Microbiology (non-medical) Books

Book SynopsisMichael T. Madigan has taught courses in introductory Microbiology and Bacterial Diversity for 33 years as a Professor of Microbiology at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Mike's research focuses on phototrophic bacteria that inhabit extreme environments, and for the past 20 years, his emphasis has been Antarcticmicrobiology. Kelly S. Bender is' an Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and has served as Chair of the SIUC Department of Microbiology since 2018. Kelly teaches courses in introductory Microbiology and Microbial Diversity, and her lab studies a range of topics, including regulation of sulphate-reducing bacteria and the microbial community dynamics of sites impacted by acid mine drainage. Daniel H. Buckley is a Professor at Cornell University in the School of Integrative Plant Science and the Department of Microbiology. He has taught both introductory and advanced courses i

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant book [that] shows a way out of the destructive trap of Anthropocentric arrogance.' Vandana Shiva, from the Foreword 'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems.' Dr Denis Noble, University of Oxford ‘A welcoming yet fiercely challenging and provocative read shining a light on the way we look at the science of life.’ LoveReading What is life? This is arguably the fundamental question in all of science, and yet many scientists believe that life can be reduced to mechanistic factors, such as genes and information codes. But in a world as rich and complex as this one, can such an assertion really be true? Biocivilisations is a thrillingly original look at the mystery of life and a recognition of the complex civilisations of bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants and animals that have preceded the human world by billions of years. Dr Predrag Slijepčević, senior lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Brunel University, reconsiders the limited scope and timeframe of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and shares how – from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammals – the living world has long fostered ancient biocivilisations: how ants practice agriculture, how insects perform surgery, how trees conduct research, how slime moulds build networks as complex as our modern transportations systems and more. More than 99.99 percent of life on Earth has existed without humanity and life will continue without humans long into the future. Biocivilisations challenges us to reconsider the limited scope and time-window of our current ‘scientific revolution’ and to fundamentally reimagine what we call ‘life on Earth’ by posing a powerful question: Are we really the intelligent masters over nature we think we are? Trade Review'A prodigious synthesis and a great, ambitious and informative book dovetailing multiple fields in its effort – largely successful I think – to light a match – and then blow on the fires of the coming "Copernican biological revolution."' Dorion Sagan'Read this book if you would like to understand the intelligence of living systems. Civilisation did not just start with Homo sapiens. Life cannot be reduced to pure mechanism.' Dr Denis Noble, Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Oxford; Fellow of the Royal Society; 2022 Lomonosov Grand Gold Medal laureate'In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević tells stories about animals that create art, insects that do battlefield surgery, trees that perform scientific research, bacteria that create intelligent networks, and whole ecosystems that are organized with an efficiency that surpasses any human supply chain. Maybe you thought humans were the crown of creation. Maybe we humans have to learn humility and respect for the biosphere that birthed us. Maybe our future depends on it.' Josh Mitteldorf, PhD, coauthor of Cracking the Aging Code'Predrag Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life offers a powerful and welcome synthesis of what we ought by now to be happy to call Gaian science. It brings together crucial developments in biological systems thinking – such as symbiogenesis, epigenetics, biosemiotics, Gaia theory and autopoiesis – under a comprehensive vision founded on the cosmological longevity and cognitive acumen of the bacterial microcosm and its planetary offspring: multicellular life in all of its forms and alliances. Biocivilisations vigorously dismantles modern strains of scientific and cultural anthropocentrism and their current avatars peddling the futurist delusions of Singularity buffs and AI transhumanists. Slijepčević’s presentation of these crucial and heady matters is properly technical but consistently readable and deeply documented. His approach to science participates in a poetic spirit he perceives everywhere in a terrestrial biosphere that has risen for over four billion years to collective, eventually cross-kingdom consortia such as the ‘Wood Wide Web’ revealed by the new forest ecology. The environmental constructions of such biocivilisations long precede the human elaboration of its own technosphere. I highly recommend Slijepčević’s Biocivilisations for those who would like to get effectively up to speed on the most cogent contemporary challenges to the physicalist-mechanistic technoscientific mainstream.' Bruce Clarke, Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor of Literature and Science, Texas Tech University, Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology‘Biocivilizations is an unusually thought-provoking and ambitious book. It challenges the reader to abandon several centuries of assumptions about how to describe the living world in purely physical and mechanistic terms, a world governed by an evolutionary process that places human beings at the apex.’ Dr. James A. Shapiro, author of Evolution: A View from the 21st Century'Sentience, cognition and intelligence are emerging as inherent faculties of all life which has evolved on the Earth. Most of these living systems are much older than humanity and obviously are well integrated to support life. In Biocivilisations, Predrag Slijepčević makes clear that the sentient life is essential for the habitability of our planet and that humans should step down from the so-called crown of evolution model in order to appreciate our true position within the complex network of life. Only then will our civilization improve its rather doomed prospects for survival.' Dr František Baluška, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Bonn"Constructed with care, [Slijepčević's] arguments integrate hundreds of examples from the natural world . . . The prose is solid, impassioned, and informed. . . . [and] by defying entrenched and arrogant assumptions about human superiority, the book shows that people have much to learn from creatures like ants and bacteria." Foreword Reviews"Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, and as fascinating as it is informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Biocivilisations: A New Look at the Science of Life" will have a very special appeal and relevance to readers with an interest in bacteriology, microbiology, evolution, nature and ecology." Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisMichael T. Madigan has taught courses in introductory Microbiology and Bacterial Diversity for 33 years as a Professor of Microbiology at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Mike's research focuses on phototrophic bacteria that inhabit extreme environments, and for the past 20 years, his emphasis has been Antarcticmicrobiology. Kelly S. Bender is' an Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and has served as Chair of the SIUC Department of Microbiology since 2018. Kelly teaches courses in introductory Microbiology and Microbial Diversity, and her lab studies a range of topics, including regulation of sulphate-reducing bacteria and the microbial community dynamics of sites impacted by acid mine drainage. Daniel H. Buckley is a Professor at Cornell University in the School of Integrative Plant Science and the Department of Microbiology. He has taught both introductory and advanced courses iTable of ContentsUNIT 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF MICROBIOLOGY The Microbial World Microbial Cell Structure and Function Microbial Metabolism Microbial Growth and Its Control Viruses and Their Multiplication UNIT 2: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS Microbial Information Flow and Protein Processing Microbial Regulatory Systems Molecular Aspects of Microbial Growth Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea UNIT 3: GENOMICS, SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY, AND EVOLUTION Microbial Genomics and Other Omics Viral Genomics and Diversity Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology Microbial Evolution and Genome Dynamics UNIT 4: MICROBIAL DIVERSITY Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms Ecological Diversity of Bacteria Phylogenetic Diversity of Bacteria Phylogenetic Diversity of Archaea Diversity of Microbial Eukarya UNIT 5: MICROBIAL ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY Taking the Measure of Microbial Systems Microbial Ecosystems Nutrient Cycles Microbiology of the Built Environment Microbial Symbioses with Microbes, Plants, and Animals UNIT 6: MICROBE – HUMAN INTERACTIONS AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Microbial Symbioses with Humans Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis Innate Immunity: Broadly Specific Host Defenses Adaptive Immunity: Highly Specific Host Defenses Immune Disorders and Antimicrobial Therapy UNIT 7: INFECTIOUS DISEASES Diagnosing Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Public Health Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases Vectorborne and Soilborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases Waterborne and Foodborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungi, Protozoa, and Helminths

