Advances in Microbial Physiology, Volume 83 in this ongoing serial, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors. Topics of interest in this update include RidA paradigm, Targeting the cell envelope to overcome antimicrobial resistance, Biosynthesis and function of microbial methylmenaquinones, Antibiotic efficacy, Role of central metabolism/bacterial physiology on tolerance to cell wall-acting antibiotics, and Physiology of diazotrophs.

Microbial biosurfactant compounds are a group of structurally diverse molecules produced by microorganisms, and are mainly categorized according to their chemical structure. The diversity of microbial biosurfactants makes them versatile and means that they offer a range of capabilities, while at the same time being economically sustainable. As such, they have potential applications in environmental processes, as well as in food, biomedicine and other industries. This book discusses innovative approaches and cutting-edge research that utilize the various properties of biosurfactants. Drawing on research from around the globe, it provides an up-to-date review of biosurfactant applications and their importance in fields such as medicine, gene therapy, immunotherapy, antimicrobial bioremediation and agriculture. It also discusses their anti-adhesive properties. The book will appeal to academics and researchers in the field of microbiology, as well as policymakers. It also serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences.

- The book discusses the recent techniques in NGS data analysis which is the most needed material by biologists (students and researchers) in the wake of numerous genomic projects and the trend toward genomic research. - The book includes both theory and practice for the NGS data analysis. So, readers will understand the concept and learn how to do the analysis using the most recent programs. - The steps of application workflows are written in a manner that can be followed for related projects. - Each chapter includes worked examples with real data available on the NCBI databases. Programming codes and outputs are accompanied with explanation. - The book content is suitable as teaching material for biology and bioinformatics students. Meets the requirements of a complete semester course on Sequencing Data Analysis Covers the latest applications for Next Generation Sequencing Covers data reprocessing, genome assembly, variant discovery, gene profiling, epigenetics, and metagenomics

Leading experts critically summarize the state of knowledge concerning the molecular, anatomical, physiological, and behavioral aspects of NPY and its congeners. Each article provides a comprehensive and in-depth survey, an overview of the role of NPY in the discipline covered, a discussion of the likely future direction that the field will take, and an up-to-date bibliography.
Chapters include a treatment of the evolution of the PP family of genes, the structure of the NPY gene, and the distribution of NPY on the cardiovascular system, actions of NPY on the electrophysiological properties of nerve cells, and the effects of NPY on feeding and behavior. The chapters are written in an accessible style and serve both as an introduction to the field and as an extensive and detailed treatment of the current state of knowledge.

This volume introduces different concepts and methods of detecting RNA in biological material in a variety of model systems. The chapters in this book discuss methods that will answer numerous biological questions that arise in the study of RNAs. Some of the topics covered in this book are single mRNA molecule detection in embryos and neurons; detection of mRNA and associated molecules by ISH-IEM on frozen sections; optimizing molecular beacons for intracellular analysis of RNA; imaging translation dynamics of single mRNA molecules in live cells; preparation of high-throughput sequencing libraries; and capturing RNA binding proteins in embryos and in cell-culture. 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. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, RNA Detection: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for novel and experiences scientist in the expanding field of RNAs.

This IMA Volume in Mathematics and its Applications MATHEMATICAL APPROACHES TO BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS is one of the two volumes based on the proceedings of the 1994 IMA Sum mer Program on "Molecular Biology" and comprises Weeks 3 and 4 of the four-week program. Weeks 1 and 2 appeared as Volume 81: Genetic Mapping and DNA Sequencing. We thank Jill P. Mesirov, Klaus Schulten, and De Witt Sumners for organizing Weeks 3 and 4 of the workshop and for editing the proceedings. We also take this opportunity to thank the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (National Center for Human Genome Research), the National Science Foundation (NSF) (Biological Instrumen tation and Resources), and the Department of Energy (DOE), whose fi nancial support made the summer program possible. A vner Friedman Robert Gulliver v PREFACE The revolutionary progress in molecular biology within the last 30 years opens the way to full understanding of the molecular structures and mech anisms of living organisms. Interdisciplinary research in mathematics and molecular biology is driven by ever growing experimental, theoretical and computational power. The mathematical sciences accompany and support much of the progress achieved by experiment and computation as well as provide insight into geometric and topological properties of biomolecular structure and processes. This volume consists of a representative sample of the papers presented during the last two weeks of the month-long Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications Summer 1994 Program in Molecular Biology."

