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.

Freshwater Microbiology: Perspectives of Bacterial Dynamics in Lake Ecosystems provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of microbial ecology in lakes. It offers basic information on how well the bacterial community composition varies along the spatio-temporal and trophic gradients along with the evaluation of the bioindicator species of bacteria so as to act as a key to predict the trophic status of lake ecosystems. The book helps to identify the factors of potential importance in structuring the bacterial communities in lakes as it delves into the dynamics and diversity of bacterial community composition in relation to various water quality parameters. It helps to identify the possibility of bioremediation plans and devising future policy decisions, with better conservation and management practices.

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.

Advances in Virus Research, Volume 113 in this ongoing serial, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors. Sections cover RNA modifications in viruses and virus infected cells, RNA silencing suppression, Animal models of alphavirus infection, and Enterovirus entry and spread.

Our world is built on an invisible one we are barely beginning to understand. In The Hidden Half of Nature, geologist David R. Montgomery and biologist Anne Bikle argue that Earth's smallest creatures-microbes-could fundamentally change how we grow food, what we eat and how we practise medicine. The Hidden Half of Nature shares Montgomery and Bikle's efforts to turn a barren patch of ground into a flourishing garden, and Bikle's struggle with cancer. Taking readers deep into the science and history of agriculture and immunology, they show that microbes can provide powerful solutions to the problems plaguing modern agriculture as well as our own bodies. A spellbinding story, The Hidden Half of Nature reveals how we can restore fertility to the land and defeat chronic diseases.

How complex systems theory sheds new light on the adaptive dynamics of viral populations Viruses are everywhere, infecting all sorts of living organisms, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammals. Many are harmful parasites, but viruses also play a major role as drivers of our evolution as a species and are essential regulators of the composition and complexity of ecosystems on a global scale. This concise book draws on complex systems theory to provide a fresh look at viral origins, populations, and evolution, and the coevolutionary dynamics of viruses and their hosts. New viruses continue to emerge that threaten people, crops, and farm animals. Viruses constantly evade our immune systems, and antiviral therapies and vaccination campaigns can be powerless against them. These unique characteristics of virus biology are a consequence of their tremendous evolutionary potential, which enables viruses to quickly adapt to any environmental challenge. Ricard Sole and Santiago Elena present a unified framework for understanding viruses as complex adaptive systems. They show how the application of complex systems theory to viral dynamics has provided new insights into the development of AIDS in patients infected with HIV-1, the emergence of new antigenic variants of the influenza A virus, and other cutting-edge advances. Essential reading for biologists, physicists, and mathematicians interested in complexity, Viruses as Complex Adaptive Systems also extends the analogy of viruses to the evolution of other replicators such as computer viruses, cancer, and languages.

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Microbial Genes Biochemistry and Applications consolidates the most widely used genetic methods available, bringing together the fields of biochemistry, biotechnology, and microbiology. The chapters outlined give clear and concise direction on both standard and applied microbial genetic improvements, presenting undergraduates, postgraduates, and researchers with the latest developments in microbial gene technology. In addition, the book describes the background and usefulness of each experiment in question. All chapters covered in the book are derived from current peer-reviewed literature as accepted by the international scientific community.

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.

Viral Polymerases: Structures, Functions and Roles as Antiviral Drug Targets presents in-depth study information on the structure and functions of polymerases and their roles in the lifecycle of viruses, and as drug targets. Viral polymerases constitute a vital component in the lifecycle of many viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis viruses, influenza virus, and several others. They are essentially required for the replication of viruses. Thus, the polymerases that can be found in viruses (called viral polymerases) represent favorable targets for the design and development of antiviral drugs.

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.

Treatment and Reuse of Sewage Sludge: An Innovative Approach for Wastewater Treatment: Developments in Waste Water Treatment Research and Processes series, focuses on the exploitation of various treatment technologies and their use to treat sewage sludge to detoxify/stabilize toxic and hazardous contaminants and restore contaminated sites, which lacks in a more comprehensive manner in currently existing titles on similar topics. The book includes current beneficial sludge utilization practices such as land application, energy recovery, use as an alternative fuel source, use as a construction material and resource recovery from sewage sludge using emerging technologies. In addition, the book includes numerous current and advanced sewage sludge treatment and reuse technologies and associated microbes to effectively treat and manage hazardous industrial wastes/or wastewater pollutants for environmental safety, sustainability and public health protection. The book is a reference for all researchers working in the field of environmental engineering, bioengineering, waste management, and related fields.

