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This book provides perspectives on the combinatorial approach of plant-based compounds for drug discovery to achieve better disease-curing outcomes introducing the evolution of ethnobotany and traditional medicine in modern drug development. It covers the biotechnological interventions for the identification and screening of compounds and their optimization to enhance affinity, selectivity, bioavailability, and metabolic stability. While overviewing how essential compounds are successfully identified from herbal/ medicinal plants and utilized in the form of effective drugs which eventually have helped in combating long-term diseases in humans, the book also provides a better understanding of how infection and the diseases caused are regulated at the molecular and physiological stages. The book also highlights the importance of bioactive compounds in modern drug discovery and the perspectives for a potential industrial application. The chapters are developed by eminent subject experts with due care and clarity and cover an up-to-date literature review with relevant illustrations. The book would cater to the needs of undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and scientists, and may attract the attention of pharmaceutical companies/industrialists and health policymakers.

This book covers the basic knowledge of biojet fuel, explores the current technological status, and presents future prospects for commercial biojet fuel production. The focus of this book is on biojet fuel production from different types of potential substrates. It also includes technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessment of biojet fuel. Biojet fuel is currently recognized as the best alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel due to its renewability and sustainable features. However, there is a scarcity of reports on biojet fuel production from various types of substrates.The aviation industry globally consumes approximately 200 million tonnes of jet fuels each year, with a projected continuous growth rate of 5% per year until 2050 (Seymour et al., 2020). Currently, the global demand for jet fuel is predominantly met by petroleum-based fuels. However, the limited availability of fossil fuels and increasing concerns about climate change have placed significant pressure on commercial airlines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and embrace cleaner and more sustainable practices.Biojet fuel has emerged as the most favorable alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel due to its renewable nature and sustainable characteristics. Despite its potential, there is a limited number of reports available on the production of biojet fuel from different types of substrates. The present scenario of biojet fuel necessitates the development of improved and cost-effective technologies that can yield long-term benefits.The book is useful for students and researchers in various branches of life sciences, including environmental biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, renewable energy, chemical engineering, nanotechnology, biotechnology, microbiology, and more.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in nanotechnology as an alternative strategy for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Examining nanotechnology-based methods such as nanoencapsulation, drug delivery, and conjugation, the text highlights their successful application in treating microbial infections with reduced resistance and off-target toxicity. The introductory section outlines AMR and explores diverse mechanisms of microbial resistance, emphasizing the potential of nanotechnology to surmount these challenges. Subsequent chapters investigate the role of specific nanomaterials—metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, functionalized quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, bimetallic nanoparticles, nanocomposites, carbon nanomaterials, and polymer-based nanomaterials—in overcoming antimicrobial resistance. Several chapters focus on the efficacy of nanoemulsions as an antimicrobial delivery method, underscoring their inherent antimicrobial properties, capacity to enhance drug solubility, stability, bioavailability, and targeting potential at the organ and cellular levels. The concluding section provides a detailed review of liposomes, dendrimers-based nanoparticles, and micelles as drug delivery vehicles in the context of combating pathogens resistant to antimicrobials.

Industrial crops offer farmers new market opportunities to increase their revenue by producing high-value products, focusing on fiber, forest, and energy crops, industrial oilseeds, rubber and resins, pharmaceuticals, and more. Technological innovations in agriculture have facilitated higher yields, but conserving crop genetic resources and diversity remains crucial for sustainable agricultural production. This poses a challenge that can be addressed through modern tools of biotechnology and genomics, utilizing the wealth of sequenced plant genomes. This book addresses the need for knowledge in managing the risks and conservation of genetic diversity associated with advanced technology. It provides comprehensive coverage of plant genomics and biotechnology, catering to post-graduate students, researchers, employees of seed and biotechnology companies, as well as instructors in plant genetics, breeding, and biotechnology fields.