Principles and Reactions of Protein Extraction, Purification, and Characterization provides the mechanisms and experimental procedures for classic to cutting-edge techniques used in protein extraction, purification, and characterization. The author presents the principles and reactions behind each procedure and uses tables to compare the different methods. The book also discusses the development of antibodies and immunochemical techniques as tools for characterizing proteins and modified proteins such as glycoproteins. Helpful illustrations, diagrams, and tables effectively transform theoretical concepts into practical knowledge. Along with methodical working procedures for most techniques, the book also offers useful advice on which technique to use and when to apply a particular method. Presenting the advantages and disadvantages of the various protein techniques, Principles and Reactions of Protein Extraction, Purification, and Characterization enables students and researchers to master the mechanisms behind the protocols and choose the best method for their purposes.

In response to the emergence of pathogenic bacteria that cannot be treated with current antibiotics, many researchers are revisiting the use of bacteriophages, or phages, to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. Bacteriophage as Antibiotics: Molecular Biology and Applications provides unparalleled, comprehensive information on bacteriophages and their applications, such as phage therapy. It offers techniques, media, and methodology involved in isolating and working with therapeutic phages. Photographs, line drawings, and electron micrographs of phages are also included. With its broad approach, this book is a useful reference for microbiologists, hematologists, and infectious disease researchers.

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

In recent years the most significant advances in carbohydrate research have been made in the knowledge of the structure and function of carbohydrates in the macromolecular state. This title addresses those areas of the subject in which the authors believe the most important work is being carried out.

Molecular Mechanisms of Sarcolemar Excitability: Ion Channels and Pumps in Cardiac Function; H.A. Fozzard, G. Lipkind Molecular Mechanisms of K+ Channel Blockade: 4Aminopyridine Interaction with a Cloned Cardiac Transient K+(Kv1.4) Channel; R.L. Rasmusson Integrative Models and Responses in Cardiac Ischemia; S. Horner, M.J. Lab Intracellular Calcium and Muscle Function-SR and Filaments: Sarcomere Function and Crossbridge Cycling; H.E.D.J. ter Keurs Crossbridge Dynamics in Muscle Contraction; A. Landesberg, et al. Mechanisms of the Frank-Starling Phenomena Studies in Intact Hearts; D. Burkhoff, et al. Molecular Manifestations of Cell Adaptation: Metabolic Oscillations in Heart Cells; B. O'Rourke, et al. Regulation of Adenosine Receptors in Cultured Heart Cells; D. ElAni, et al. Ventricular Remodeling in Heart Failure: The Role of Myocardial Collagen; J.S. Janicki, et al. Analysis and Modeling: From Microstructure to Macroperformance: Mechanisms of Endocardial Endothelium Modulation of Myocardial Performance; P. Mohan, et al. Vascular Gene Therapy; M.Y. Flugelman Closure: Toward Modeling the Human Physionome; J.B. Bassingthwaighte 20 additional articles. Index.

Biofilms, Volume 53 in the ongoing Methods in Microbiology series, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics, including Monospecies and polymicrobial biofilms in static and flow environment, Methods used to study biofilms, Spatial analysis of bacterial biofilms, Biofilm grown in bioreactors, Single-cell analysis of subpopulations within biofilms using microscopy, flow cytometry, and imaging flow cytometry, Microscopy analysis of biofilm-mineral interactions or mineral formation within biofilms, Bacterial biofilms as an essential component of rhizosphere plant-microbe interactions, Studying Gene Expression in Biofilms, and more.

Many, if not all, essential biological processes require selective interactions between proteins. Complex signaling systems require sequential, ordered protein-protein interactions at essentially all levels of the signaling cascade. For example, peptide hormones interact with selective membrane receptor proteins, and autophosphorylation of the receptor then recruits other key regulatory proteins that initiate kinase cascades in which each phosphorylation event requires selective recognition of the protein substrate. The ultimate signaling effect, in many cases, is the regulation of RNA polymerase II-directed transcr- tion in the nucleus, a process that involves numerous, multiprotein complexes important for transcription initiation, elongation, termination, and reinitiation. Defining, characterizing, and understanding the relevance of these protein- protein interactions is an arduous task, but substantial inroads have been made over the past 20 years. The development of more recent methodologies, such as mammalian expression systems, immunopurification schemes, expression cloning strategies, surface plasmon resonance (BiaCore), and nanosequencing technologies, has contributed a wealth of new insights into these complex multiprotein mechanisms and clearly accelerated the discovery process. Arguably, the yeast two-hybrid system has been one of the predominant and most powerful tools in this discovery process.

