Groundbreaking studies have shown that an absence of certain of microbes in children may be at the root of some of the most prevalent childhood ailments. Written by two experts in the field, this book takes on our oversanitized culture, from pregnancy to birth to early childhood, and explains how we can have a healthier relationship with our microbes.

Through four editions, Lactic Acid Bacteria: Microbiological and Functional Aspects, has provided readers with information on the how's and why's lactic acid-producing fermentation improves the storability, palatability, and nutritive value of perishable foods. Thoroughly updated and fully revised, with 12 new chapters, the Fifth Edition covers regulatory aspects globally, new findings on health effects, properties and stability of LAB as well as production of target specific LAB. The new edition also addresses the technological use of LAB in various fermentations of food, feed and beverage, and their safety considerations. It features the detailed description of the main genera of LAB as well as such novel bacteria as fructophilic LAB and novel probiotics and discusses such new targets as cognitive function, metabolic health, respiratory health and probiotics. Key Features: In 12 new chapters, findings are presented on health effects, properties and stability of LAB as well as production of target specific LAB Covers such novel bacteria as fructophilic LAB and novel probiotics Presents new discoveries related to the mechanisms of lactic acid bacterial metabolism and function Covers the benefits of LAB, both in fermentation of dairy, cereal, meat, vegetable and silage, and their health benefits on humans and animals Discusses the less-known role of LAB as food spoilers Covers the global regulatory framework related to safety and efficacy

This handbook is devoted to the mass production of microalgae, and in my part, is based on some 10 years of experience in growing and studying microalgal cultures maintained at high polulation densities under laboratory conditions and in outdoor ponds

Handbook of Microbial Iron Chelates emphasizes the various microbial compounds and synthetic analogues functioning as siderophores in microbes and as potential drugs in human iron metabolism. There are chapters describing the isolation, chemical characterization, synthesis and physicochemical properties of microbial iron chelates. Other chapters deal with the physiology and genetics of transport and receptors involved in iron uptake. Chemists, biologists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and medical doctors interested in the general aspects of iron metabolism, siderophores, receptors, and iron complex formation should consider this book a rich information source.

The Purpose of this book is to provide a helpful reference for invertebrate pathologist, virologists, and electron microscopists on invertebrate viruses. Investigators from around the world have shared their expertise in order introduce scientists to the exciting advances in invertebrate virology.

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.

Microbial Inoculants: Recent Progress and Applications fulfills the need to explore and learn about an efficient delivery mechanism, selection of microbial strain as inoculants, and related technological advances for the efficient and productive use of microbial inoculants. Moreover, factors like methods of formulation, interaction between host plant and microbe, impact of inoculation on the metabolomics of plants, the effect of microbial inoculants on soil dynamics, proteomics approach of plant-microbe interaction, as well as the registration and regulation process of bio inoculants for commercial production are described by leading academicians and researchers from different parts of the world in this comprehensive book. In the recent past, beneficial microorganisms have been sustainably used in agriculture as a safe, economic and effective alternative to chemical fertilizers or pesticides. These beneficial microbes, including bacteria, actinomycetes, and yeast were efficiently applied in soil, seeds, fruits, or plants as inoculants, to achieve the optimum agricultural yield. An efficient delivery method or enhanced shelf life of microbial inoculants in the soil or seed is still a matter of concern.

Imagine that we had some way to look directly at the molecules in a living organism. An x-ray microscope would do the trick, or since we re dreaming, perhaps an Asimov-style nanosubmarine (unfortunately, neither is currently feasible). Think of the wonders we could witness firsthand: antibodies atta- ing a virus, electrical signals racing down nerve fibers, proteins building new strands of DNA. Many of the questions puzzling the current cadre of sci- tists would be answered at a glance. But the nanoscale world of molecules is separated from our everyday world of experience by a daunting million-fold difference in size, so the world of molecules is completely invisible. I created the illustrations in this book to help bridge this gulf and allow us to see the molecular structure of cells, if not directly, then in an artistic rendition. I have included two types of illustrations with this goal in mind: watercolor paintings which magnify a small portion of a living cell by one million times, showing the arrangement of molecules inside, and comput- generated pictures, which show the atomic details of individual molecules. In this second edition of The Machinery of Life, these illustrations are presented in full color, and they incorporate many of the exciting scientific advances of the 15 years since the first edition."