This book deals with analytical techniques and methods applied in several sectors of technology and industry and serves as a concise and up-to-date reference for the practical application of analytical chemistry. Divided into 10 chapters, the book starts with an introduction to the fundamentals of analytical chemistry, followed by a review of modern analytical technologies and their application in different industrial sectors and activities such as agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, ores and mining, polymers, biotechnology, and oil & gas. Particular attention is given to industrial environmental issues, where the author discusses the advanced analytical techniques used to provide quantitative information about pollutants in aqueous and gaseous effluents and their carbon footprint. The book finishes with a chapter summarizing the main remarks and conclusions on advanced analytical techniques used in different industrial sectors, as well as on topics of sustainability, and instrumental analysis. In this book, readers will find valuable insights, including real-life examples, of how classical and instrumental techniques can be used by industry, to help professionals in the quality control of raw materials, products and processes, in the assessment of the formulation contamination, environmental pollution and in the evaluation of sustainability, among others. Given its breadth, the book appeals to professionals (mainly chemists, biochemists, and engineers), researchers, professors, and graduate students.

Research in recent years has increasingly shifted away from purely academic research, and into applied aspects of the discipline, including climate change research, conservation, and sustainable development. It has by now widely been recognized that “traditional” knowledge is always in flux and adapting to a quickly changing environment. Trends of globalization, especially the globalization of plant markets, have greatly influenced how plant resources are managed nowadays. While ethnobotanical studies are now available from many regions of the world, no comprehensive encyclopedic series focusing on the worlds mountain regions is available in the market. Scholars in plant sciences worldwide will be interested in this website and its dynamic content. The field (and thus the market) of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology has grown considerably in recent years. Student interest is on the rise, attendance at professional conferences has grown steadily, and the number of professionals calling themselves ethnobotanists has increased significantly (the various societies (Society for Economic Botany, International Society of Ethnopharmacology, Society of Ethnobiology, International Society for Ethnobiology, and many regional and national societies in the field currently have thousands of members). Growth has been most robust in BRIC countries.The objective of this new MRW on Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions is to take advantage of the increasing international interest and scholarship in the field of mountain research. We anticipate including the best and latest research on a full range of descriptive, methodological, theoretical, and applied research on the most important plants for each region. Each contribution will be scientifically rigorous and contribute to the overall field of study.

This comprehensive, up-to-date reference work compiles the scientific research on the relationship between various forms of cancer and reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is well known that ROS play a key role in the various steps leading to malignancy, this includes increase in DNA mutation rates. The book brings together exciting reviews, written by leading experts all over the world. The book is divided into four broad sections. Each section describes the role of oxidative stress and underlying mechanisms and pathways, at various stages of cancer, including its role in carcinogenesis, cancer progression and metastasis. Further, the book describes how the reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulate gene expression and signal transduction pathways in cancer. The book discusses the ways to interfere with the cancer progression, and design of anti-cancer drugs. The book provides an integrated approach for better understanding of the development phases of oxidative stress-induced cancers, and mainly the current perspectives about mechanistic aspects of cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. It is a highly resourceful book and would be extremely important to clinicians, students and researchers in the field of cancer genetics, therapeutics and oncology.

This book explores recent advances in the microbial production of xylitol and its applications in food and medical sector. Xylitol is an important biomolecule from lignocellulose biorefinery which is produced from the xylose by chemical reactions or microbial fermentation methods. Currently, the demand of xylitol at commercial scale is being met through chemical methods. However, recent breakthroughs made in plant cell wall destruction, genetic engineering to develop the designer microorganisms, fermentation methods and media formulations and downstream processing have led the ways for sustainable production of xylitol at commercial scale in lignocellulose biorefineries. Microbial production of xylitol is preferred over the chemical processes as it is environmentally friendly, higher process efficiency with the desired product yield, and product recovery with minimum impurities. This book is a unique compilation of 11 book chapters written by experts in their respective fields. These chapters present critical insights and discuss the current progress and future progress in this area into fermentative xylitol production.Chapter 9 is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For further details see license information in the chapter.

