Invasive fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade there has been a concerted effort to develop reliable methods for the detection of such infections. In Fungal Diagnostics: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail the introduction of new technology into a diagnostic setting include ease of use, and rapid turnaround time without compromising sensitivity and specificity. Focusing specifically on fungal detection in clinical settings, fungal diagnostics including, environmental testing, agriculture and food production and veterinary diagnostics. 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, Fungal Diagnostics: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists into the further study of diagnostic and detection of fungi.

This volume gives the index of Volumes 25-47 as a handy reference to the contents. The series is aimed at virologists, microbiologists, immunologists, molecular biologists, pathologists, and plant researchers.

Macrolide Antibiotics: Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Practice, Second Edition explores the discovery of new macrolide antibiotics, their function, and their clinical use in diseases such as cancer, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and pneumonia. This book discusses the creation of synthetic macrolides and the mechanisms of antibiotic activity. The uses for antimicrobial macrolides in clinical practice are also covered. This book is designed to appeal to both the basic and applied research communities interested in microbiology, bacteriology, and antibiotic/antifungal research and treament.

Network-based representations have become pervasive in most fields in biology. Bacterial Molecular Networks: Methods and Protocols provides authoritative descriptions of various experimental and computational methods enabling the characterization and analysis of molecular interaction networks, with a focus on bacteria. Divided into three convenient sections, this volume provides extensive coverage of various experimental and in silico approaches aiming at the characterization of network components, addresses the presentation of computational approaches to analyze the topology of molecular networks, and further introduces a variety of methods and tools enabling scientists to generate qualitative or quantitative dynamical models of molecular processes in bacteria. 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 protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and accessible, Bacterial Molecular Networks: Methods and Protocols is intended primarily for post-graduate students and researchers working in the field of experimental and computational microbiology and provides a combination of up-to-date reviews along with detailed protocols written by the developers of bioinformatics resources, such as databases and software tools.

The bacterium Escherichia coli – E. coli for short – has long been the organism of choice for unraveling biochemical pathways, deciphering the genetic code, learning how DNA is replicated and read, and even for manufacturing proteins of commercial interest. For some thirty years, it also has been a model for studying the molecular biology of behavior. E. coli swims in a purposeful manner, propelled by long thin helical filaments, each driven at its base by a reversible rotary engine. As a microscopic organism immersed in an aqueous environment, it has mastered physical constraints utterly different from any that we know, devising sensors, comparators, and motors on the nanometer scale. This cross-disciplinary monograph describes these feats in a manner accessible to scientists, engineers, and others not trained in microbiology who would like to learn more about living machines. It treats the history of the subject, the physiology, physics, biochemistry and genetics, largely from first principles. It is all about a small but remarkably sophisticated friend who lives in your gut. Topics discussed include: How does E. coli move about? How do cells decide whether life is getting better or worse? What is the machinery that makes this behavior possible? How is the construction of this machinery programmed? How does this machinery work? What remains to be discovered?

This volume includes contributions by the leading experts in the field of yeast aging. Budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and other fungal organisms provide models for aging research that are relevant to organismic aging and to the aging processes occurring in the human body. Replicative aging, in which only the mother cell ages while the daughter cell resets the clock to zero is a model for the aging of stem cell populations in humans, while chronological aging (measured by survival in stationary phase) is a model for the aging processes in postmitotic cells (for instance, neurons of the brain). Most mechanisms of aging are studied in yeast. Among them, this book discusses: mitochondrial theories of aging, emphasizing oxidative stress and retrograde responses; the role of autophagy and mitophagy; the relationship of apoptosis to aging processes; the role of asymmetric segregation of damage in replicative aging; the role of replication stress; and the role of the cytoskeleton in aging. Modern methods of yeast genetics and genomics are described that can be used to search for aging-specific functions in a genome-wide unbiased fashion. The similarities in the pathology of senescence (studied in yeast) and of cancer cells, including genome instability, are examined.

This volume of Applied Mycology and Biotechnology completes the set of two volumes dedicated to the coverage of recent developments on the theme "Agriculture and Food Production." The first volume provided overview on fungal physiology, metabolism, genetics and biotechnology and highlighted their connection with particular applications to food production. The second volume examines various specific applications of mycology and fungal biotechnology to food production and processing. In the second volume coverage on two remaining areas of the theme, food crop production and applications in the foods and beverages sector, is presented.
The interdisciplinary and complex nature of the subject area, combined with the need to consider the sustainability of agri-food practices, its economics and industrial perspectives, requires a certain focus and selectivity of subjects. In this context the recent literature contained in this work will help readers arrive at comprehensive, in depth information on the role of fungi in agricultural food and feed technology.
As a professional reference this book is targeted towards agri-food producer research establishments, government and academic units. Teachers and students, both in undergraduate and graduate studies, in departments of food science, food technology, food engineering, microbiology, applied molecular genetics and biotechnology will also find this work useful.

