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This book brings together and updates the latest information on the
diversity of yeasts, their molecular features and their
applications in the welfare of mankind. Yeasts are eukaryotic
microfungi widely found in natural environments, including those
with extreme conditions such as low temperatures, low oxygen levels
and low water availability. To date, approximately 2,000 of the
estimated 30,000 to 45,000 species of yeast on Earth, belonging to
around 200 genera have been described. Although there are a few
that are opportunistic human and animal pathogens, the vast
majority of yeasts are beneficial, playing an important role in the
food chain and in the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. In
addition, yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula
polymorpha and Pichia pastoris are used in expressing foreign genes
to produce proteins of pharmaceutical interest. A landmark in
biotechnology was reached in 1996 with the completion of sequencing
of the entire S. cerevisiae genome, and it has now become a central
player in the development of an entirely new approach to biological
research and synthetic biology. The sequencing of genomes of
several yeasts including Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida
albicans and Cryptococcus neofromans has also recently been
completed.
This book brings together and updates the latest information on the
diversity of yeasts, their molecular features and their
applications in the welfare of mankind. Yeasts are eukaryotic
microfungi widely found in natural environments, including those
with extreme conditions such as low temperatures, low oxygen levels
and low water availability. To date, approximately 2,000 of the
estimated 30,000 to 45,000 species of yeast on Earth, belonging to
around 200 genera have been described. Although there are a few
that are opportunistic human and animal pathogens, the vast
majority of yeasts are beneficial, playing an important role in the
food chain and in the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. In
addition, yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula
polymorpha and Pichia pastoris are used in expressing foreign genes
to produce proteins of pharmaceutical interest. A landmark in
biotechnology was reached in 1996 with the completion of sequencing
of the entire S. cerevisiae genome, and it has now become a central
player in the development of an entirely new approach to biological
research and synthetic biology. The sequencing of genomes of
several yeasts including Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida
albicans and Cryptococcus neofromans has also recently been
completed.
I belie ve that the book would provide an overview of the recent
developments in the domain of yeast research with some new ideas,
which could serve as an inspiration and challenge for researchers
in this field. Ne w Delhi Prof. Asis Datta Dec. 24, 2007 F ormer
Vice-chancellor, JNU Director, NCPGR (New Delhi) Pr eface Yeasts
are eukaryotic unicellular microfungi that are widely distributed
in the natural environments. Although yeasts are not as ubiquitous
as bacteria in the na- ral environments, they have been isolated
from terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric environments. Yeast
communities have been found in association with plants, a- mals and
insects. Several species of yeasts have also been isolated from
specialized or extreme environments like those with low water
potential (e. g. high sugar/salt concentrations), low temperature
(e. g. yeasts isolated from Antarctica), and low oxygen
availability (e. g. intestinal tracts of animals). Around 1500
species of yeasts belonging to over 100 genera have been described
so far. It is estimated that only 1% of the extant yeasts on earth
have been described till date. Therefore, global efforts are
underway to recover new yeast species from a variety of normal and
extreme environments. Yeasts play an important role in food chains,
and carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. Yeasts can be genetically
manipulated by hybridization, mutation, rare m- ing, cytoduction,
spheroplast fusion, single chromosomal transfer and transfor- tion
using recombinant technology. Yeasts (e. g.
I belie ve that the book would provide an overview of the recent
developments in the domain of yeast research with some new ideas,
which could serve as an inspiration and challenge for researchers
in this field. Ne w Delhi Prof. Asis Datta Dec. 24, 2007 F ormer
Vice-chancellor, JNU Director, NCPGR (New Delhi) Pr eface Yeasts
are eukaryotic unicellular microfungi that are widely distributed
in the natural environments. Although yeasts are not as ubiquitous
as bacteria in the na- ral environments, they have been isolated
from terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric environments. Yeast
communities have been found in association with plants, a- mals and
insects. Several species of yeasts have also been isolated from
specialized or extreme environments like those with low water
potential (e. g. high sugar/salt concentrations), low temperature
(e. g. yeasts isolated from Antarctica), and low oxygen
availability (e. g. intestinal tracts of animals). Around 1500
species of yeasts belonging to over 100 genera have been described
so far. It is estimated that only 1% of the extant yeasts on earth
have been described till date. Therefore, global efforts are
underway to recover new yeast species from a variety of normal and
extreme environments. Yeasts play an important role in food chains,
and carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. Yeasts can be genetically
manipulated by hybridization, mutation, rare m- ing, cytoduction,
spheroplast fusion, single chromosomal transfer and transfor- tion
using recombinant technology. Yeasts (e. g.
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