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Clinical Laboratory Management Apply the principles of management in a clinical setting with this vital guide Clinical Laboratory Management, Third Edition, edited by an esteemed team of professionals under the guidance of editor-in-chief Lynne S. Garcia, is a comprehensive and essential reference for managing the complexities of the modern clinical laboratory. This newly updated and reorganized edition addresses the fast-changing landscape of laboratory management, presenting both foundational insights and innovative strategies. Topics covered include: an introduction to the basics of clinical laboratory management, the regulatory landscape, and evolving practices in the modern healthcare environment the essence of managerial leadership, with insights into employee needs and motivation, effective communication, and personnel management, including the lack of qualified position applicants, burnout, and more financial management, budgeting, and strategic planning, including outreach up-to-date resources for laboratory coding, reimbursement, and compliance, reflecting current requirements, standards, and challenges benchmarking methods to define and measure success the importance of test utilization and clinical relevance future trends in pathology and laboratory science, including developments in test systems, human resources and workforce development, and future directions in laboratory instrumentation and information technology an entirely new section devoted to pandemic planning, collaboration, and response, lessons learned from COVID-19, and a look towards the future of laboratory preparedness This indispensable edition of Clinical Laboratory Management not only meets the needs of today's clinical laboratories but anticipates the future, making it a must-have resource for laboratory professionals, managers, and students. Get your copy today, and equip yourself with the tools, strategies, and insights to excel in the complex and ever-changing world of the clinical laboratory.

This edited volume is an inclusive collection of information on crop holobiome, their function and diversity, the plausible role of soil microbes in crop growth, protection from pathogens and stresses, the use of resilient microbiomes for changing climate, and the use of new technologies to study plant-insect-microbe molecular interactions in agricultural systems. Holobiomes provide information about both plants and their microbiomes, which gives a more comprehensive insight, particularly for changing climatic scenarios. By optimizing the crop holobime function crop productivity and plant health can be enhanced manifold. This book deep dives into the numerous ways in which holobiome supports the improving plant health, nutrient uptake, disease control, and stress resistance in major food crops. It helps researchers, academicians, agri-entrepreneurs, and technologists understand the structure and function of holobiomes in crop growth, health, stress tolerance under climatic changes, and holobiome diversity and evolution. The book is also helpful in designing new dimensions in the holobiome research and development of new products and technologies. This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.

Modernizing Global Health Security to Prevent, Detect, and Respond explores—through thoughtful, thorough, and diverse scientific review and analyses—factors that have led to recent public health emergencies and offers a vision for a better protected global environment. The authors consider the history of global health security, governance, and legal structures with an eye toward novel approaches for the present and future. The book presents a vision for a more protected and safer global public health future (with the actions needed to achieve it) to prevent, detect, and respond to (re)emerging threats. Its aim is to chart a way forward with the understanding that future pandemics must and can be prevented. Major topics examined from a public health perspective include global health security; the growing concept of One Health; epidemic and pandemic prevention, detection, and response; reviews of past (e.g., Ebola, MERS-CoV, Zika, and COVID-19) public health emergencies of international concern; roles of information and communication technology; humanmade public health threats; and legal and ethical issues (e.g., viral sovereignty, trust, and transparency). Modernizing Global Health Security to Prevent, Detect, and Respond provides the academic substance and quality for researchers and practitioners to deeply understand the why of health emergencies, and most importantly—what we can and should do now to prepare.Highlights (re)emerging past and future threats to public health (e.g., climate change, antibiotic resistance, failures of societal sectors to work together)Discusses new visions for global health security in each chapterConsiders how to leverage technological innovations to advance public healthIncludes practical examples through case studies from around the world

This book explores the medical importance of Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. (ESKAPE) pathogens, and the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance. It covers the antibiotic resistance profile and detection of ESKAPE pathogens, as well as the mechanistic understanding of antibiotic resistance in these pathogens. The book discusses standard microbiological techniques, including staining, morphological and cultural characteristics, biochemical properties, and serotyping, as well as nucleic acid amplification and molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection of ESKAPE pathogens. In addition, the book explores biochemical, molecular, and computational techniques for the determination of virulence factors of ESKAPE pathogens. It also examines the synthesis, structure, function, and inhibitors of virulence factors and biofilm componentsin these pathogens. The book explores various strategies for combating ESKAPE pathogens, including antibiotic adjuvants and their synergistic activity, phytochemicals as potential antibacterial agents, photodynamic therapy, antimicrobial peptides and antibacterial antibodies, antimicrobial activity of Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, and bacteriophage therapy. Finally, the book discusses in silico and computational approaches for the inhibition of ESKAPE pathogens. This comprehensive book is of interest to researchers, students, and healthcare professionals interested in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of ESKAPE pathogens.