This book presents deliberations on molecular and genomic mechanisms underlying the interactions of crop plants to the abiotic stresses caused by heat, cold, drought, flooding, submergence, salinity, acidity, etc., important to develop resistant crop varieties. Knowledge on the advanced genetic and genomic crop improvement strategies including molecular breeding, transgenics, genomic-assisted breeding, and the recently emerging genome editing for developing resistant varieties in technical crops is imperative for addressing FHNEE (food, health, nutrition, energy, and environment) security. Whole genome sequencing in many of these crops followed by genotyping-by-sequencing has provided precise information regarding the genes conferring resistance useful for gene discovery, allele mining, and shuttle breeding which in turn opened up the scope for'designing'crop genomes with resistance to abiotic stresses. The ten chapters each dedicated to a technical crop and one chapter devoted to a crop group in this volume elucidate different types of abiotic stresses and their effects on and interaction with the crops; enumerate the available genetic diversity with regard to abiotic stress resistance among available cultivars; illuminate the potential gene pools for utilization in interspecific gene transfer; present brief on classical genetics of stress resistance and traditional breeding for transferring them to their cultivated counterparts; depict the success stories of genetic engineering for developing abiotic stress-resistant crop varieties; discuss on molecular mapping of genes and QTLs underlying stress resistance and their marker-assisted introgression into elite varieties; enunciate different genomics-aided techniques including genomic selection, allele mining, gene discovery, and gene pyramiding for developing adaptive crop varieties with higher quantity and quality of yields, and also elaborate some case studies on genome editing focusing on specific genesfor generating abiotic stress-resistant crops.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of current biosurfactant research and applications. Public awareness of environmental issues has increased significantly over the last decade, a trend that has been accompanied by industry demands for climate-friendly and environmentally friendly renewable raw materials. In the context of household products, biosurfactants could potentially meet this demand in the future due to their low ecotoxicity, excellent biodegradability, and use of renewable raw materials. The diversity of this class of molecules, which has only been marginally tapped to date, offers only an inkling of their future application potential. However, there are two main obstacles to their widespread commercial use on the growing surfactant market: the lack of attractive and competitive production technologies, and the limited structural diversity of commercially available biosurfactants. Addressing both of these core issues, this book will provide readers with a deeper understanding of the role of biosurfactants, including future opportunities and challenges.Chapter “Environmental Impacts of Biosurfactants from a Life Cycle Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Cash crops are grown and sold for monetary gain and not necessarily for sustenance. They include coffee, tea, coconut, cotton, jute, groundnut, castor, linseed, cocoa, rubber, cassava, soybean, sweet potato, potato, wheat, corn and teff. While some of these crops have been improved for realizing yield potential, breeding of many of them is still in infancy. Crops that underwent rigorous breeding have eventually lost much of the diversity due to extensive cultivation with a few improved varieties and the diversity in less bred species is to be conserved. Over the past years, scholars and policy makers have become increasingly aware of the short and long-run impact of climatic factors on economic, food security, social and political outcomes. Genetic diversity, natural and induced, is much needed for the future generations to sustain food production with more climate resilient crops. In contrast, crop uniformity produced across the farm fields in the form ofimproved varieties is genetically vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, it is essential and challenging to address the issue of compromising between maximizing crop yield under a given set of conditions and minimizing the risk of crop failure when conditions change. Cash crops are grown in an array of climatic conditions. Many of the world's poor still live in rural areas. Many are subsistence farmers, operating very small farms using very little agricultural inputs for achieving marketable outputs. Conserving the diversity of these crops and addressing all issues of crop culture through modern tools of biotechnology and genomics is a real challenge. We believe the focus of this book is to fill an unmet need of this and other grower communities by providing the necessary knowledge, albeit indirectly via the academics, to manage the risks of cash crops breeding through managing genetic diversity.