A critical account of the available techniques for the in vitro cultivation of parasitic helminths (Trematoda, Cestoda, Nematoda, and Acanthocephala), concentrating on those which have been reasonably successful and can be used for teaching or research purposes. In addition to describing basic techn

A Complete Guidebook on Biofilm Study has emphasized the biofilm-related issues in the present context related to research and development. For this purpose, experimental design and relevant experimental protocols for the biofilm studies have been highlighted here. In addition to that, inhibitors from natural or synthetic sources against microbial biofilm development have been addressed. This approach has been further substantiated by bioinformatics as well as nanotechnology-based reports. Both, the image processing related to biofilm study and the characters of substratum associated with biofilm development have also been included for a better understanding of the beginners in this field. Further, how biofilm helps and/or hampers in food processing and waste management system, that discussion has been considered in this book. Similarly, human benefits from biofilm and reverse of it have also been included considering host-pathogen interaction, immunity aspects, and others.

Oncogenic Viruses: Fundamentals of Oncoviruses provides an overview of the history of human oncoviruses, how to discover and define an oncovirus, how viruses cause cancer in general, their oncogenic mechanisms and epidemiology, and the cancer biology of oncoviruses. The book is organized into five main parts that include history and discovery of virus-tumor complications, taxonomy and classification of oncoviruses, oncoviruses around the world, including epidemiology statistics and current methods. Finally, the book looks at the molecular epidemiology of DNA and RNA viruses and their role in the pathogenesis of human cancers.

Fundamentals of Viroid Biology provides a comprehensive introduction to emerging research on viroids and their biology. The book is organized into three parts, with sections that discuss historical perspectives as well as information on classifications, structure, life cycle and replication and viroid movement. The book goes on to discuss viroid diseases and their geographic distributions across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North and South America. Viroid pathogenesis and viroid-host interaction rounds out the coverage which includes viroid associated disease symptoms and viroid regions associated and viroid-host protein and translations. Detection and disease control strategies are also covered. Contributed by an international group of renown contributors in viroid research, this book is a useful introductory reference to advanced undergraduates and graduate and postgraduate students. It is also ideal for early career researchers and scientists engaged in the study of viroid biology, virology, plant virology and microbiology.

BIOS Instant Notes in Microbiology, Fourth Edition, is the perfect text for undergraduates looking for a concise introduction to the subject, or a study guide to use before examinations. Each topic begins with a summary of essential facts-an ideal revision checklist-followed by a description of the subject that focuses on core information, with clear, simple diagrams that are easy for students to understand and recall in essays and exams. BIOS Instant Notes in Microbiology, Fourth Edition, is fully up-to-date and covers: * The Microbial World * Systematics * Microbiology * Microbial Growth * Microbial Metabolism * Prokaryotic DNA and RNA Metabolism * Industrial Microbiology * Eukaryotic Microbes: An Overview * The Fungi and Related Phyla * Archaeplastida, Excavata, Chromalveolata and Amoebozoa * The Viruses

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.

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.