This book presents the latest findings in medical entomology in Japan and neighboring Asian countries. It provides an overview of the current issues of medically important arthropods in this region and also refers to the issues that are likely to become more serious in the near future. It helps us understand that addressing the arthropod issues is not enough in limited regions, but requires a coordinated response throughout these regions. Global warming and globalization are affecting both vector and vector-borne diseases, causing rapid changes in their distribution and ecology. From the perspective of global pest control, the book focuses not only on domestic pests in Japan but also on pests in neighboring Asian countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc., which are geographically and economically close to Japan. Japan has experience of eradicating malaria and lymphatic filariasis, drastically reducing the number of cases of Japanese encephalitis patients, and succeeded in controlling flies in the metropolis of Tokyo. The know-how learned and created from these past successes should provide valuable information for other parts of Asia that are still struggling with pest infestation today. With the growing interest in these issues worldwide, this book provides essential information in medical entomology for researchers, including students and early career researchers. By integrating the latest findings in medical entomology with past successes and experiences in the field, the book is also a valuable reference for many professionals planning sustainable pest control.

This book provides a comprehensive view for plant microbe interactions towards stress management and microbiome-assisted approaches in sustainable agriculture. It is divided into four major sections. The book gives insights into the increasing threat of abiotic and biotic stresses and the accompanying challenges to modern agriculture. Through different chapters, the book shows how various microorganisms could ameliorate abiotic and biotic stress, and contribute towards food sustainability and restore ecosystem functioning. It provides a deep understanding of soil microbiome and its interaction with plants, to enhance food security. It further talks about metagenomic approaches for methodological tool for studying the soil microbiome. Separate sections on stress, talk at length about the various abiotic and biotic stresses that plants are faced it. The book culminates with an exciting section on microbiome-assisted approaches for combating stress. It talks about the different microbiomes such as rhizosphere, soil, phyllosphere and endophytic microbiome. The book would be beneficial to students, researchers and course instructors in microbiology, botany, plant pathology and agriculture.

Molecular Medical Microbiology, Third Edition presents the latest release in what is considered to be the first book to synthesize new developments in both molecular and clinical research. The molecular age has brought about dramatic changes in medical microbiology, along with great leaps in our understanding of the mechanisms of infectious disease. This third edition is completely updated, reviewed and expanded, providing a timely and helpful update for microbiologists, students and clinicians in the era of increasing use of molecular techniques, changing epidemiology and prevalence, and increasing resistance of many pathogenic bacteria. Written by experts in the field, chapters include cutting-edge information and clinical overviews for each major bacterial group, along with the latest updates on vaccine development, molecular technology and diagnostic technology. Completely updated and revised edition of this comprehensive and accessible reference on molecular medical microbiology Includes full color presentations throughout Delves into in-depth discussions on individual pathogenic bacteria in a system-oriented approach Includes a clinical overview for each major bacterial group Presents the latest information on vaccine development, molecular technology and diagnostic technology Provides more than 100 chapters on all major groups of bacteria

This edited book provides a comprehensive account of the new developments in various facets of fungal biology related to the impact and application of fungi on the sustainable economy. The book consists of 24 chapters distributed under five sections written by active researchers and academicians from India and abroad. The five sections of the book are- 1. Fungi in Sustainable Economy, 2. Fungal Resources: Current and Potential Industrial Applications, 3. Fungal Resources: Current and Potential Agricultural Applications, 4. Fungi and their Secondary metabolites: Implications and 5. Fungi: Burden to health and Indoor Environment.The book explores the utility of fungi as food, enzymes, organic compounds, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and agricultural productivity promoter. It also highlights the negative fungal impacts on food production, health and environment. The book is useful to postgraduate students studying mycology, plant pathology, crop protection, agricultural sciences, and plant sciences. In addition, scientists involved in biological and agricultural research, crop management, and various industries that manufacture or utilize fungal products on a small to large scale shall also find the book helpful.