Fungi range from being microscopic, single-celled yeasts to multicellular and heterotrophic in nature. Fungal communities have been found in vast ranges of environmental conditions. They can be associated with plants epiphytically, endophytically, or rhizospherically. Extreme environments represent unique ecosystems that harbor novel biodiversity of fungal communities. Interest in the exploration of fungal diversity has been spurred by the fact that fungi perform numerous functions integral in sustaining the biosphere, ranging from nutrient cycling to environmental detoxification, which involves processes like augmentation, supplementation, and recycling of plant nutrients--a particularly important process in sustainable agriculture. Fungal communities from natural and extreme habitats help promote plant growth, enhance crop yield, and soil fertility via direct or indirect plant growth promoting (PGP) mechanisms of solubilization of phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, production of ammonia, hydrogen cyanides, phytohormones, Fe-chelating compounds, extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, and bioactive secondary metabolites. These PGP fungi could be used as biofertilizers, bioinoculants, and biocontrol agents in place of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in eco-friendly manners for sustainable agriculture and environments. Along with agricultural applications, medically important fungi play significant role for human health. Fungal communities are useful for sustainable environments as they are used for bioremediation which is the use of microorganisms'metabolism to degrading waste contaminants (sewage, domestic, and industrial effluents) into non-toxic or less toxic materials by natural biological processes. Fungi could be used as mycoremediation for the future of environmental sustainability. Fungi and fungal products have the biochemical and ecological capability to degrade environmental organic chemicalsand to decrease the risk associated with metals, semi-metals, and noble metals either by chemical modification or by manipulating chemical bioavailability. The two volumes of'Recent Trends in Mycological Research” aim to provide an understanding of fungal communities from diverse environmental habitats and their potential applications in agriculture, medical, environments and industry. The books are useful to scientists, researchers, and students involved in microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, molecular biology, environmental biology and related subjects.

This book serves as the first comprehensive compilation describing the breeding strategies and genetics and genomics of the coconut palm. It describes gene evolution of economically important traits such as oil biosynthesis, aroma and fragrance, disease-resistant genes and small RNAs-mediated gene regulation of coconut. Application of “omics” approaches in palms and the prospects of genome editing technologies in coconut are also discussed. The author list includes pioneers and experts in the field of coconut genomics. The book appeals to postgraduate students, researchers and industry players in the field of plantation crops in general and coconut in particular.

The growing importance of glycobiology and carbohydrate chemistry in modern biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry makes accurate carbohydrate analysis indispensable. This book provides the principles and protocols of various fundamental carbohydrate analysis methods. Choice of method is entirely dependent upon the type of material being investigated (biological samples, food products, etc.), and the level of structural detail required, i.e. sugar content, compositional analysis, linkages between the sugar components, or the total chemical structure of a given molecule. Full structural characterization of carbohydrate chains requires significant time, resources, and skill in several methods of analysis; no single technique can address all glycan analysis needs.This book summarizes several existing analytical techniques (both chemical and physical) in an introductory volume designed for the non-expert researcher or novice scientist. While background in carbohydrate chemistry is assumed, all information necessary to understanding the described techniques is addressed in the text.

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.

Before the concept of history began, humans undoubtedly acquired life benefits by discovering medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that were food and medicine. Today, a variety of available herbs and spices are used and enjoyed throughout the world and continue to promote good health. The international market is also quite welcoming for MAPs and essential oils. The increasing environment and nature conscious buyers encourage producers to produce high quality essential oils. These consumer choices lead to growing preference for organic and herbal based products in the world market. As the benefits of medicinal and aromatic plants are recognized, these plants will have a special role for humans in the future. Until last century, the production of botanicals relies to a large degree on wild-collection. However, the increasing commercial collection, largely unmonitored trade, and habitat loss lead to an incomparably growing pressure on plant populationsin the wild. Therefore, medicinal and aromatic plants are of high priority for conservation. Given the above, we bring forth a comprehensive volume, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Healthcare and Industrial Applications”, highlighting the various healthcare, industrial and pharmaceutical applications that are being used on these immensely important MAPs and its future prospects. This collection of chapters from the different areas dealing with MAPs caters to the need of all those who are working or have interest in the above topic.