Microbes bear a great potential for their biotechnological applications. Without microbes biotechnology would be a limited science. In recent years, the scope of application and significance of microbiology has enlarged manifold. They are being employed since several decades for large-scale production of a variety of biochemicals ranging from alcohols to organic chemicals, antibiotics, enzymes and in processing of foods and feeds, etc. The book MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: Methods and Applications covers an amazing range of topics from microbiology and their biotechnological applications in the field of industry, agriculture, food, pharmaceutics, medicine, environment etc. contributed by eminent subject experts, academicians, researchers and scientists from India and Abroad. This book would cater to the need of the graduate and post graduate students pursuing their study in any branch of life-sciences, researchers and scientists working in the laboratories and industries involved in the study and research in the field of microbes and their biotechnological applications. Preface / Production of Pyruvic Acid, 2-keto Acids and Chiral 2-hydroxy Acids using Glycolate Oxidase and Catalase Co-expressed in Pichia pastoris / Application of Immobilized Microbial Cells for Enzyme Production with Special Reference to Tannase / Utilization of Algal Biomass as Biofuels / Microbial Degradation of Caffeine, Methylxanthines and Its Biotechnological Applications / Bacillus thuringiensis: Biodiversity to Biotechnology / Agrobacterium tumefaciens: A Powerful Tool for Transkingdom Transfer of Genetic Materials / An Overview on Microbial Biocontrol for a Sustainable Horticultural Practice / Mushroom Glucan as Biological Response Modifier in Therapy / In silico Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets in Pathogens An Overview / Microbial Studies to Establish Possible Biocompatible Coatings of Ferrofluids, Synthesized Biomimetically, for Biomedical Applica

Microbial Biofilms: Omics Biology, Antimicrobials and Clinical Implications is a comprehensive survey of microbial biofilms and their role in human health and disease with contributions from world renowned experts in molecular microbiology, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics and infectious diseases. The book is intended to serve as a guide for students, as well as a reference for researchers, clinicians and industry professionals. The chapters cover bacterial and fungal microbiomes, and the latest omics techniques organized in a clear and up-to-date manner. One of the highlights of this book is the comprehensive information on "omics of microbial biofilms". The chapters dedicated to metagenomics, proteomics and metabolomics are designed to provide a simple and holistic review of the current knowledge and, the applications of these techniques in the field of microbial biofilms. In addition to introductory chapters on microbial biofilms and their clinical implications, subsequent chapters delve into oral biofilms, their composition, and metagenomic diversity. Thereafter, mechanisms of drug resistance in microbial biofilms are reviewed, as well as the proteomic and metabolomic characterization of this resistance. The book includes a comprehensive discussion of persister cells and host-microbial interactions on mucosal surfaces. Finally, the book concludes with a summary of novel therapeutic approaches for biofilms such as synbiotics and biogenics.

Advances in Applied Microbiology, Volume 122 continues the comprehensive reach of this widely read and authoritative review source in microbiology. Users will find invaluable references and information on a variety of areas relating to the topic of microbiology. This release includes updates on BioMateriOME: to understand microbe-material interactions within sustainable, living architectures.

Apart from malaria, schistosomiasis is the most prevalent parasitic infection in the world. It affects more than 200 million people in 76 tropical and subtropical countries, causing great suffering and resulting in thousands of deaths. Written by world authorities, this book examines many aspects of the biology, pathology, and control of the schistosoma parasite. Ranging in topic from infection in Pharaonic Egypt, through DNA relationships and biological systems, to advances in development of vaccines against the parasite, this book is a comprehensive text written for researchers and medical professionals alike.

Advances in geomicrobiology have progressed at an accelerated pace in recent years. Ehrlich's Geomicrobiology, Sixth Edition surveys various aspects of the field, including the microbial role in elemental cycling and in the formation and degradation of minerals and fossil fuels. Unlike the fifth edition, the sixth includes many expert contributors besides the editors, providing added depth to each topic and broadening this edition's overall insight into geomicrobiology. The Sixth Edition Includes: Extensive revisions and updates to most chapters from the fifth edition A new chapter on terrestrial subsurface ecosystems A new chapter summarizing important principles of geomicrobiology New discussions and references on the latest findings and theories in geomicrobiology Through revisions, updates, and the introduction of new authors who are specialists on the topics covered, this new edition is the most in-depth and current overview of geomicrobiology. The research presented has applications in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, marine science, the metals industry, and more. The new breadth and scope as well as the current and developing applications which this book addresses make it a must-have source in geomicrobiology.