This fully revised 3rd edition provides a comprehensive overview of the biology of fungi associated with plants. Since the publication of the 2nd Edition in 2009, tremendous new knowledge has been gained in the field of fungal-plant interactions, which is reflected in the contributions of this book. World-leading scientists in the field provide authoritative insights into fungal-plant interactions covering the following main topics:Mutualistic and pathogenic fungal-plant interactions in natural and agricultural ecosystemsSensing and signalling in fungus-plant interactionsRegulation of fungal gene expression and developmentFungal genomes and evolutionGlobal pandemics caused by fungal pathogens and their implications for food securityThis volume will be of great interest to both specialists and generalists. It is an indispensable resource for researchers, lecturers and students in microbiology, mycology, and plant sciences, as well as agriculture and biotechnology.

This book covers latest information on organic and inorganic waste management, and how the waste can be utilized as an energy source. An increasing world population and climate change rate hint that environmental health needs a sustainable waste recycling system worldwide. Management of wastes material plays a substantial role in the environment and climate regulation. Chapters contain modern tools and techniques for managing inorganic, biomedical, municipality, and food waste. The title covers the role of contemporary microbiology and biotechnological tools in waste management and how these microbial agents can enhance waste degradation and bioenergy production. The book covers interesting topics such as bio-ethanol production from agro-waste, microbial fuel cells, biogas production from animal waste, nanotechnology in waste recycling, etc. The primary audiences are researchers, scientists, students, and policymakers interlinked with waste management and applied microbial sectors.​

This book examines the role of human microbiome in human health and diseases. The initial chapters present tools for genetic manipulation of gut microbiota and the therapeutic applications of engineered microbiota. They discuss the interaction between human microbiota and host in defining the prominent role of microbes in the development and progression of major human diseases. The book also summarizes the current applications and trends for the development, production and analytical characterization of recombinant therapeutic proteins in microbial systems. It also reviews the role of microbes in the production of vaccines and antibiotics. Further, the book presents bacterial products, including proteins, enzymes, immunotoxins and secondary metabolites, that target cancer cells and cause tumour regression. The chapters also discuss the critical role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease and in bowel-related diseases. Towards the end, the book exploresthe role of intestinal microbiota in metabolic health and the pathogenesis of common metabolic disorders. It presents state-of-the-art insights into important aspects of United Nations—Sustainable Developmental Goal 3.

Viral, Parasitic, Bacterial, and Fungal Infections: Antimicrobial, Host Defense, and Therapeutic Strategies highlight diverse types of infections, including viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and other medications, nutraceuticals, and phytotherapeutics. This book addresses the molecular, pathophysiological, and cellular pathways involved in the process of infection. It also examines the host defense mechanisms modulated by innate and adaptive immunity. The book starts off with an introduction, which includes etiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of infections. It then goes on to cover a wide spectrum of salient features involved in viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections and effective therapeutic strategies. In addition, there is a complete section of eight chapters elaborating the detailed aspects of COVID-19 infections, Mucormycosis, Omicron, and strategic vaccines and therapeutics. The book further goes on to discuss novel antibiotics, vaccines, bromhexine, boron compounds, phytotherapeutics, and aspects on boosting immune competence. Contributed by experts in the fields of viral, parasitic, bacterial, and fungal infections, the book comprehensively details the various types of infections such as herpes and COVID-19, their molecular mechanisms, and treatment strategies for those engaged in the research of infectious diseases. Details the pathophysiology of various classes of infections Examines mechanisms of pathogenesis, immunity, and therapeutics in bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic infectious diseases Discusses various aspects on herpes, COVID-19 infections, Mucormycosis, Omicron, vaccines, and therapeutics Covers the salient features on zoonosis, prion disease, and diabetic foot infections Provides therapeutic strategies of using new antibiotics, vaccines, bromhexine, boron compounds, structurally diverse phytotherapeutics, immune enhancers, and other modalities for treating infections