This book presents the first comprehensive compilation of genome research on the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree. The genomes of Hevea tree clones (cultivars) are described by three major international groups. Chapters on omics-driven investigations address a broad range of topics including genome annotation and utilisation, transcriptome and gene family analysis, genetic mapping, metabolic pathways in latex and molecular breeding. Additionally, an overview of fundamental rubber biology, especially on laticifers, provides a historical background that is relevant to rubber genome analysis. The book concludes with several perspectives on the future needs of rubber investigations and prospects of rubber genomics. Given the scope of topics, this book will appeal to researchers and university students working in genomics and biotechnology of the rubber tree, and to rubber breeders with an interest in non-conventional approaches to trait analysis, selection and breeding.

The agricultural sector of medicinal (including plant stimulants) and aromatic plants is characterized by an enormous number and diversity of species. Only a few of them can be considered cultivated crops in which significant breeding efforts are made. For most species, however, breeding is performed in short-term projects only. Therefore, basic knowledge about these species is still fragmentary. Our intention is to compile and organize the available information on the most commonly utilized plant species into one publication, thereby providing a standardized resource for the researchers and the grower community. This book therefore provides reference source materials for a wide variety of plant species used for human consumption due to their flavor, medicinal or recreational properties. It is divided into a section of general topics on genetic resources, breeding adaptation of analytic methods and a compilation of basic data for DNA content, chromosome number and mating systemfollowed by a section of 20 monographs on a species or species groups.

This book covers a broad spectrum of topics related to GMOs and allied new gene-based technologies, biodiversity, and ecosystem processes, bringing together the contributions of researchers and regulators from around the world. The aim is to offer a clear view of the benefits and effects of genetically modified crops, insects, and other animals on the soil microbiome and ecological processes. Contributors examine issues related to the development of risk assessment procedures and regulations designed to maximize benefits while minimizing risks. Beyond the scientific challenges of GMOs, the book explores the broad and contentious terrain of ethical considerations. The contributors discuss such questions as the unintended, possibly unforeseen, consequences of releasing GMOs into ecosystems, and the likelihood that the full effects of GMOs could take years, even decades, of close monitoring to become evident. The importance of developing a precautionary approach is stressed. The final chapter describes the critical issues of governance and regulation of new and emerging gene-based technologies, as nations grapple with the consequences of adopting the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB). The volume includes an extensive Annex which outlines legal perspectives on the state of GMO governance around the world, with more than 20 examples from nations in Africa, South and Central America, Asia, Australasia, and Europe.

This book offers a comprehensive study of biological molecules acquired from marine organisms, which have been exploited for drug discovery with the aim to treat human diseases. Biomolecules have potential impacts on a diverse range of fields, including medical and pharmaceutical science, industrial science, biotechnology, basic research, molecular science, environmental science and climate change, etc. To understand and effectively apply medicinally important biomolecules, multidisciplinary approaches are called for. The ocean remains a rich biological resource, and the vast untapped potential of novel molecules from marine bio-resources has caught the interest of more and more researchers. These novel biological compounds have never been found in terrestrial or other ecosystems, but only in this rich niche. Advances in sampling techniques and technologies, along with increased funding for research and nature conservation, have now encouraged scientists to look deeper in the waters. Aquaculture supports both tremendous seafood production and the bulk production of marine-derived drugs. Furthermore, molecular methods are now being extensively employed to explore the untapped marine microbial diversity. With the help of molecular and biotech tools, the ability of marine organisms to produce new biosynthetic drugs can be greatly enhanced. This book provides an extensive compilation of the latest information on marine resources and their undisputedly vital role in the treatment of diverse ailments.