This new edition of Fungi in Ecosystem Processes continues the unique approach of examining the roles of fungi from the perspective of ecosystem functions. It explores how fungi have adapted to survive within particular constraints, how they help to maintain homeostasis in ecosystems, how they facilitate resistance to perturbations, and how they influence the communities of other organisms. Updated and revised, the second edition Expands the section on plant pathogens, invasive species, and insect-fungal interactions Provides more extensive coverage on insect-fungal interactions, including entomopathogens, the links between entomopathogens and endophytes, and symbiotic and mutualistic interactions Adds a new section on fungi in the built environment Presents new material on below-ground to above-ground interactions mediated through fungi, such as mycorrhizal signaling systems for herbivory defense The book also includes expanded coverage of the role of fungi in suppressive soils, aquatic and marine fungi, modern methods of following food chains in fungal-invertebrate trophic interactions, and the physiology of nutrient uptake by mycorrhizae. A necessary update and expansion to previous material, this book provides an essential reference on the current understanding of fungal roles in ecosystem processes. It also identifies directions for future study, including an emphasis on the need for further research on fungi in built environments.

This book is divided into three thematic areas. The first covers a revision of the taxonomy of algae, based on the algae portal, as well as the general aspects of biology and the methodologies used in this branch of marine biology. The second subject area focuses on the use of algae in environmental assessment, with an intensive implementation in Western economies and some emerging economies. The third topic is the potential use of algae in various industries including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agricultural fertilizers, and the emerging biofuels industries.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every corner of the world, changing our relationship to our communities, to our jobs, and to each other, the most pressing question has been-when will it end? Researchers around the globe are urgently trying to answer this question by racing to test and distribute a vaccine that could end the greatest public health threat of our time. In How to Make a Vaccine, an expert who has firsthand experience developing vaccines tells an optimistic story of how three hundred years of vaccine discovery and a century and a half of immunology research have come together at this powerful moment-and will lead to multiple COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. John Rhodes draws on his experience as an immunologist, including working alongside a young Anthony Fauci, to unravel the mystery of how vaccines are designed, tested, and produced at scale for global deployment. Concise and accessible, this book describes in everyday language how the immune system evolved to combat infection, how viruses responded by evolving ways to evade our defenses, and how vaccines do their work. That history, and the pace of current research developments, make Rhodes hopeful that multiple vaccines will protect us. Today the complex workings of the immune system are well understood. The tools needed by biomedical scientists stand ready to be used, and more than 160 vaccine candidates have already been produced. But defeating COVID-19 won't be the end of the story: Rhodes describes how discoveries today are also empowering scientists to combat future threats to global health, including a recent breakthrough in the development of genetic vaccines, which have never before been used in humans. As the world prepares for a vaccine, Rhodes offers a current and informative look at the science and strategies that deliver solutions to the crisis.

Toxins and Biologically Active Compounds from Microalgae: Volume 2: Biological Effects and Risk Management is devoted to the effects toxic microalgae and their poisonous products exert on living systems and how they may affect human activities. The most advanced information regarding the molecular mechanisms of action of major groups of toxins is presented, to frame for the description of toxic responses found in living systems exposed to microalgal toxins. Accounts of the recognized environmental effects of harmful algal blooms and the existing therapeutic applications of some toxins have been included. The picture is completed by the description of current initiatives to manage the risks posed by toxic microalgae, including strategies for the detoxification of contaminated seafood and the efforts to use most advanced informatic tools for the development of models for robust predictions regarding the appearance and the dynamics of harmful algal blooms. The complexity of risk management in the field is presented from a global perspective by highlighting major issues approached in world regions whose economic importance with regard to the production and commercialization of seafood is undeniable.

The environmentally oriented specialties of microbiology are in the midst of a major paradigm shift from a focus on single or a few key microbial species to consideration of the entirety of the microbial community and its interactions. This fully revised and updated edition focuses on the importance of soil microbial communities to sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems and solutions to global problems. Basic principles are covered, and details of the finer points of processes and their implications have been updated. This is a one-of-a-kind reference for advanced students and professionals.