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Emerging and Reemerging Viral Pathogens: Applied Virology Approaches Related to Human, Animal and Environmental Pathogens, Volume Two presents new research information on viruses and their impact on the scientific community. It provides a reference book on certain viruses in humans, animals and vegetal, along with a comprehensive discussion on interspecies interactions. The book then looks at the drug, vaccine and bioinformatical strategies that can be used against these viruses, giving the reader a clear understanding of transmission. The book's end goal is to create awareness that the appearance of newly transmissible pathogens is a global risk that requires shared/adoptable policies for prevention and control. - Covers most emerging viral disease in humans, animals and plants - Provides the most advanced tools and techniques in molecular virology and the modeling of viruses - Creates awareness that the appearance of new transmissible pathogens is a global risk - Highlights the need to adopt shared policies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases

Membranes are pivotal components of life acting as formidable insulators that demarcate a living cell, generate energy in the form of ion gradients, transport ions, proteins, nucleic acids, nutrients and metabolites, and provide transduction systems to sense the environment and to communicate with other cells. Membranes also provide shape and structure to cells and are important in cell motility. In addition they fulfil a scaffolding function for proteins and organelles that interact with the extracellular environment.Written by specialists in the field, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the structural and molecular biology of cellular processes that occur at or near bacterial membranes. The authors present and discuss recent progress on the function and involvement of membranes in bacterial physiology enabling a greater understanding of the molecular details of the cell envelope, its biogenesis and function. Topics covered include: cell wall growth, shape and division, the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, outer membrane protein biosynthesis, bacterial lipoproteins, mycobacteria, lipid composition, ABC transporters, transport across the outer membrane, drug passage across membranes, bacterial membrane proteins, secretion systems, signal transduction, signalling mechanisms, bacterial membranes in adhesion and pathogenesis, and membranes as a drug target.This cutting-edge text will provide a valuable resource for all those working in this field and is recommended for all microbiology libraries.

Includes a revised taxonomic outline for the Actinobacteria or the high G+C Gram positives is based upon the SILVA project as well as a description of greater than 200 genera in 49 families. Includes many medically and industrially important taxa.

Streptomycetes are Gram-positive, high GC-content, sporulating bacteria found predominantly in soil. Streptomycetes are characterised by a complex secondary metabolism producing antibiotic compounds and other metabolites with medicinal properties. In recent years genomic studies, genomic mining and biotechnological approaches have been employed in the search for new antibiotics and other drugs. With contributions from some of the leading scientists in the field, this volume documents recent research and development in streptomycetes genomics, physiology and metabolism. With a focus on biotechnology and genomics, the book provides an excellent source of up-to-date information. Topics include: genome architecture, conjugative genetic elements, differentiation, protein secretion, central carbon metabolic pathways, regulation of nitrogen assimilation, phosphate control of metabolism, gamma-butyrolactones and their role in antibiotic regulation, clavulanic acid and clavams, genome-guided exploration, gene clusters for bioactive natural products, genomics of cytochromes p450. Essential reading for research scientists, biotechnologists, graduate students and other professionals involved in streptomycetes research, antibiotic and antimicrobial development, drug discovery, soil microbiology and related fields. A recommended text for all microbiology laboratories.

Microbial biodegradation of non-metals pollutants plays a pivotal role in the bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater sites. Such pollutants include chloroethenes, steroids, organophosphorus compounds, alkanes, PAHs and PCBs. In this important new book, expert international authors exhaustively review this topic from a biochemical and genetic viewpoint, providing a timely overview of current research. Topics covered include: enzymatic biodegradation reactions; the impact of bioturbation on hydrocarbon dynamics in marine sediments; the structure, function and biodiversity of ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases involved in PAH biodegradation; strategies to engineer PCB-degrading bacteria; PCB-degrading plant-microbe systems strategies; the structure, regulation and diversity of microbial genes encoding biodegradative enzymes. In addition there are excellent reviews detailing the application of the state-of-the-art molecular technologies to study biodegradative processes. Technologies covered are community fingerprinting, molecular detection of degradative genes, and metagenomics for the analysis and monitoring of microorganisms in situ. These are complemented well by the fascinating reviews of the catabolic plasmids and mobile genetic elements involved in bioremediation, including discussions on the origin and evolution of these catabolic pathways to different genera. In addition the best procedures for the evaluation and design of relevant in situ remediation strategies are examined and classical ex-situ technologies such Landfarming, Composting, Biopiling and Slurry-phase bioremediation are described. This book is a vital reference resource for research scientists, graduate students, and other specialists interested on microbial bioremediation of organic pollutants and is recommended reading for environmental microbiologists, chemists and engineers.