Advances in Applied Microbiology, Volume 104, 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, with this updated volume including chapters covering Cold Shock Responses in Salmonella, Microbial Processes in Geotechnical Engineering, Microbial Diversity and Functional Analysis, The Mycosphere and Turnover of Contaminants, and the Enhancement of Metallosphaera Sedula Bioleaching by Targeted Recombination and Adaptive Laboratory Evolution.

Retrovirus-Cell Interactions provides an up-to-date review of the interactions between retroviruses and the cells they infect, offering a comprehensive understanding of how retroviruses hijack cellular factors to facilitate virus replication. Drugs targeting viral enzymes have been developed to treat HIV; the next challenge is to inhibit virus-cell interactions as next generation treatment strategies. Organized according to the retrovirus' replication cycle, this book does not focus exclusively on HIV, but rather includes important findings in other retroviral systems, including animal retroviruses, retrotransposons, and endogenous retroelements to allow broad comparisons on important commonalities and differences.

The 11th Hour Series of revision guides have been designed for quick reference.
The organisation of these books will involve students actively in the learning process and reinforcement of concepts. At the end of each chapter there will be a test including multiple choice questions, true/false questions and short answer questions, every answer will involve an explanation. Each book will contain icons in the text indicating additional support on a dedicated web-page.

Students having difficulties with their courses will find this an excellent way to raise their grades.
Clinical correlations or everyday applications include examples from the real world to help students understand key concepts more readily.
Dedicated web page, there 24 hours a day, will give extra help, tips, warnings of trouble spots, extra visuals and more.
A quick check on what background students will need to apply helps equip them to conquer a topic.
The most important information is highlighted and explained, showing the big picture and eliminating the guesswork.
After every topic and every chapter, lots of opportunity for drill is provided in every format, multiple choice, true/false, short answer, essay.
An easy trouble spot identifier demonstrates which areas need to be reinforced and where to find information on them.
Practice midterms and finals prep them for the real thing.

Microalgae are a diverse set of eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms with great potential for being used to produce various high-value molecules. Using synthetic biology to manipulate and control the metabolic processes of microalgae, scientists hope to find economical and sustainable alternatives for commercial production of high value biochemicals and other metabolites for diverse applications. Highlighting the immense potential of microalgae as a renewable and sustainable source of commercially important, high-value biomolecules, this book covers the recent advances in the resources, tools, and techniques used for genetic engineering of microalgae. Also discussed are the legislative challenges associated with genetically engineered microalgae, their derived products and their uses, as well as socio-economic and environmental acceptance. Written to be accessible to a wide audience, this book will be a useful reference to students and researchers from both academia and industry, as well as policy makers, for understanding the current status, trends and future possibilities of using microalgae for biotechnological applications.

Advances in Applied Microbiology, Volume 103, 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, with this updated volume including chapters on antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter species, microbial source tracking, modeling phage bacteria interactions, and bacterial anaerobic synthesis gas (syngas) and CO2 + H2 fermentation. Each eclectic volume in this series is supplemented by thematic volumes in areas such as Archaea and sick building syndrome.

Nitric Oxide and Other Small Signalling Molecules, Volume 72, the latest release in the Advances in Microbial Physiology series, continues the long tradition of topical, important, cutting-edge reviews in microbiology. The book contains updates in the field, with comprehensive chapters covering the Biochemistry of cysteine persulfides, NO signaling in yeast, The Inflammasome: Regulation of Nitric Oxide and Antimicrobial Host Defense, Nitric Oxide, aN Old molecule with NOble functions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biology, the Emerging roles of nitric oxide synthase in bacterial physiology, and Anaerobic bacterial response to nitrosative stress.

Functional Analysis of Bacterial Genes: A Practical Manual summarises the principles and the key methods used to analyse the function of genes in bacteria. Written by members of the Bacillus subtilis Functional Analysis Consortium, this book provides a guide to the many approaches for the systematic analysis of gene function.
Features include:

• In-depth discussion of the theory and application of the methods
• A step-by-step practical guide to each method
• Experimental examples to indicate expected results
• Contact information for suppliers and resource centres

Written by internationally recognised authors, Functional Analysis of Bacterial Genes: A Practical Manual will be a valuable resource to researchers and technicians using functional analysis for many bacterial species, whether in the academic departments of microbiology or genetics, the biotechnology, biomedicine or pharmaceutical industries, or other centres of genomics and bioinformatics.

"This volume, and the pioneering effort it represents, will be of interest not only to those of us who are specialists in B. subtilis but to all microbiologists and genome scientists who face the formidable task of uncovering the functions of the myriad uncharacterised genes that are emerging from large-scale sequencing." -Richard Losick , The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA