonial Medical Service, Burkitt made his first major contribution to cancer research - the characterization of Burkitt's lymphoma and its possible viral cause. Following his return to England in 1966, he turned his attention to the cause of 'Western Diseases' especially the role of dietary fibre in the prevention of disease and promotion of health. This earned him even wider international recognition and helped to inspire what is a vital field of research today. The book examines Burkitt's personal views of the world around him, including his experiences as a committed evangelical Christian who had been raised an Irish Protestant, and the challenges, both familial and cultural, that this elicited from and towards him and his scientific work. The lymphoma and later the fibre story propelled Denis into an orbit of worldwide travel, fame and many honours. An engaging speaker but man of great humility, always giving the credit for much of what he did to others, he left a legacy of evidence and ideas for the causes of cancer and prevention of disease from which we all now benefit.

This thorough volume explores the possibility of detecting and identifying toxigenic fungi, able to produce secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins, which cause severe health problems in humans and animals after exposure to contaminated food and feed, having a broad range of toxic effects, including carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. Beginning with a section on fungal genera and species of major significance along with their associated mycotoxins, the book continues with sections on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based methods for the detection and identification of mycotoxigenic fungi, PCR-based methods for multiplex detection of mycotoxigenic fungi, as well as sections on combined approaches and new methodologies. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Mycotoxigenic Fungi: Methods and Protocols will aid researchers working in this vital field to provide insight into possible actions to reduce mycotoxin contamination of crop plants and the food/feed byproducts.

Advances in Organic Farming: Agronomic Soil Management Practices focuses on the integrated interactions between soil-plant-microbe-environment elements in a functioning ecosystem. It explains sustainable nutrient management under organic farming and agriculture, with chapters focusing on the role of nutrient management in sustaining global ecosystems, the remediation of polluted soils, conservation practices, degradation of pollutants, biofertilizers and biopesticides, critical biogeochemical cycles, potential responses for current and impending environmental change, and other critical factors. Organic farming is both challenging and exciting, as its practice of "feeding the soil, not the plant" provides opportunity to better understand why some growing methods are preferred over others. In the simplest terms, organic growing is based on maintaining a living soil with a diverse population of micro and macro soil organisms. Organic matter (OM) is maintained in the soil through the addition of compost, animal manure, green manures and the avoidance of excess mechanization.

Microbial physiology, biochemistry and genetics allowed the formulation of concepts that turned out to be important in the study of higher organisms. In the first section, the principles of bacterial growth are given, as well as the description of the different layers that enclose the bacterial cytoplasm, and their role in obtaining nutrients from the outside media through different permeability mechanism described in detail. A chapter is devoted to allostery and is indispensable for the comprehension of many regulatory mechanisms described throughout the book. Another section analyses the mechanisms by which cells obtain the energy necessary for their growth, glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic and the anaplerotic cycles. Two chapters are devoted to classes of microorganisms rarely dealt with in textbooks, namely the Archaea, mainly the methanogenic bacteria, and the methylotrophs. Eight chapters describe the principles of the regulations at the transcriptional level, with the necessary knowledge of the machineries of transcription and translation. The next fifteen chapters deal with the biosynthesis of the cell building blocks, amino acids, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides and deoxynucleotides, water-soluble vitamins and coenzymes, isoprene and tetrapyrrole derivatives and vitamin B12. The two last chapters are devoted to the study of protein-DNA interactions and to the evolution of biosynthetic pathways. The considerable advances made in the last thirty years in the field by the introduction of gene cloning and sequencing and by the exponential development of physical methods such as X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance have helped presenting metabolism under a multidisciplinary attractive angle.

This second edition volume discusses the latest techniques and protocols used in the field that were not covered in the previous edition. The chapters in this book are organized into five parts. Part One looks at transcriptomic analyses and Part Two covers DNA replication and protein/DNA interactions. Part Three discusses translation dynamics, protein complexes, and proteomics. Part Four looks at genotypic screens and phenotypic profiling, and Part Five explores in silico integration of functional genomics data. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary material and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting edge and practical, Yeast Functional Genomics: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for all researchers interested in learning more about the evolving field of yeast. Chapters 1, 9, 16, 20, 22, 24, and 25 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This volume provides readers with essential protocols for dissecting the host-fungus interaction, and engages researchers in study of mammalian disease. 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, Host-Fungal Interactions: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

This book is first part of the 3 volume set focusing on basic and advanced methods for using microbiology as an entrepreneurial venture. This volume explains the entrepreneurship skills for production, cost-benefit analysis and marketing of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, bio-insecticides, seaweed liquid biofertilizer, and phosphate solubilizers. Chapters cover the applications of microorganisms in small and large scale production to achieve a sustainable output. The book provides essential knowledge and working business protocols from all related disciplines in agribusiness, organic farming, and economic integration. This book is useful to graduate students, research scholars and postdoctoral fellows, and teachers who belong to different disciplines via Botany, Agriculture, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Plant Pathology, and Horticulture. Next two volumes are focused on food and industrial microbiology.