This book describes cutting-edge science and technology of the characterization, breeding, and development of yeasts and fungi used worldwide in fermentation industries such as alcohol beverage brewing, bread making, and bioethanol production. The book also covers numerous topics and important areas the previous literature has missed, ranging widely from molecular mechanisms to biotechnological applications related to stress response/tolerance of yeasts and fungi. During fermentation processes, cells of yeast and fungus, mostly Saccharomyces and Aspergillus oryzae spp., respectively, are exposed to a variety of fermentation "stresses". Such stresses lead to growth inhibition or cell death. Under severe stress conditions, their fermentation ability and enzyme productivity are rather limited. Therefore, in terms of industrial application, stress tolerance is the key characteristic for yeast and fungal cells. The first part of this book provides stress response/tolerance mechanisms of yeast used for the production of sake, beer, wine, bread, and bioethanol. The second part covers stress response/tolerance mechanisms of fungi during environmental changes and biological processes of industrial fermentation. Readers benefit nicely from the novel understandings and methodologies of these industrial microbes. The book is suitable for both academic scientists and graduate-level students specialized in applied microbiology and biochemistry and biotechnology and for industrial researchers and engineers who are involved in fermentation-based technologies. The fundamental studies described in this book can be applied to the breeding of useful microbes (yeasts, fungi), the production of valuable compounds (ethanol, CO2, amino acids, organic acids, and enzymes) and the development of promising processes to solve environmental issues (bioethanol, biorefinery).

CRISPR/Cas is a recently described defense system that protects bacteria and archaea against invasion by mobile genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids. A wide spectrum of distinct CRISPR/Cas systems has been identified in at least half of the available prokaryotic genomes. On-going structural and functional analyses have resulted in a far greater insight into the functions and possible applications of these systems, although many secrets remain to be discovered.

In this book, experts summarize the state of the art in this exciting field.

Vaccines represent the greatest achievements of one area of science for increasing our health and well-being. This collection of papers represents the latest advances in bacterial vaccine research. The papers presented at this symposium illustrate the increasing potential and need for continuing research into disease pathogenesis, host resistance mechanisms, and vaccine development. Further, the study of bacterial vaccines provides an important method for characterizing pathogenic mechanisms and natural and induced host resistance mechanisms.

Predatory Prokaryotes focuses on the ecology of predation at the microbial level. It aims to increase the awareness of the great possibilities that predation between microbes offer for studying and discussing basic ecological and general biological concepts.

This volume contains chapters on the diversity, ecology and phylogeny of predatory prokaryotes, introducing models of predator prey interactions between microorganisms and presenting analyses of the impact of predation in microbial systems. Laboratory work with Bdellovibrio-and-like organisms (BALOs), the most studied predatory bacteria, is presented through accounts of the cultivation and the molecular techniques used for studying BALOs. A first comparative analysis of different BALO genomes is also provided. Further chapters discuss the chemotactic, regulatory and sensory circuits of these ubiquitous predatory bacteria. Finally, the unique biochemicals used as building blocks and new proteins found in BALO cell walls are reviewed."

One of the most exciting developments in the field of bacterial pathogenesis in recent years is the discovery that many pathogens utilize complex nanomachines to deliver bacterially encoded effector proteins into eukaryotic and prokaryotic target cells to modulate a variety of cellular functions for the pathogen's benefit. These protein-delivery machines include the type III secretion system (T3SS), which is widespread in nature and encoded not only by bacteria pathogenic to vertebrates or plants, but also by bacteria that are symbiotic to plants or insects. Because they are essential virulence factors for many important human pathogens, these systems are emerging as a prime target for the development of new-generation, anti-infective drugs. This book reviews our current understanding of these intriguing injection machines as well as of the closely related T3SS that serves in flagella assembly. Individual chapters focus on regulation, assembly, structure, and function of the type III secretion machine and on the evolution of the secreted effector proteins. Given its scope, this book will appeal to a broad readership, including researchers and teachers in the fields of infectious diseases, host pathogen interactions, plant and animal pathogenesis, and symbiosis.

"Corynebacterium glutamicum "was discovered in Japan in 1956 as a natural glutamate producer. Its microbial factory qualities, such as its physiological plasticity and robust catalytic functionalities, have since facilitated the development of efficient production processes for amino acids, nucleotides and vitamins.