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Book SynopsisThis book guides through the fascinating world of viruses and makes readers enjoy science in an accessible way. Virologist and author Professor Van Wilson imparts knowledge about what viruses are, how they work, and how much they impact life on Earth. The book equips the reader with the scientific basics behind virus function and presents the historic milestones of virus research and discovery. Well-known viruses such as HIV or Influenza are tackled alongside novel pathogens like coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Professor Wilson explores where they come from and how they impact our society. Last but not least the book provides exciting insights into how our immune system reacts to different viruses and how vaccines contribute to conquer pandemics. While scientifically informative, this book makes the field of virology understandable to a lay audience and encourages readers to further thinking. And more importantly, it conveys the wonder, beauty, and mystery of these ubiquitous, microscopic marvels. This book addresses anyone interested in understanding the principles of virology, viral diseases, or the impact of viruses on human societies.Table of Contents1. The Question of Life“It’s alive! It’s alive!” – Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein An introduction to viruses through some examples that illustrate the size, quantity, and diversity of viruses on earth, followed by a short history of the discovery of viruses. The chapter focuses on the concepts that define life through an examination of animals, plants, and single-cell organisms. These basic features of living organisms are then related to viruses to demonstrate that viruses fail most of the definitions of life and act instead as unique, self-replicating nano-machines. 1.1. Weird Facts and Big Numbers A playful discussion of the sizes and numbers of viruses in our world 1.2. From Ignorance to Fascination A brief history of the discovery of viruses 1.3. A Biological Primer – Multicellular Organisms The biological, functional, and genetic characteristics that define plants and animals 1.4. Smaller, but Still Alive – Unicellular Organisms The biological, functional, and genetic characteristics that define bacteria and yeast 1.5. Biochemistry – You Can’t Escape It The important biomolecules needed for all living organisms 1.6. Viruses at Last A comparison of viruses with living organisms to illustrate the just how different and unique viruses are from any other organisms on Earth 2. Families, Form, and Function “A virus a piece of bad news wrapped in protein” – Sir Peter Medawar An overview of viral taxonomy (families); structure, organization, genetics, and reproduction (form); and pathogenic mechanisms (function). This chapter develops the foundational concepts and vocabulary that are expanded on with specific topics in the subsequent chapters. 2.1. Taxonomy and Other Geeky Things An explanation of how viruses are named and classified 2.2. Virions, the Viral Vehicle A discussion of the viral particle including its shape, component pieces, and functions 2.3. Alive or Not, Viruses Have a Life Cycle The steps in the reproduction process that are common to all viruses 2.4. Infection and Disease - How Viruses Spread and do Nasty Things The mechanisms by which viruses infect cells and cause damage to cells and organs in our bodies 3. Ancient or New – On the Origin of Viruses “Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved” - Charles Darwin An examination of the origins of viruses and their co-evolution with living organisms. Are they the ancient progenitors of all life or are they degenerate offspring that devolved from more complex existing organisms? Competing views on viral origin will be compared and contrasted. The co-evolution of viruses with humans and our hominid ancestors is also explored. 3.1. We Don’t Know Exactly Where We Came From, but We’re Here Anyway A brief history of the universe and the evolution of life on Earth 3.2. Are Viruses the Chicken or the Egg? An introduction to viral origin theories; how did they arise and where did they come from? 3.3. Hypotheses, Hypotheses, and More Hypotheses Examination of the major historical theories for viral origin evolution 3.4. New Data at Last Use of nucleic acid and protein information to analyze viral origins and familial relationships 3.5. Closer to Home How did ancient viruses give rise to modern viral families Papillomaviruses and Hominid Evolution – human papillomaviruses (HPVs) as an example of viral co-evolution with humans 4. Of Predators and Prey “The single biggest threat to man’s continued dominance on the planet is the virus” -Joshua Lederberg, 1958 Nobel Laureate Examination of selected viral diseases that illustrate mechanisms of viral spread and the 3 types of infection outcomes: acute disease (influenza), chronic infection (hepatitis C), and latent infections (herpes varicella-zoster). These examples demonstrate the complex interplay between hosts (humans) and predators (viruses) and explain why viruses have evolved to be such persistent infectious pathogens for humans. 4.1. Viral Infections – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly The principles of how viruses spread, infect cells, and cause disease 4.2. Influenza – More Than Just Bad Air Influenza virus as an example of an acute infection where the virus is completely cleared from the body after recovery 4.3. Hepatitis C – The Great Deceiver Hepatitis C virus as an example of a chronic infection where active virus can remain permanently in the host 4.4. Herpes Varicella-Zoster Virus – Now You See It and Now You Don’t A herpes virus as an example of a virus that cause an acute illness but then becomes latent with the ability to reactivate years later 4.5. Polyomaviruses and Anelloviruses – Predators or Passengers? Examples of viruses that are commonly found in humans but whose disease role is mostly uncertain 5. Immunity, Immunity, Immunity “If we think of the immune system as a machine, then we are far from even knowing all of its parts” - Bruce Beutler, 2011 Nobel Laureate Like the real estate adage about the importance of location, location, location, survival from viral infection illustrates the importance of immunity. The 3 types of relevant immunity (intrinsic, innate, and acquired) will be explained in the context of viral infection. This chapter is the corollary to chapter 4 and discusses how viruses have influenced human evolution as we attempted to combat and counteract viral infections. 