Global yields of legumes have been relatively stagnant for the last five decades, despite the adoption of conventional and molecular breeding approaches. The use of plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria for improving agricultural production, soil and plant health has become one of the most attractive strategies for developing sustainable agriculture. Actinomycetes are bacteria that play an important role in PGP and plant protection, produce secondary metabolites of commercial interest, and their use is well documented in wheat, rice, beans, chickpeas and peas. In order to promote legumes, the general assembly of the UN recently declared 2016 the "International Year of Pulses." In view of this development, this book illustrates how PGP actinomycetes can improve grain yield and soil fertility, improve control of insect pests and phytopathogens, and enhance host-plant resistance. It also addresses special topics of current interest, e.g. the role of PGP actinomycetes in the biofortification of legume seeds and bioremediation of heavy metals.

The book Methods in Silkworm Microbiology is the first ever publication that provides in-depth reviews on the latest progresses about silkworm -pathogen interactions, diseases and management practices for sustainable development of sericulture. Different molecular and immunodiagnostic methods for the detection of pathogens have been comprehensively addressed. Most recent advancements on the role of Micro RNAs in silkworm and pathogen interactions are provided with suitable illustrations. Recent technological advances and emerging trends in exploring silkworm gut microbial communities towards translation research, particularly to understand microbiome functions have been highlighted. Information on various immune mechanisms of silkworm against invading pathogens is summarized. The book further highlights the silkworm gut microbiota as a potential source for biotechnological applications.

Foodborne Infections and Intoxications, Fifth Edition brings together up-to-date, relevant interdisciplinary expertise of 70 authors presenting foodborne disease pathogens and toxins, microbiology, disease diagnosis and treatment, epidemiology, and disease prevention in the context of public health and food safety regulation. Beginning with the estimation of foodborne disease burden at the international scale, this book dives deep in foodborne disease outbreak investigation, food safety risk assessment, and molecular analysis, together with detailed descriptions of the major bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins associated with foodborne illness. This new edition also emphasizes development of risk-based approaches to food safety and safety regulation implementation. This book is a valuable scientific resource for understanding causes and management of foodborne diseases. The new edition offers the latest knowledge and updates on foodborne infections and intoxications and food safety for multiple generations of students, investigators, public health workers, food scientists, and food safety practitioners.

Volatiles and Metabolites of Microbes compiles the latest research and advancement in the field of volatiles, metabolites synthesized from the microbial strains such as actinomycetes, bacteria, cyanobacteria, and fungal species and their potential applications in the field of healthcare issue and sustainable agriculture. There is an urgent need to explore new and advanced biological methods for health industries and sustainable agriculture and to protect the environment from environmental pollution or contaminates, global warming, and also control the health of human beings from the side effects of various pharmaceuticals products. Focusing all these factors, Volatiles and Metabolites of Microbes explores new aspects of microorganism in terms of volatiles, enzymes, bioactive compounds synthesized from the microbes and their potential applications in the field of sustainable agriculture and health-related issues

Written by leading experts in their respective fields, Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology 3e, provides a comprehensive, balanced introduction to soil microbiology, and captures the rapid advances in the field such as recent discoveries regarding habitats and organisms, microbially mediated transformations, and applied environmental topics. Carefully edited for ease of reading, it aids users by providing an excellent multi-authored reference, the type of book that is continually used in the field. Background information is provided in the first part of the book for ease of comprehension. The following chapters then describe such fundamental topics as soil environment and microbial processes, microbial groups and their interactions, and thoroughly addresses critical nutrient cycles and important environmental and agricultural applications. An excellent textbook and desk reference, Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, 3e, provides readers with broad, foundational coverage of the vast array of microorganisms that live in soil and the major biogeochemical processes they control. Soil scientists, environmental scientists, and others, including soil health and conservation specialists, will find this material invaluable for understanding the amazingly diverse world of soil microbiology, managing agricultural and environmental systems, and formulating environmental policy.