This collection of comprehensive reviews describes the present knowledge of the enzyme mechanisms involved in the biodegradation of wood and wood components, cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin by both fungi and bacteria. The extensive knowledge, presented in this volume, was developed in laboratories world-wide over the last few decades and constitutes the foundation for present and future biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry.

This collection of comprehensive reviews describes the present knowledge of the enzyme mechanisms involved in the biodegradation of wood and wood components, cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin by both fungi and bacteria. The extensive knowledge, presented in this volume, was developed in laboratories world-wide over the last few decades and constitutes the foundation for present and future biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry.

This book collates and reviews recent advances in the microbial metabolism of amino acids, emphasizing diversity - in terms of the range of organisms under investigation and their natural ecology - and the unique features of amino acid metabolism in bacteria, yeasts, fungi, protozoa and nematodes. As well as studying the individual amino acids, including arginine, sulfur amino acids, branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids, a number of themes are explored throughout the work. These include: - Comparative issues between the metabolism of microbes and those of higher organisms, including plants and mammals - Potential for drug targets in pathways of both biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids - Relationship between amino acids or associated enzymes and virulence in parasitic pathogens - Practical implications for food microbiology and pathogen characterization - Future priorities relating to fundamental biochemistry of microrganisms, food quality and safety, human and animal health, plant pathology, drug design and ecology As the volume of research into the metabolism of amino acids grows, this comprehensive study of the subject is a vital tool for researchers in the fields of biological, medical and veterinary sciences, including microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and pathology. This book is also essential for corporate organizations with active research and development programmes, such as those in the pharmaceutical industry.

The production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals with antiviral and antiproliferative properties is one of the major aims of advanced genetic engineering. Interferon alpha 2b belongs to the class of recombinant therapeutics which is equally effective against viral infections and carcinomas. Recombinant human IFN 2b is widely used FDA approved protein drug with global sale level is expected to reach up to 5.8 billion US dollars by 2010 due to its increased demand as a result of high prevalence of hepatitis infections and carcinomas in developed as well as developing countries including Pakistan. In the current research a process was developed for the production of this recombinant interferon alpha 2b drug by adopting advanced molecular and biochemical strategies. Intragene modifications at specific amino acids were also made to produce antiviral gene sequences with improved antiviral properties. Human interferon alpha 2b gene analysis was also established in blood cancers (AML and ALL) in order to find out mutations of clinical significance in theses cancers.