This work brings together a number of accounts of the mechanisms whereby microorganisms are able to degrade a wide variety of compounds. These compounds range from petroleum-derived materials, which continue to predominate in questions of environmental contamination and pollution, to the degradation of the major natural materials that microorganisms may encounter in all types of habitat. Both aerobic and anaerobic modes of attack are covered. The emphasis in all the chapters is upon the underlying biochemical pathways that microorganisms use: differences between bacteria, yeasts and moulds are highlighted whenever opportune and uses of microbial consortia for attack on the most recalcitrant molecules is also documented. Activity of microorganisms in the soil, groundwater and marine environments are all considered. The book should be of interest to all whose work brings them into contact with the results of microbial degradations. The consequences of microbial degradations may be beneficial as well as deleterious: an advantage with some compounds, a decided disadvantage with others. The basis by which microorganisms achieve these attacks then provides the vital knowledge that will accelerate the former and, hopefully, retard the latter. The pathways of microbial degradations of all major classes of compounds are covered in a single volume. The diversity of microbial activities are clearly described and current advances in the applications of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, enzyme chemistry and engineering feature in almost every chapter.

This book brings together a number of comprehensive accounts of the mechanisms whereby microorganisms are able to degrade a wide variety of compounds. These compounds range from petroleum-derived materials, which continue to predominate in questions of environmental contamination and pollution, to the degradation of the major natural materials that microorganisms may encounter in all types of habitat. Both aerobic and anaerobic modes of attack are covered. The emphasis in all the chapters is upon the underlying biochemical pathways that microorganisms use: differences between bacteria, yeasts and moulds are highlighted whenever opportune and uses of microbial consortia for attack on the most recalcitrant molecules is also well documented. Activity of microorganisms in the soil, groundwater and marine environments are all dealt with here. The book will be of value and interest to all whose work brings them into direct or even indirect contact with the results of microbial degradations. The consequences of microbial degradations may be beneficial as well as deletrious: an advantage with some compounds, a decided disadvantage with others. The basis by which microorganisms achieve these attacks then provides the vital knowledge that will accelerate the former and, hopefully, retard the latter. For the first time the pathways of microbial degradations of all major classes of compounds are covered in a single volume. The diversity of microbial activities are clearly described and current advances in the applications of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, enzyme chemistry and engineering feature in almost every chapter.

Featuring recognized academic and industrial experts in this cutting-edge field, this book reviews single cell oils (SCO) currently in the market. The text mainly focuses on the production of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, Arachidonic acid, and Docosahexaenoinc acid. All chapters provide up to date references for navigating the vast amount of historic data available in the field. The authors provide real world examples of the commercial development and applications of various SCO in a variety of fields, from food ingredients and disease treatment to aquaculture and fish farming. The highlight of the book is perhaps the first chapter in which Colin Ratledge, a world renowned expert in SCO and lipid biochemistry, gives an interesting and informative overview on the history of SCO development, together with his perspectives on the future of this industry in light of competition arising from genetically modified plant oils. Zvi Cohen, a renowned expert in PUFA-producing microalgae, describes some of his metabolic studies on PUFA production and TAG biosynthesis. Chapter 10 deals with EPA-producing microalgae and some cultivation strategies for their large scale production. This chapter includes a number of tables summarizing the various organisms under investigation which I found to be of great use. Since the development of EPA single cell oils is still in its infancy, this chapter is quite helpful for researchers thinking along those lines.

Biotechnology is one of the major technologies of the twenty-first century. Its wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary activities include recombinant DNA techniques, cloning and the application of microbiology to the production of goods from bread to antibiotics. In this new edition of the textbook Basic Biotechnology, biology and bioprocessing topics are uniquely combined to provide a complete overview of biotechnology. The fundamental principles that underpin all biotechnology are explained and a full range of examples are discussed to show how these principles are applied; from starting substrate to final product. A distinctive feature of this text are the discussions of the public perception of biotechnology and the business of biotechnology, which set the science in a broader context. This comprehensive textbook is essential reading for all students of biotechnology and applied microbiology, and for researchers in biotechnology industries.