This monograph illustrates how the information gleaned from complete genome sequencing allows the rational engineering of the entire cellular metabolism and how systems biology permits the further optimization of "C. glutamicum" as a biocatalyst. Aspects of gene regulation, metabolic pathways, sugar uptake, protein secretion, cell division and biorefinery applications highlight the enormous biotechnological and biorefinery potential. "

Clostridium difficile, a major nosocomial pathogen shown to be a primary cause of antibiotic-associated disease, has emerged as a highly transmissible and frequently antibiotic-resistant organism, causing a considerable burden on health care systems worldwide. In Clostridium difficile: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers bring together the most recently developed methods for studying the organism, including techniques involving isolation, molecular typing, genomics, genetic manipulation, and the use of animal models. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include brief introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes highlighting tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Clostridium difficile: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal guide for scientists now in a position to gain an in-depth understanding of how this organism is transmitted and how it causes disease.

"Laboratory Protocols in Fungal Biology" presents the latest techniques in fungal biology. This book analyzes information derived through real experiments, and focuses on cutting edge techniques in the field. The book comprises 57 chapters contributed from internationally recognised scientists and researchers. Experts in the field have provided up-to-date protocols covering a range of frequently used methods in fungal biology. Almost all important methods available in the area of fungal biology viz. taxonomic keys in fungi; histopathological and microscopy techniques; proteomics methods; genomics methods; industrial applications and related techniques; and bioinformatics tools in fungi are covered and complied in one book. Chapters include introductions to their respective topics, list of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting. Each chapter is self-contained and written in a style that enables the reader to progress from elementary concepts to advanced research techniques. "Laboratory Protocols in Fungal Biology" is a valuable tool for both beginner research workers and experienced professionals.

Coming Soon in the "Fungal Biology" series:

Goyal, Manoharachary / "Future Challenges in Crop Protection Against Fungal Pathogens"

Martin, Garcia-Estrada, Zeilinger / "Biosynthesis and Molecular Genetics of Fungal Secondary Metabolites"

Zeilinger, Martin, Garcia-Estrada / "Biosynthesis and Molecular Genetics of Fungal Secondary Metabolites, Volume 2"

van den Berg, Maruthachalam / "Genetic Transformation Systems in Fungi"

Schmoll, Dattenbock / "Gene Expression Systems in Fungi"

Dahms / "Advanced Microscopy in Mycology ""

Most of the Earth's biosphere is characterized by low temperatures. Vast areas (>20%) of the soil ecosystem are permanently frozen or are unfrozen for only a few weeks in summer. Permafrost regions occur at high latitudes and also at high ele- tions; a significant part of the global permafrost area is represented by mountains. Permafrost soils are of global interest, since a significant increase in temperature is predicted for polar regions. Global warming will have a great impact on these soils, especially in northern regions, since they contain large amounts of organic carbon and act as carbon sinks, and a temperature increase will result in a release of carbon into the atmosphere. Additionally, the intensified release of the clima- relevant tracer gas methane represents a potential environmental harzard. Significant numbers of viable microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, p- totrophic cyanobacteria and green algae, fungi and protozoa, are present in per- frost, and the characteristics of these microorganisms reflect the unique and extreme conditions of the permafrost environment. Remarkably, these microorg- isms have been reported to be metabolically active at subzero temperatures, even down to ?20 DegreesC.

The third edition of this volume expands upon the previous two editions with new and up-to-date methods and protocols. Chapters include step-by-step procedures involved in quantifying cell growth, baculovirus infection and cell metabolism, methods to isolate new cell lines and develop your own serum-free medium, and routine maintenance and storage of insect cell lines and baculoviruses, small- and large-scale recombinant protein production with the BEVS in both insect and mammalian cell culture and in insect larvae, production and characterization of baculoviruses, green fluorescent protein, tubular reactors and RNAi, and baculovirus/insect cell system to study apoptosis and generating envelop-modified baculovirus for gene delivery into mammalian cells. 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 key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Baculovirus and Insect Cell Expression Protocols, Third Edition aims to not only aid the user in successfully completing the tasks described, but also stimulate the development of improved techniques and new applications of baculoviruses and insect cell culture.

Soil microorganisms play a major role in the degradation and recycling of organic material. Microbes are involved in the food web and strongly contribute to soil fertility. In the past, attention was mainly directed towards free-living or particle-bound microorganisms, while the role of intestinal microbes of soil animals has been neglected.

For the first time, "Intestinal Microorganisms of Termites and Other Invertebrates" focuses on the microbes in gut systems of soil animals. It starts with a profound overview of the biology of soil invertebrates. A major part deals with the gut microbiota of termites, the best investigated gut system of invertebrates. Termites are important soil processors in tropical and subtropical regions. Insight is given into the intestinal microbiota of further relevant primary litter decomposers, such as earthworms, springtails, millipeds, and woodlice. Novel techniques for studying intestinal microbes complete the volume.