5.1. The Big Three – Branches of Immunity An overview of the three branches of immunity and their roles in protection from viruses 5.1.1. Intrinsic Immunity – Always There When We Need It The biology and mechanism of by which intrinsic immunity protects from viral infection 5.1.2. Innate Immunity – Locked and Loaded The biology and mechanism of by which innate immunity protects from viral infection 5.1.3. Adaptive Immunity – The Gift That Keeps On Giving The biology and mechanism of by which adaptive immunity protects from viral infection 6. Viruses That Shaped our World “A virus can change the fate of the world; power has nothing to do with being tiny or giant!” ― Mehmet Murat Ildan In addition to the consequences of viral infection for the individual, large scale viral effects on human populations have influenced history and culture. Examples covered will include smallpox, influenza, poliovirus, and HIV, each of which had important sociological effects on human populations. 6.1. Smallpox – Mankind’s First Conquest The history of smallpox and its devastating Effects on Europe and the New World 6.2. Polio – A Force for Change The history of polio virus and how outbreaks in 20th century America led to the emergence of disease philanthropy and vaccine development 6.3. HIV/AIDS – A New Pandemic for the 20th Century and Beyond The origins of AIDS and how this epidemic introduced universal precautions and inspired medical activism 7. Simian-Virus 40 – How an Obscure Monkey Virus Ushered in the Age of Molecular Biology “The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” – Thomas Berger The extensive poliovirus vaccination programs of the late 1950s and early 1960s lead to the accidental infection of millions of individuals of an unknown virus (SV40) with cancer-causing potential. This mistake sparked a massive research enterprise to understand this virus. Many of the early tools and foundational discoveries of modern molecular biology, as well as the origins of important regulatory compliance policies, derived from this beginning and still echo in our research and society today. 7.1. Viruses, Viruses, and More Viruses How advances in technology led to the identification of more and more new viruses in the 20th century 7.2. Polio Vaccines and A Stealth Simian Virus The discovery of a new simian virus called SV40 as a contaminant of the early polio virus vaccines 7.3. To Be or Not To Be – Is SV40 a Human Tumor Virus? The discovery that SV40 has cancer-causing potential and the continuing debate on its role in human cancers 7.4. The SV40 Revolution How SV40 became a prominent model for molecular biology and led to many important discoveries about human cell biology 7.5. p53 – The Guardian of the Genome How SV40 led to the discovery of p53, the most important human protein for fighting cancer 7.6. Asilomar and the Birth of Biosafety How fears about using SV40 in research led to the federal regulation and the evolution of modern lab biosafety requirements 8. Viral Oncology – Infectious Cancer “Most of the infections linked to human cancers are common in human populations; they are ubiquitous. They were present during the whole human evolution process.” – Harald zur Hausen, 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Approximately 25% of human cancers have been shown to have a viral contribution. This chapter will discuss the role of retroviruses and various DNA type viruses in human cancers, describe how these viruses can transform normal cells into cancerous ones, and illustrate how the study of these viruses has informed our knowledge of the molecular basis for cancer. 8.1. The Infectious Beginnings of Cancer Research The history of viral oncology and the discovery of animal tumor viruses 8.2. The Oncogene Revelation The discovery of oncogenes and the elucidation of their mechanisms 8.3. Human Retroviruses at Last The human T cell leukemia viruses and their link to cancer 8.4. Herpesviruses Turn Oncogenic The link between certain herpesviruses and human cancers 8.5. Hepatitis Viruses and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Chronic hepatitis virus infection and liver cancer 8.6. Human Papillomaviruses – Cancer as an STD How an ancient virus entered Homo sapiens and causes cervical and other cancers 8.7. Merkel Polyomavirus – Finally an Oncogenic Human Polyomavirus A new human virus and its connection with a type of skin cancer 8.8. The Seven Deadly Cancer Viruses A summary of the human cancer viruses 9. The Virus Within “If Charles Darwin reappeared today, he might be surprised to learn that humans are descended from viruses as well as from apes.” - Robin Weiss The sequencing of the human genome revealed that 5-8% of our DNA is not actually human, but instead is viral DNA reflecting millennia of infections that have accumulated in our genome. The significance and consequences of this viral invasion of our genomes will be described. 