As bacterial antibiotic resistance continues to exhaust our supply of effective antibiotics, a global public health disaster appears likely. Poor financial investment in antibiotic research has exacerbated the situation. A call to arms raised by several prestigious scientific organisations a few years ago rallied the scientific community, and now the scope of antibacterial research has broadened considerably. Multi-disciplinary approaches have yielded a wealth of new data on areas ranging from the identification of novel antibacterial targets to the use of biological agents for antibacterial therapy. In this book, respected international experts summarize the most important concepts and pioneering strategies currently being used to develop novel antibacterials. The book opens with chapters on cellular processes that could be used as novel antibacterial targets. Examples include cell division, efflux pumps, metabolite-sensing riboswitches and bacterial secretion systems. These are followed by excellent chapters on the identification of new, naturally occurring antibacterial agents, including phage and biosynthetically engineered compounds. Understanding the host-microbe interaction and microbial communities and how they can be exploited to develop new antibacterial strategies is discussed in subsequent chapters. Other topics included are: antibacterial vaccines adjuvants, host defence peptides, antibodies, within-host models, and diagnostics. A major reference volume on antibacterial research and how it impacts on public health worldwide, the book is essential reading for everyone working in antibacterial research and is a recommended volume for all microbiology libraries.

Interest in the microbial biodegradation of pollutants has intensified in recent years as mankind strives to find sustainable ways to cleanup contaminated environments. These bioremediation and biotransformation methods endeavour to harness the astonishing, naturally occurring, microbial catabolic diversity to degrade, transform or accumulate a huge range of compounds including hydrocarbons (e.g. oil), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceutical substances, radionuclides and metals. Major methodological breakthroughs in recent years have enabled detailed genomic, metagenomic, proteomic, bioinformatic and other high-throughput analyses of environmentally relevant microorganisms providing unprecedented insights into key biodegradative pathways and the ability of organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In this timely book expert international authors critically review all of the most important topics in this exciting field. Although other books covering this are currently available, this book is unique in that it is the first to review the area from a molecular biology and genomics perspective. Topics covered include: aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds, molecular detection methods (e.g. microautoradiography, mRNA analyses, etc.), genome-based predictive modelling, elucidation of regulatory networks, bioavailability, chemotaxis and transport issues, functional genomic analyses, natural attenuation, community fingerprinting and metagenomics, biotreatment, and biocatalysts engineering. Essential reading for microbial degradation and bioremediation scientists and of general interest for microbiologists working in field of environmental microbiology.

This new volume presents overviews of the very latest genetic approaches in a diverse range of prokaryotes. Divided into three sections, the topics include essential techniques for genetic analysis, case studies in which genetic methods in carefully chosen genera are described and approaches are used in the elucidation of specific phenomena. - Up-to-date chapters on essential techniques for genetic analysis in diverse bacteria - The use of plasmids, phages and transposons and their applications to new organisms - Genetic methods in medically and industrially important bacteria such as Mycobacteria, Neisseria, Bacteroides, Clostridia, and spirochaetes - Analysis of virulence in Helicobacter and Erwina - Genetic methods in Archae - Photosynthesis and respiration in Paracoccus and Rhodobacter - Bacillus subtilis sporulation

Late-1990s developments in the study of thermophiles have had considerable significance on theories of evolution. These micro-organisms are able to thrive at temperatures near or even above 100 degrees Celsius, and scientists have begun to study their biology in an attempt to provide clues about the beginnings of life on our planet.Researchers