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A book that constitutes the first attempt to comprehensively assemble current knowledge of different types of such elements, highlight recent developments in the field, and challenge the distinction between viruses and linear plasmids. Linear plasmids of microbes represent a heterogenous group of extrachromosomal genetic elements initially assumed to be rare and peculiar. However, we now know that they are fairly frequently occurring plasmids in bacterial and eukaryotic species. Viral strategies to avoid shortening of the linear molecules during replication imply a common ancestry.
With one volume each year, this series keeps scientists and advanced students informed of the latest developments and results in all areas of the plant sciences. The present volume includes reviews on genetics, cell biology, physiology, comparative morphology, systematics, ecology, and vegetation science.
Due to the possibility that petroleum supplies will be exhausted in the next decades to come, more and more attention has been paid to the production of bacterial pl- tics including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), biopolyethylene (PE), poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), and poly(p-phenylene) (PPP). These are well-studied polymers containing at least one monomer synthesized via bacterial transformation. Among them, PHA, PLA and PBS are well known for their biodegradability, whereas PE, PTT and PPP are probably less biodegradable or are less studied in terms of their biodegradability. Over the past years, their properties and appli- tion...
In the last few decades, DNA-based tools for the investigation of fungal taxonomy, signal transduction and regulation, differentiation processes and biosynthetic potential have accelerated advances in our understanding of the Mycota. This completely updated and revised second edition presents a selection of exciting issues involving basic and applied aspects of fungal physiology and genetics. In 14 chapters, respected experts provide an overview of traditional, topical and future aspects of basic fungal principles and potential applications in biotechnology. The contributions will bring scientists up-to-date on the latest developments, and help students familiarize themselves with the different topics.
Parasitic protozoa, including some which are agents of human and veterinary diseases, display special cytoplasmic structures and organelles. Metabolic pathways have been discovered in these organelles which open up new possibilities for drug targets. This work presents reviews dealing with cytoskeletal structures such as the mastigont system found in trichomonads, the sub-pellicular microtubules in trypanosomatids and the paraflagellar rod. Further chapters cover structures involved in the synthesis, secretion and uptake of molecules, including the flagellar pocket of trypanosomatids, the reservosome of Trypanosoma and the megasome found in Leishmania, the traffic of vesicles in Entamoeba histolytica, secretory organelles and the secretory events of intestinal parasites during encystation. Reviews on special organelles, such as the kinetoplast-mitochondrion complex, the apicoplast found in Apicomplexa, the glycosomes in Kinetoplastida and the acidocalcisomes found in several protozoa complete the volume.
"Hydrogenosomes and Mitosomes: Mitochondria of Anaerobic Eukaryotes" provides a summary of the current knowledge of these organelles which occur in unicellular, often parasitic organisms, including human pathogens. These organelles exhibit a variety of structures and functions. This work describes properties such as protein import, structure, metabolism, adaptation, proteome and their role in drug activation and resistance. Further topics include organelle evolution and biogenesis.
Endophytic prokaryotes can invade the tissue of the host plant without triggering defense reactions or disease symptoms. Instead, they promote the growth of the host plant due to their ability to fix atmospheric dinitrogen and/or to produce plant growth-promoting substances. This Microbiology Monographs volume presents up-to-date findings on the interactions between plants and beneficial prokaryotes, including the use of genomics for the analysis of plant-prokaryote symbioses and their evolution. Rhizobia-legume, actinorhizal and cyanobacterial symbioses are presented.
Rhodococcus, a metabolically versatile actinobacteria which is frequently found in the environment, has gained increasing interest due to its potential biotechnological applications. This Microbiology Monographs volume provides a thorough review of the various aspects of the biochemistry, physiology and genetics of the Genus Rhodococcus. Following an overview of its taxonomy, chapters cover the structural aspects of rhodococcal cellular envelope, genomes and plasmids, metabolic and catabolic pathways, such as those of aromatic compounds, steroids and nitriles, and desulfurization pathways, as well as the adaption to organic solvents. Further reviews discuss applications of Rhodococcus in the bioremediation of contaminated environments, in triacylglycerol accumulation, and in phytopathogenic strategies, as well as the potential of biosurfactants. A final chapter describes the sole pathogenic Rhodococcus member, R. equi.
To cope with the increasing problems created by agrochemicals such as plant fertilizers, pesticides and other plant protection agents, biological alternatives have been developed over the past years. These include biopesticides, such as bacteria for the control of plant diseases, and biofertilizer to improve crop productivity and quality. Especially plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are as effective as pure chemicals in terms of plant growth enhancement and disease control, in addition to their ability to manage abiotic and other stresses in plants. The various facets of these groups of bacteria are treated in this Microbiology Monograph, with emphasis on their emergence in agriculture. Further topics are Bacillus species that excrete peptides and lipopeptides with antifungal, antibacterial and surfactant activity, plant-bacteria-environment interactions, mineral-nutrient exchange, nitrogen assimilation, biofilm formation and cold-tolerant microorganisms.
In 1898, an Austrian microbiologist Heinrich Winterberg made a curious observation: the number of microbial cells in his samples did not match the number of colonies formed on nutrient media (Winterberg 1898). About a decade later, J. Amann qu- tified this mismatch, which turned out to be surprisingly large, with non-growing cells outnumbering the cultivable ones almost 150 times (Amann 1911). These papers signify some of the earliest steps towards the discovery of an important phenomenon known today as the Great Plate Count Anomaly (Staley and Konopka 1985). Note how early in the history of microbiology these steps were taken. Detecting the Anomaly almost certainly required the Plate. If so...