9.1. Adam and EVEs Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) and how they got into humans 9.2. HERVs, HERVs, and More HERVs How human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) entered our genomes and shaped our genomic evolution 9.3. Beyond HERVs Other types of viruses that have integrated into animal and human genomes 9.4. Assailants or Allies? Are endogenous viruses helpful or harmful 9.5. The HERVs That Made Us Human Examples of HERVs that became part of normal human biology 9.6. The Dark Side How HERVs may be contributing to various human diseases from cancer to neurological conditions 10. Vaccines and the Conquest of Viruses “Throughout human history, viral diseases have had their way with us, and for just as long, we have hunted them down and done our best to wipe them out.” - Jeffrey Kluger Vaccination has been an incredibly effective and important tool against viral infection, but a significant anti-vaccination movement arose in the last 20 years, mostly due to spurious accusations about the harmful effects of vaccines. The chapter will examine the history of vaccination, the types of vaccines, the risk versus benefit of vaccines, and the impact of vaccines on individual and global health. 10.1. The Era of Vaccines The history of vaccine development in the 20th century 10.2. Vaccinology 101 The basic types of vaccines and the principles of how they work 10.3. The Road Is Long With Many A Winding Turn The process for developing and testing a new vaccine 10.4. Anti-Vaxxers: The Force Awakens The history of the anti-vaccine movement in England and the U.S. 10.5. Vaccine Technology – A Glimpse of the Future New vaccine technologies on the horizon 11. New and Emerging Viruses: Where Have They Been Hiding? From HIV to SARS-CoV-2, the last 100 years have seen dozens of new viruses identified. This chapter will examine where new viruses come from, how they enter human populations, and what effects they have on human health and our society. Chapter subsections: tbd 12. Beyond Antibiotics - Are Phage Our Allies? Phages are a special class of viruses that infect and often kill bacteria. With the growing rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is an imminent need for new and different approaches to combat bacterial infections. Phage therapy is an old idea that is seeing a resurgence of interest, and this chapter will discuss the history, process, advantages, and limitations of using phage to treat bacterial infections. Chapter subsections: tbd 13. Gene Therapy and Cancer Therapeutics Given their ability to infect our cells, viruses have unique capabilities as delivery systems to introduce new material into our cells. Viruses are being used to introduce replacement genes of humans with certain defective genes and are also being used to combat certain kinds of cancer. This chapter will explore current and potential therapeutic uses for viruses. Chapter subsections: tbd

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""An entry-level introduction to virology that fascinated me"---Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist"This book offers an excellent overview of the main tenets of viral biology, designed to help readers better understand why viruses cause infection while also highlighting how our environment could not function properly without them."---C. Kale, Choice"Throughout her infectiously enthusiastic, irresistibly illustrated analysis, [Roossinck] emphasizes viral complexity.`"---Andrew Robinson, Nature"[This book] will surely inspire future generations of scientists."---William P. Hanage, The Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisMarvel at the wonders of the miniature world and its complex lifeforms in this fascinating hardback guide, illustrated throughout with spectacular full-colour photography. With the latest developments in scanning electron microscopy, the miniature world has now been revealed to us in never-before-seen detail. With accomplished science writer Marianne Taylor as your guide, you will learn about the microbes that are at the heart of the world''s ecosystems, the composition of minerals, the structure of cells in the human body, and much more besides.Includes:• Microorganisms • Mineral structures• NanotechnologyThe text is brought to life by superb full-colour photos, charts, maps and infographics to reveal the miniature world in all its splendor. A fascinating guide to the world which can be enjoyed by the whole family.ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus'' Discovering... series brings together spectacular