This book highlights the recent developments on rhamnolipid biosurfactant, its properties, role on the natural environment and various applications. Recently, it has shown promising application in Environment, Agriculture, food, petroleum, and pharmaceutical industries due to its environment-friendly and easily degradable nature. The book emphasizes on the various techniques that are utilized for the detection and isolation of rhamnolipid biosurfactant from microorganisms. It highlights the various aspects of the rhamnolipid biosurfactants including structural characteristics, production, and its application. The book presents the current knowledge and the latest advances in the function-based metagenomics strategies to facilitate the exploration of the novel biosurfactants.

The book discusses recent findings and current perspectives on therapeutic angiogenesis. Studies have shown that therapies such as cell implantation and transfer of gene encoding for angiogenic growth factors are effective in improving symptoms in patients with critical limb ischemia, who previously had no treatment option other than amputation. The book discusses these therapies and presents data collected in clinical studies over the past decade.Despite significant advances in therapeutic angiogenesis since the first clinical studies in the early 21st century, it has been largely ignored in the literature. This comprehensive book fills that gap, making it a valuable resource for both researchers and practitioners alike.

This book gives an overview on techniques and future perspectives of various aspects of waste biomass management. It also presents the economic and environmental evaluation, and also the monetary value-benefits and sustainability of the different processes. Recycling processes of lignocellulosic biomass from palm oil mill waste are covered, as well as from sugar industry waste and agriculture waste. It also includes thermal and non-thermal technologies for resource recovery from waste biomass. Challenges in the reuse and recycling of waste biomass are discussed, i.e., the hygienic safety in biomass management and bioremediation technologies for conversion into valuable products. The book is aiming at scientists, researchers and students alike, who are working in the research areas pertaining to waste management

This book focuses on the basic science recently produced in Brazil for the improvement of sugarcane as a bioenergy crop and as a raw material for 2nd generation bioethanol production.It reports achievements that have been advancing the science of cell walls, enzymes, genetics, and sustainability related to sugarcane technologies and give continuity to the research reported in the “Routes to Cellulosic Ethanol”, from Springer.The Introduction (Chapter I) explains how the National Institute of Science and Technology of Bioethanol, founded in 2008 in Brazil, became part of the main international initiatives that started to search for forms to use biomass for bioethanol production in Brazil, US and Europe.Part I reports the advances in plant cell wall composition, structure and architecture, and physical characteristics of sugarcane biomass. These discoveries are opening the way to increased efficiency of pretreatments and hydrolysis, being therefore important information for 2nd generation processes as well as for biorefinery initiatives.Part II focuses on the discovery and characterization of hydrolases from microorganisms that could be used in industrial processes. Recent advances in the search for hydrolases using metagenomics is reported. A great number of genes and enzymes from microorganisms have been discovered, affording improvement of enzyme cocktails better adapted to sugarcane biomass.Part III reports two key issues in the process of 2G ethanol, pentose fermentation and sugarcane genetics. These are the discoveries of new yeast species capable of producing ethanol more efficiently from xylose and the advances made on the sugarcane genetics, a key issue to design varieties adapted to 2G ethanol production.Part IV approaches sustainability through two chapters, one discussing the sustainability of the sugarcane agricultural and environmental system and another discussing how national and mainly international policies of Brazil regarding 2G ethanol production affected the country's strategies to establish itself as an international player in renewable energy area.

This book covers the state-of-the-art of microalgae physiology and biochemistry (and the several –omics). It serves as a key reference work for those working with microalgae, whether in the lab, the field, or for commercial applications. It is aimed at new entrants into the field (i.e. PhD students) as well as experienced practitioners. It has been over 40 years since the publication of a book on algal physiology. Apart from reviews and chapters no other comprehensive book on this topic has been published. Research on microalgae has expanded enormously since then, as has the commercial exploitation of microalgae. This volume thoroughly deals with the most critical physiological and biochemical processes governing algal growth and production.