Ionizing Radiation and the Immune Response, Part B, Volume 378 reviews the latest knowledge on the immune response induced by ionizing radiations. Specific chapters in this new release include NK functions in radio-induced immune response, TRT and immune response, Radio-induced immune response and lipid metabolism, Effect of protons and heavy ions on immune response, Effect of flash therapy and mini beam on immune response, Radio-induced lymphopenia, CT to potentiate radio-induced immune response, Impact of RT on healthy tissues (inflammation), Radio-induced macrophagic response, To use nanoparticles and ionizing radiations to modulate immune response: opinion of the chemist, biologist and clinician, and much more. Other sections cover the Role of Dendritic cells in radiation-induced immune response, the Relationship between the tumor microenvironment and the efficacy of the radiotherapy/immunotherapy combination, and Biomarkers of radiation induced response to optimize radio-immunotherapy combination.

Senescence, Senotherapeutics and Mitochondria, Volume 136 offers updates on this unique topics, with chapters covering Cellular Senescence in Aging: Molecular Basis, Implications and Therapeutic Interventions, Mitochondria-associated Cellular Senescence Mechanisms: Biochemical and Pharmacological Perspectives, Mitochondria in cell senescence: Friend or Foe?, The role of mitochondria and mitophagy in cell senescence, Small molecules targeting mitochondrial dysfunction for potential senotheraputics, Senolytic and senomorphic interventions to defy senescence-associated mitochondrial dysfunction, Mitochondrial targeting peptides and probes, Mitochondria-derived peptides in healthy ageing and therapy of age-related diseases, and much more. Other sections cover Targeting of mitostasis-proteostasis axis by antioxidant polysaccharides in neurodegeneration, Phytotherapeutic targeting of the mitochondria in neurodegenerative disorders, Melatonin as mitochondria-targeted drugs, Coenzyme Q-related compounds to maintain healthy mitochondria during aging, Changing ROS, NAD and AMP: a path to longevity via mitochondrial therapeutics, and more.

This detailed volume presents timely and authoritative content offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in fungal diagnostics. Moreover, it addresses on-going developments expected to provide a basis for targeted treatment strategies resulting in improved outcome of invasive mycoses. The knowledge of host-related predisposing factors and stratified treatment options facilitating timely onset of adequate antifungal therapy are critical for successful clinical management and outcome of invasive fungal disease (IFD), requiring not only rapid diagnosis of a fungal infection and identification of the causative species, but also assessment of pathogen/host factors related to pathogenicity, susceptibility, and response to treatment. 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 protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Human Fungal Pathogen Identification: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal reference for researchers investigating the ever-growing worldwide healthcare problems involving fungal infections.

Few, if any, genes have had the same level of impact on the field of evolutionary-developmental biology (evo-devo) as the Hox genes. These genes are renowned for their roles in patterning the body plans and development of the animal kingdom. This is complemented by the distinctive organisation of these genes in the genome, with them frequently being found as clusters in which gene position is linked to when and where the individual genes are expressed, particularly during embryogenesis. This book provides the latest overviews of Hox gene organisation and function for major clades of animals from across the animal kingdom. With the rapidly increasing availability of high-quality whole genome sequences from an ever-expanding range of species, it is becoming increasingly evident that there is great diversity in the organisation of Hox genes. These great strides in genome sequencing are wedded to important developments in our ability to detect expression and disrupt gene function in species that are not traditionally genetically-amenable animals. These technical developments are integrated with wide taxon-sampling in this volume to provide new perspectives on the roles of Hox genes in understanding fundamental issues such as embryo patterning, mechanisms of gene regulation, homology, evolvability, evolutionary novelties, phylogeny, the role of gene and genome duplications in evolution, and ancestral states for major clades of animals. Key features Integrative overviews from major animal groups including, arthropods, vertebrates, echinoderms, mollusks and other spiralians. Perspectives gleaned from the latest genome sequence and gene expression data. Individual chapters written by world-leading experts in Hox genes and evo-devo in each animal group. Related Titles Scholtz, G., ed. Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Crustacea (ISBN 978-9-0580-9637-1) Mattick, J. & P. Amaral. RNA, The Epicenter of Genetic Information (ISBN 978-0-3675-6778-1) Bard, J. Evolution: The Origins and Mechanisms of Diversity (ISBN 978-0-3673-5701-6)

At the heart of most high-throughput methods is the technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This book focuses on primer design, which is critical to both the efficiency and the accuracy of the PCR. With intricate descriptions of basic approaches as well as specialized methods, "PCR Primer Design" is an exceptional reference for all those involved in studying the genome.

"Molecular Sieves - Science and Technology" will cover, in a comprehensive manner, the science and technology of zeolites and all related microporous and mesoporous materials. Authored by renowned experts, the contributions will be grouped together topically in such a way that each volume of the book series will be dealing with a specific sub-field. Volume 2 covers both the description of the various, complementary techniques for structure determination of microporous and mesoporous matter and their applications illustrated by a large number of pertinent examples. It also deals with general aspects of structures and structure distortions of microporous materials. In summary, Volume 2 provides the researchers in the field of zeolites and related materials with the indispensable knowledge of the great potential of modern methods for structure analysis.