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Book Synopsis'Hugely entertaining' Guardian'Fascinating' Mail on SundayIn 1882, Jean-Martin Charcot was the premiere physician in Paris, having just established a neurology clinic at the infamous Salpêtrière Hospital, a place that was called a 'grand asylum of human misery'. Assessing the dismal conditions, he quickly upgraded the facilities, and in doing so, revolutionized the treatment of mental illness. Many of Charcot's patients had neurosyphilis (the advanced form of syphilis), a disease of mad poets, novelists, painters, and musicians, and a driving force behind the overflow of patients in Europe's asylums. A sexually transmitted disease, it is known as 'the great imitator' since its symptoms resemble those of almost any biological disease or mental illness. It is also the perfect lens through which to peel back the layers to better understand the brain and the mind. Yet, Charcot's work took a bizarre turn when he brought mesmerism - hypnotism - into his clinic, abandoning his pursuit of the biological basis of illness in favour of the far sexier and theatrical treatment of female 'hysterics', whose symptoms mimic those seen in brain disease, but were elusive in origin. This and a general fear of contagion set the stage for Sigmund Freud, whose seductive theory, Freudian analysis, brought sex and hysteria onto the psychiatrist couch, leaving the brain behind. How The Brain Lost Its Mind tells this rich and compelling story, and raises a host of philosophical and practical questions. Are we any closer to understanding the difference between a sick mind and a sick brain? The real issue remains: where should neurology and psychiatry converge to explore not just the brain, but the nature of the human psyche?Trade ReviewAbsorbing and scholarly... A twin biography of psychiatry and neurology, their study charts this uneasy relationship from marriage to divorce to reconciliation even as fundamental questions about the nature of mental illness remain... Hugely entertaining. * Guardian *A rollicking ride, patient by patient, through the history of two conditions, hysteria and neurosyphilis. * The Times *Central to this book is the ongoing dispute regarding which mental illnesses can be attributed to physical abnormalities within the brain and which originate in the mind, or consciousness. The authors emphasise that in many cases we still cannot be sure... Along the way, their investigations exhume some unforgettable scenes and characters... Fascinating * Mail on Sunday *Rich, compassionate and passionate... Sceptical of the excesses of both psychological and biological reductionism, it is a refreshing call for an intellectual reset and disciplinary rapprochement. -- Anne Harrington * Nature *This aptly titled book picks up where Oliver Sacks left off in examining the behavioral characteristics of neurobehavioral syndromes in an effort to span the gap that has historically separated the twin disciplines of the brain, neurology and psychiatry. * Jeffrey A. Lieberman, author of Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry *Through tales of eminent physicians and their suffering patients, replete with sex, drugs, and magnetically-induced hypnotism, we learn how a bacterium that deprived countless souls of their reason also helped scientists discover a role for brain biology in mental illness. * Alan Jasanoff, PhD, author of The Biological Mind *Ropper and Burrell have written an insightful, fantastically readable analysis of what was once called "hysteria." Also, by studying how things can go wrong, we learn a great deal about the working of the human mind when things go right. * Elizabeth Loftus, author of Eyewitness Testimony *Table of Contents0: INTRODUCTION 1: A CLINICAL LESSON 2: WHAT IS A DISEASE? 3: PYGMALION AND GALATEA 4: THE INVENTION OF HYSTERIA 5: THE PAPUAN IDOL 6: HEARTS OF DARKNESS 7: THE SOUL OF A NEW DISEASE 8: THE UNSETTLED TERRITORIES OF THE MIND 9: THE DIFFICULT CASE OF ANNA O. 10: THE DEVIL AND ADRIAN LEVERKÜHN 11: SEX AND THE NEW WOMAN 12: WINNING THE BATTLE AND LOSING THE WAR 13: THE PSYCHIC INTERPRETATION OF DISEASE 14: A BEAUTIFUL NAME FOR A HORRIBLE DISEASE 15: MEDICINAL LOBOTOMY: THE INVENTION OF THORAZINE 16: THE FEVERED DREAM OF A SCIENTIFIC PSYCHOLOGY 17: THE LESSONS OF NEUROSYPHILIS

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and terrifying memoir of one woman''s extraordinary effort to save her husband''s life (Scientific American) - and the discovery of a forgotten cure that has the potential to save millions more.Epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee and her husband, psychologist Tom Patterson, were vacationing in Egypt when Tom came down with a stomach bug. What at first seemed like a case of food poisoning quickly turned critical, and by the time Tom had been transferred via emergency medevac to the world-class medical center at UC San Diego, where both he and Steffanie worked, blood work revealed why modern medicine was failing: Tom was fighting one of the most dangerous, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world.Frantic, Steffanie combed through research old and new and came across phage therapy: the idea that the right virus, aka the perfect predator, can kill even the most lethal bacteria. Phage treatment had fallen out of favor almost 100 years ago, after antibiotic use went mainstream. Now, with time running out, Steffanie appealed to phage researchers all over the world for help. She found allies at the FDA, researchers from Texas A&M, and a clandestine Navy biomedical center - and together they resurrected a forgotten cure.A nail-biting medical mystery, The Perfect Predator is a story of love and survival against all odds, and the (re)discovery of a powerful new weapon in the global superbug crisis.