Stresses the Potential Applications of Biosurfactants in Various IndustriesEnvironmental concerns and a demand for sustainable chemical production have become important issues in recent years. As a result, microbial biosurfactant-producing systems are gaining momentum as potential replacements for chemical surfactants. Biosurfactants: Production an

Jatropha curcas or Physic Nut is a small tree (bush plant) that produces fruits under tropical climate. The fruits contained seed that are ~40% oil rich. This oil is excellent for biodiesel. The bush is a now new coming crop because it may cope with harsh environmental conditions such as semi-aridity and poor land. It is considered as one alternative for climate mitigation that does not compete with arable land normally dedicated to food crop and can be used to regain degraded land or fight desertification. This bush has been considered seriously by the international community only recently (~2006-2008), but worldwide scientists did an outstanding job to drawn Jatropha out of its semi-wild status and bring it on the industrial scene. Problems remains, but we have now a comprehensive picture of this crop and almost every technological challenged were addressed. From now, the job will have to concentrate on breeding in order to domesticate this species. Therefore, it is the right time to sum up worldwide contributions in a comprehensive book with a breeding looking to improve the chance of this plant to stabilize as a crop and to fulfil with the expectations that humans invested in it. A book with this perspective will help international community to give a step on. The book will be a broad and comprehensive look on Jatropha until the details since the book is being contributed by international experts worldwide that have already published works in the international press of Science. Illustrations, tables geographic maps, GPS location, etc are added by each contributors according to the feeling they have concerning what they think their contribution should be.

PEGylation technology and key applications are introduced by this topical volume. Basic physical and chemical properties of PEG as basis for altering/improving in vivo behaviour of PEG-conjugates such as increased stability, improved PK/PD, and decreased immunogenicity, are discussed. Furthermore, chemical and enzymatic strategies for the coupling and the conjugate characterization are reported. Following chapters describe approved and marketed PEG-proteins and PEG-oligonucleotides as well as conjugates in various stages of clinical development.

Animal Cell Technology: from Biopharmaceuticals to Gene Therapy provides a comprehensive insight into biological and engineering concepts related to mammalian and insect cell technology, as well as an overview of the applications of animal cell technology. Part 1 of the book covers the Fundamentals upon which this technology is based and covers the science underpinning the technology. Part 2 covers the Applications from the production of therapeutic proteins to gene therapy. The authors of the chapters are internationally-recognized in the field of animal cell culture research and have extensive experience in the areas covered in their respective chapters.

This first ever coverage of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of biopharmaceuticals meets the need for a comprehensive book in this field. It spans all topics from lead identification right up to final-stage clinical trials. Following an introduction to the role of PK and PD in the development of biotech drugs, the book goes on to cover the basics, including the pharmacokinetics of peptides, monoclonal antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, as well as viral and non-viral gene delivery vectors. The second section discusses such challenges and opportunities as pulmonary delivery of proteins and peptides, and the delivery of oligonucleotides. The final section considers the integration of PK and PD concepts into the biotech drug development plan, taking as case studies the preclinical and clinical drug development of tasidotin, as well as the examples of cetuximab and pegfilgrastim. The result is vital reading for all pharmaceutical researchers.

The Biotechnology Annual Review series aims at covering developments in the field of biotechnology in the form of comprehensive, illustrated and well-referenced reviews. Recent expansion in this field, both industrial and educational, along with the increase in the number of new journals reporting new results, has greatly increased the need for exactly this type of series, continuously providing reviews.Every volume, published yearly, will cover a different aspect of biotechnology.The'Editorial Board'of Biotechnology Annual Review encourages suggestions and contributions of articles from industry or from academic institutions that would constitute a comprehensive covering of a relevant topic in biotechnology.Proposals for contributions and/or suggestions for topics for future volumes in this series should be sent to the Editor:Professor M.R. El-GewelyDepartment of biotechnologyUniversity of TromsøIMB, MH-ByggetN-9037 TromsøNorwayTel: (+47) 77 644654Fax: (+47) 77 645350