This new edition offers detailed overviews covering a wide area of fungal growth and reproduction on the mechanistic and molecular level. It includes 18 chapters by eminent scientists in the field and is - like the previous edition - divided into the three sections: Vegetative Processes and Growth, Signals in Growth and Development, and Reproductive Processes. Major topics of the first section include dynamic intracellular processes, apical growth, hyphal fusion, and aging. The second section analyses autoregulatory signals, pheromone action, and photomorphogenesis and gravitropism abiotic signals. The third section reveals details of asexual and sexual development in various fungal model systems, culminating in fruit body formation in basidiomycetes, which is a sector of growing economic potential. Since the publication of the first edition of this volume in 1994 and the second edition in 2006, the field of fungal biology has continued to expand thanks to improvements in omics technologies and the application of genetic tools to an increasing variety of fungal models. Several additional chapters by a new generation of fungal biologists discuss this diversity and guarantee lively reading.

Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems is a comprehensive book describing the basic processes of carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems, their contribution to carbon sequestration and implications for mitigating abrupt climate change. This book provides the information on processes, factors and causes influencing carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. Drawing upon most up-to-date references, this book summarizes the current understanding of carbon sequestration processes in forest ecosystems while identifying knowledge gaps for future research, Thus, this book is a valuable knowledge source for students, scientists, forest managers and policy makers.

First published in 1967, Advances in Microbial Physiology is one of Academic Press's most renowned and acclaimed series. The Editors have always striven to provide a diverse range of top-quality papers on all aspects of microbial physiology. Coverage of 'holistic' topics or whole cell studies such as ion fluxes, stress responses and motility have gone hand-in-hand with detailed biochemical analyses of individual transport systems, electron transport pathways and many aspects of metabolism.
Now edited by Professor Robert Poole, University of Sheffield, Advances in Microbial Physiology continues to publish topical and important reviews, interpreting physiology in its broadest context, to include all material that contributes to our understanding of how microorganisms and their component parts work.
In 1999, the Institute for Scientific Information released figures showing that the series has an Impact Factor of 5.35, with a half life of 8 years, placing it 5th in the highly competitive category of Microbiology; testimony to the high regard in which it is held.

Parasitic protozoa, including some which are agents of human and veterinary diseases, display special cytoplasmic structures and organelles. Metabolic pathways have been discovered in these organelles which open up new possibilities for drug targets. This work presents reviews dealing with cytoskeletal structures such as the mastigont system found in trichomonads, the sub-pellicular microtubules in trypanosomatids and the paraflagellar rod. Further chapters cover structures involved in the synthesis, secretion and uptake of molecules, including the flagellar pocket of trypanosomatids, the reservosome of Trypanosoma and the megasome found in Leishmania, the traffic of vesicles in Entamoeba histolytica, secretory organelles and the secretory events of intestinal parasites during encystation. Reviews on special organelles, such as the kinetoplast-mitochondrion complex, the apicoplast found in Apicomplexa, the glycosomes in Kinetoplastida and the acidocalcisomes found in several protozoa complete the volume.

Microbes play a major role in the degradation of various pollutants. Therefore, microbes find potential application in the area of energy and environmental technology. The book provides in-depth literature on the topics of environmental and industrial importance. It is compiled to explore the application of microbe used in the degradation of aflatoxin, polymers, biomass into fuel, disinfectants, food products, xenobiotic compounds, lipids, steroids, organic pollutants, proteins, oil waste, and wastewater pollutants. This book will be of interest to teachers, researchers, scientists, and capacity builders. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of microbiology and environmental sciences. National and international remediation and restoration scientists, policymakers will also find this to be a useful read.

This Volume features protocols for investigating the hydrocarbon- and lipid-specific activities of microbes. They include methods for studying chemotaxis, the colonisation of hydrocarbon surfaces, hydrocarbon uptake, respiration, nitrogen fixation, sulphate reduction, membrane stabilisation through cis-trans isomerisation of membrane fatty acids, and the production of biosurfactants and biopolymers in response to the presence of hydrocarbons. A protocol for studying the ability of microbes to control the concentration of hydrocarbons in their aqueous environment is also described, and phenotyping methods to reveal microbes' more general metabolic activities are presented. Several protocols for investigating acid production in connection with oil souring and biocorrosion by microbes in oil well, oil transportation and storage settings are presented. Lastly, protocols for measuring methanogenesis, as an example of microbial hydrocarbon production, are described.< Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology ProtocolsThere 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.