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Book SynopsisBiological invasions - the introduction, establishment and spread of invasive alien species - are complex global phenomena that can cause significant environmental, ecological, and economic harm. Along with the direct effects of an invasive host organism, there is the additional threat of co-introduced pathogenic and parasitic species. Co-introduced parasites can affect the success of the invasive organism but can also go on to infect hosts in the new range, resulting in novel ecological interactions and complex impacts. These 'Invasive Parasites' can have profound impacts on the success of a biological invasion, and can pose a significant risk to wildlife, in addition to organisms cultured for agriculture and aquaculture.Compiling information on parasite invasions for the first time, this unique book:- provides an in-depth resource on parasite invasions, revealing the subtleties underlying biological invasions and co-introduced disease;- examines the phenomenon and consequences of parasite release in invaded host communities;- explores parasite invasion impacts, interactions and diagnostic techniques;- includes case studies across a broad range of hosts (plants, vertebrates and invertebrates) and parasites (viruses to large Metazoa), from a plethora of aquatic and terrestrial environments.Authored by leading researchers in the discipline, this new book is a useful tool for helping invasion researchers incorporate disease data into their invasion models, as well a vital resource for researchers, policy makers, and environmental managers that are more generally interested in the myriad consequences of species invasions

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive book highlights the importance of Cyanidioschyzon merolae (C. merolae), an ultrasmall unicellular red alga, as a model eukaryote organism. The chapters introduce recent studies on C. merolae, from culture, synchronization and isolation methods of nucleic acids, proteins and organelles for molecular biological and cytological analyses, as well as its application in genetic engineering of environmental-stress-tolerant crops and oil production. In addition to discussing recent advances based on the complete genome information and molecular biological techniques such as genetic modifications and bioinformatics, the book includes visualization aids demonstrating that both classical and recent imaging techniques of fluorescent and electron microscopy can be applied to analyses of C. merolae. This publication offers a definitive resource for both beginners and professionals studying C. merolae, particularly in the field of molecular biology, evolutionary biology, morphology, biochemistry and cell biology, as well as those interested in its applications in medical sciences and agriculture.Table of Contents

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Book SynopsisA virologist's insight into how viruses evolve and why global epidemics are inevitableIn 1993 a previously healthy young man was drowning in the middle of a desert, in fluids produced by his own lungs. This was the beginning of the terrifying Sin Nombre hantavirus epidemic and the start of a scientific journey that would forever change our understanding of what it means to be human.After witnessing the Sin Nombre outbreak, Dr Frank Ryan began researching viral evolution and was astonished to discover that it's inextricable from the evolution of all life on Earth. From AIDS and Ebola to the common cold, Ryan explores the role of the virus within every ecosystem on the planet. His gripping conclusions shed new light on the natural world, proving that what doesn't kill you really does make you (and your species) stronger.Trade ReviewPraise for Virusphere: ‘A fascinating book that is well structured … absorbing … [and] makes an engrossing and fervent argument’ The Inquisitive Biologist Praise for Frank Ryan: 'Extremely well written … Frank Ryan has the page-turning and spine-chilling ability of a good novelist'Sunday Telegraph 'Ryan is very good at making technical matters comprehensible to the lay reader, but more impressive still is the away he conveys the intellectual excitement and elation of scientific discovery'Literary Review ‘Dr Ryan writes well in a difficult technical field, weaving the technicalities of scientific history, medicine, molecular biology and evolution into the human narratives … Very readable and disturbing’New York Times…