Pathogenic Coronaviruses of Humans and Animals: SARS, MERS, COVID-19, and Animal Coronaviruses with Zoonotic Potential provides relevant information about common human coronaviruses that may mutate to increase their virulence. The addition of animal coronaviruses allows awareness of not only the potential of zoonotic transmission of coronaviruses from wild animals such as bats and rodents, but also from domestic agricultural and companion animals. The book opens with an introductory chapter on viruses, the immune system, coronaviruses, and their classifications, prevention and protection. Sections also cover history, disease, causative virus, immune response, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance. The book's remaining chapters discuss coronaviruses with possible zoonotic transmission of domestic, semi-domestic animals and companion animals. It concludes with future perspectives of coronavirus mutations, modeling, protective measures and a discussion around pandemics and infectious diseases from around the globe. Covers SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 as well as coronaviruses with possible zoonotic transmission of domestic, semi-domestic animals and companion animals Complements previous studies by bringing together information that compares human and animal coronaviruses Includes a glossary and coronavirus disease overviews of humans and animals

Sequence analyses of numerous fungal genomes over the past two decades have provided us with extensive insights into the phylogenetic relationships of fungi and the distribution of genes and their inferred functions, across the fungal kingdom. It is now possible to answer questions about the origin of the fungal kingdom and fungal evolution with an analytical precision that was not possible before.This fully revised and updated 2nd edition of The Mycota, Vol. 14, addresses major aspects of fungal evolution. The book is divided into four sections covering the following main topics:•Evolutionary roots of fungi•Evolution of pathogenic strategies•Evolution of mutualistic interactions•Evolution of metabolism and development in fungiFungi are among the oldest eukaryotic groups in the living world. The aim of this book is to better understand the history and importance of fungi, as well as the characteristics that distinguish them from their sister group, the metazoans, and other fungus-like groups such as the slime molds and oomycetes. Many fungal species are important pathogens of animals and plants and have distinct but parallel pathogenicity strategies. Mutualistic interactions of fungi with other organisms are crucial for their survival in different ecological niches and have a great influence on their evolution and the design of their genomes. Metabolism is one of the most important features of life, and the diversity of metabolic processes is best understood by considering evolution. Studies of fungal metabolism have traditionally focused on metabolites of particular interest, namely mycotoxins, pathogenicity factors, antibiotics, and other compounds with interspecific activity. This volume will be of great interest to mycologists, evolutionary biologists, and fungal geneticists, as well as to lecturers and students of microbiology and mycology.

This volume on Infectious Diseases in an Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology (ESST) addresses the needs of health care providers and policy makers as well as scientists and engineers. Most of chapters in this volume deal with infectious diseases that directly affect humans, including the detailed characterization of specific pathogens, how they reproduce, how they are transmitted, and the means available to control, eliminate, or eradicate them. In this revised and updated second edition, the number of human infectious diseases covered has been significantly expanded. Other new chapters deal with current leading edge technologies for the diagnosis of pathogens; surveillance including environmental and syndromic surveillance for pathogens; requirements for quality assurance, quality control and the need for biological standards and controls to sustain high quality diagnosis and surveillance; the use of big data for personalized medicine; modeling infectious diseases; zoonotic and vector borne diseases; disease prevention with antibiotics, antivirals and vaccines; and factors that affect ecological balances leading to emergence of new diseases such as climate change and deforestation. Finally, infectious diseases that affect livestock and culture of plants for food, comfort and beauty are also addressed, since we must also consider them when discussing sustainability of humans in our ecosystem.

This work sheds new light on the interplay between the gut, gut microbiota, and host physiological processes in production animals.The gut microbiome shapes health and susceptibility to disease and has become a leading area of research in the animal sciences. Gut health encompasses a number of physiological and functional features. Nutrient digestion and absorption, host metabolism and energy generation, a stable microbiome, mucus layer development, barrier function, and mucosal immune responses; all of which are required to interact to make an animal perform physiologically and according to its greatest genetic potential.This carefully presented book broadens our vision, approach and results on gut health and the ability to regulate animal production. Understanding the chemistry of microbiomes has broad implications, including providing functional annotations for the microbial genomes, insights into the chemical languages that link microbes to each other and to their host, and translational implications for precision veterinary medicine, environmental health, and sustainable animal agriculture and welfare. Experts working in microbiome research, host immunity, and animal production, veterinarians and researchers in livestock science will understand the great importance of this volume.