Diet-Brain Connections fills a void between the fields of nutrition, behavior and cellular and molecular neurosciences by providing an integrated collection of articles that critically dissect the link between what we eat and how the brain develops and functions in health and disease.
Key topics covered in depth include:

-caloric restriction benefit the brain and retard aging;
-effects of dietary antioxidants on brain function and aging;
-developmental and function consequences of different dietary fatty acids;
-biochemical links between dietary folic acid and psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders;
-effects of nutritional deficit during early development and behavior disorders later in life; -neurochemical basis of the benefits of widely used dietary supplements including creatine and Gingko biloba;
-contribution of dietary toxins such as metals and pesticides to neurological disorders.This book provides an unprecedented resource for scientists in academia and government labs as well as in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and food industries.

This book contains the proceedings of the first meeting on invertebrate immunity ever sponsored as a summer research conference by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). The conference was held in Copper Mountain, CO from July 11-16, 1999. It was a an extension of a New York Academy of Sciences meeting entitled "Primordial Immunity: Foundations for the Vertebrate Immune System" held on May 2-5,1993 at the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, MA. The proceedings of that meeting were published in The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (volume 712). At that meeting all the attendes agreed that this type of conference (a relatively small focused gathering) allowed for participation by investigators at all levels of their careers. We further agreed that we should search for a forum that would allow this meeting to continue. The FASEB Summer Research Conference was an excellent vehicle for this type of meeting. Furthermore, this year's participants decided to continue this meeting as a regularly scheduled FASEB sponsored event. This was a unique conference in the sense that it focused upon mechanisms of development and defense in protostome and deuterostome invertebrates and lower vertebrates. There was a strong emphasis on evolutionary cell biology, phylogenetic inferences and the evolution of recognition and regulatory systems.

The purpose of Calpain Methods and Protocols is quite straightf- ward: it is to present the actual experimental methods used in many different laboratories for the study of calpain. It will provide the vital experimental detail, and the discussion of possible pitfalls, for which the standard journals no longer provide space. This will make it as easy as possible for investi- tors interested in calpain to adopt established methods without repeating old mistakes, and to adapt and apply these methods in novel approaches to the many outstanding calpain questions. These questions range from purely biochemical problems of protein structure and enzyme regulation at the molecular level, through large areas of cell biology, to applied and clinical aspects of calpain function in human d- ease. Within this panoply of topics, a wide range of investigators will find many fascinating and as yet unanswered questions about calpain. Calpain Methods and Protocols will provide instant access to many essential te- niques, while saving them the time and effort involved in developing a new method. In addition to questions relating to the normal physiological roles of the calpains, there is considerable evidence that inappropriate calpain activity may have pathological effects in many tissues, for example, following ischemia. This provides a major stimulus for the development of specific calpain inhi- tors for therapeutic purposes, and for the development of methods to evaluate such inhibitors.

Hormones, Fourth Edition provides a report on the field of human hormones viewed in light of our current understanding of cellular and subcellular architecture, along with the molecular details of their modes of action. Comprehensive information about hormone action on canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways at cellular and subcellular level and effects on architecture and function of organ systems are discussed. All chapters in this new edition have been completely updated to cover advances in endocrinology research, which has expanded significantly in the last few years. Vast coverage of hormones not previously covered and newly discovered aspects of hormone action are also included. This new fourth edition is intended to be used by advanced undergraduates and graduate students in the biological sciences. It will also provide useful background information for health professionals, clinicians and researchers in the field of endocrinology, metabolism and biochemistry.

Serotonin (5-HT) was isolated and chemically characterized nearly four decades ago, and is now generally accepted to function as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulatory agent. Early research focused on the measurement of concentrations, synthesis, and metabolism of 5-HT, and only recently has the focus shifted to characterization of 5-HT receptors. Gaddum and Picarelli first sug gested in 1957 that the effect of 5-HT in the guinea pig ileum is mediated by two pharmacologically distinguishable receptors; however, the possibility of dual5-HT receptors was not explored systematically or successfully until the past decade. It is now clear that more, perhaps many more, subclasses of 5-HT receptors exist. The purpose of this book is to provide an up-to-date report on 5-HT receptors. This is a difficult task considering the astonishing speed at which research in this field is expanding. As the first of what we can expect to be a steady stream of monographs focusing on 5-HT receptors, the book confirms that we are in an exciting time in the history of 5-HT. For those of us who have been work ing on 5-HT for many years, our dream of equal progress and recognition with the more extensively studied catecholamines is finally being realized. We now have a Serotonin Club that held its first international scientific meeting in 1987, and several more international meetings are in the planning stages."