Extremophiles have unique physiological properties, thus considered to be ideal candidates for industrial development. This book present concepts on cold-adapted microorganisms, centered on four different aspects - (i) diversity of cold adapted microbes (ii) their ecology, physiology and metabolism (iii) omics research in the field and (iv) their potential applications. This volume collates the recent developments and innovations with respect to these microorganisms. This book is meant for researchers, biochemists, industries, and government agencies interested in cold active microbes and their products. Also, would be of interest to NGOs and progressive farmers which are working for higher altitude ecosystems throughout the globe.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that needs immediate attention and action from the scientific community. This book compiles and presents the latest and most important aspects of AMR, including the biology involved, its persistence and spread, and novel approaches to tackle this threat. The book first describes the mechanisms and spread of AMR, and then discusses the various approaches and strategies for combating it. Important topics include, microbial pathogenesis, AMR traits and major mechanisms underlying drug-resistance and the emerging strategies and technologies for combating AMR. Emphasis has been given on current developments about natural products including potent phyto-molecules, antimicrobial peptides and endophytes effective against the drug-resistant microbes and target the main drug-resistance determinants (efflux pumps, biofilms, quorum sensing, plasmids, etc.) in these bacterial pathogens. Other exciting topics include applications of nanomaterials in tackling AMR and CRISPR-Cas based precise sequence-specific antimicrobials. This informative book is meant for students and researchers in basic and medical microbiology and biotechnology. It is also useful to public health professionals and industry experts involved in AMR research and related drug-designing.

Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity, Four Volume Set provides new insights into the interactions between bacteria, fungi, parasites and their hosts. Specific areas of interest include host cellular and immune response to microbes, molecular mechanisms of action of beneficial microbes or host-associated microbial communities, microbial pathogenesis, virulence factors, experimental models of infection, host resistance or susceptibility, and the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Comprised of over 200 chapters written and edited by leading experts in the field, this book will serve as a key resource for students, researchers, academics and industry practitioners in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases. More than 100 years after Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur established the microbial etiology of communicable diseases, the field of microbiology is experiencing a second period of rapid growth and expansion, driven by the realization that changes in host-associated microbial communities might be at the root of a broad spectrum of noncommunicable human diseases. These advances follow on the heels of recent progress in high-throughput sequencing technology, which has provided a wealth of information on the human microbiome and its physiological potential. 2023 PROSE Awards - Winner: Finalist: Reference Works – Biological and Life Sciences: Association of American Publishers Offers a contemporary review of current infection and immunity research, and insights into the future direction of the field Meticulously researched and cross-referenced to allow students, researchers and professionals to find relevant information quickly and easily Includes chapters written by academics and practitioners from various fields and regions, ensuring that the knowledge within is easily understood by, and applicable to, a large audience

The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are among the most common infections of the world's poorest people and have profound ramifications on affected populations, including physical, mental, social, and economic. This third edition of Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases coincides with the third decade of the NTDs movement, which has given access to essential NTD preventative treatments and medications to more than 1 billion people. Professor Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, one of the founders of the NTD movement, discusses how the NTD space evolved and control was implemented against these ancient scourges, through alliances between nongovernmental development organizations and private-public partnerships. Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases also Reports on the health and economic effects of the NTDs, and the challenges of measuring diseases that do not always kill, but adversely affect productivity, child development, pregnancy outcome, and economic development. Lays a roadmap for continued control of existing and newly identified NTDs and spotlights potential opportunities for reducing global poverty and “repairing the world.” Describes a global initiative to provide annual mass drug administration for more than one billion people affected by NTDs. Highlights the role of innovation and product development partnerships for new treatments and vaccines. Explains how science and vaccine diplomacy ensure that a new generation of biotechnologies reaches the world's poorest people. Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases remains an essential resource for anyone seeking insight into global advocacy coordination and mobilization of resources to combat NTDs and continues to tell the story of the world's people who live in extreme poverty and what it means for them to live with these devastating diseases. “Like Dr. Hotez, I have struggled with how to best get the word out about our need to address NTDs and their link to poverty. Now he has provided us all with a remarkable tool, a book for people without an extensive scientific or medical background. Forgotten People, Forgotten Diseases is an excellent ‘one-stop'primer about NTDs.”—Soledad O'Brien, Host, Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien

This book illustrates the importance of microbiome interactions in sustainable agriculture and the environment. The chapters of the book provide information pertaining to the vast diversity of microbiomes in many ecosystems and their functional dynamics. The book also discusses bioremediation, space microbiomes, geo microbiomes, coral microbiomes, antibiotic resistomes, and rhizomicrobiome. It also sheds light on the complex syntrophic and other symbiotic interactions between bacteria, protists, plants, and certain animals in agricultural and environmental systems. The book, in turn, provides an understanding of the adaptation, resilience, and evolution of microbial ecosystems. Further, the chapters cover metagenomics analysis of microbiomes of a novel or extreme environments, microbial resilience or temporal fluctuations, symbiosis and co-evolution of the microbiome, and novel microbial interactions in agriculture and environment. Finally, the book elucidates a comprehensive yet representative description of complex structural and functional diversity within the plant and environmental microbiomes to reveal their immense potential. This book covers United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goal 2 towards Zero Hunger.

This book discusses the cross-talk between plants and microbes in the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere is the hotspot of microbial activities that influence plant growth and crop yield. The rhizosphere-residing microbes include the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, mycorrhizal fungi, antibiotic-producing bacteria, antagonistic, plant-beneficial fungi, and entomopathogens. The three-way cross-talk among the plants, the pathogens and other microbes involves signaling molecules, metabolites, and physical interactions. The book also describes deleterious and beneficial aspects of this communication between plants and microbes. Plants program the local microbiome near their roots, and the microbial community has a profound influence on the functioning of the plant. This complex communication makes the collection of chapters a timely one, because the diverse subjects are linked by their focus on the molecular language of plant-microbe cross-talk.This timely and informative book is useful for students and researchers in the fields of microbiology, soil biology, and plant pathology.

This edited volume provides comprehensive and latest information on the fungal biodiversity in its morphological characters, bioactive molecules, pathogenicity and virulence, and its impacts on crop production and sustainable management of agricultural productivity towards resolving global food security issues. The increasing number of infectious fungal diseases are regarded as threats to agricultural productivity and global food security. The efforts done by scientists to inventories the fungal diversity and identification of fungal species contributing as pathogens towards many plant and human diseases have been compiled in the present volume. The identification of the potential fungal pathogens is a prerequisite for an effective disease control management program. Also important is to understand the complex interactions between the host-pathogen and the environment. The book dwells on insights on the aforementioned aspects. The book also includes articles onecological significance of fungi and fungal antagonists used as biocontrol agents on other pathogens. This compilation is useful to scientists working in similar areas as well as to undergraduate and graduate students keen on getting updated information on the subject. Scientists involved in agricultural research, crop management, and industries that manufacture agrochemicals may also find it useful read.

Indian mycologists have extensively studied various groups of fungi such as soil fungi, aquatic fungi, marine fungi, endophytic fungi, fungi associated with man and animals. Though several books on various aspects of fungi are published, this is the first account of the history and development in mycology in India. This book is the second volume of the two-volume book'Progress in Mycology: An Indian Perspective'. While volume 1 contains the historical aspects, taxonomy and information about the various groups of fungi, this volume focuses majorly on the biotechnological applications of the different groups of fungi. It discusses topics such as the extremophilic fungi, the history and development in Candida research, progress of mycotoxin research in India etc. It provides a detailed account of the various enzymes and bio-active molecules derived from fungi. India shows a very high biodiversity of fungi, and this book discusses these different group of fungiand their industrial and biotechnological applications. This book is useful to students, teachers and researchers in botany, microbiology, biotechnology and life sciences, agriculture and industries using fungi to produce various valuable products.