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Advances in microbial production of feed amino acid Kuo Zhao, Jianmin Liu, Cong Gao, Jia Liu, Xiulai Chen, Liming Liu, and Liang Guo 2. Advances in microbial synthesis of bioplastic monomers Jie Liu, Jianmin Liu, Liang Guo, Jia Liu, Xiulai Chen, Liming Liu, and Cong Gao 3. Green synthesis of nanoparticles by probiotics and their application Lei Qiao, Xina Dou, Xiaofan Song, and Chunlan Xu

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Book SynopsisA riveting account of how emerging science about microbes, plants and our own bodies can revolutionise agriculture and medicine.Trade Review"A beautifully synthesized scientific memoir." -- Barbara Kiser - Nature "A must-read for avid gardeners, those interested in bolstering our precarious food supply, or anyone remotely concerned about their health and the soil under their feet." -- Kirkus Reviews "The Hidden Half of Nature offers a wonderfully fresh and exquisitely informed approach that could change how we relate to ourselves, our diets, our gardens and our world." -- Tim McNulty - Seattle Times "Montgomery and Bikle argue that when we farm and when we eat, we're feeding a diverse community of microorganisms. This book is sure to become a game-changing guide to the future of good food and healthy landscapes." -- Dan Barber, chef and author of The Third Plate "[A] transformative read." -- Tom Philpott - Mother Jones "The Hidden Half of Nature draws a straight line from the microbes that live in healthy soil to those that live in healthy guts, skillfully blending the personal and the scientific. This is a must-read for anyone concerned with their own health." -- Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist "Amazingly detailed and well-researched. ... [The Hidden Half of Nature] lays out the beautiful connection between the microbial garden in our bodies and the microbial garden in the Earth." -- Sally Peterson - Oregon Live "The Hidden Half of Nature reads like a fast-paced novel but tells the true story of the workings of soils, and even our own bodies." -- Neil Shubin, author of The Universe Within "One of the year's best books on gardens and health." -- Jim McCausland - Sunset Magazine

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Book SynopsisProcedures to Investigate Foodborne Illness is designed to guide public health personnel or teams in any country that investigates reports of alleged foodborne illnesses. The manual is based on epidemiologic principles and investigative techniques that have been found effective in determining causal factors of disease incidence. The guidelines are presented in the sequence usually followed during investigations and are organized so that an investigator can easily find the information needed in any phase of an investigation. Included are descriptions of the following procedures: Plan, prepare, investigate and respond to intentional contamination of food Handle illness alerts and food-related complaints that may be related to illness Interview ill persons, those at risk, and controls Develop a case definition Collect and ship specimens and food samples Conduct hazard analysis (environmental assessments) at sites where foodsTable of ContentsForeword.- Introduction.- Develop a Foodborne Disease Surveillance System.- Investigate Outbreaks.- Seek Sources and Modes of Contamination and Ways By Which the Contaminants Survived and/or Proliferated.- Analyze Data.- Make Recommendations for Control.- Inform the Public.- Calculate Economic Impact of Disease Outbreaks.- Submit Report.- Use Outbreak Data for Prevention.- Addendum: Investigation of Intentional Contamination.- Further Reading.- Appendices

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Book SynopsisAs we continue to live through a pandemic, all eyes are on microbes: an imperceptible and pervasive threat that hangs heavy on the air and clings to surfaces. But the reality of micro-organisms is far more diverse and life-sustaining than such a notion would have us believe (hence the title of this book). Not only are they omnipresent, but we are highly attuned to their workings – both in the world at large and right here within our own bodies. Meanwhile, cutting-edge microbiome research is changing our understanding of reality, challenging fundamental concepts of free will and individuality. Threaded through everything are microbes: the very glue that holds ecosystems together. This topical, engaging and original book counters the prevailing narrative of microbes as the bane of society, along the way providing much-needed clarity on the overwhelmingly beneficial role they play. We discover how the microbiome is highly relevant to environmental and social equity issues, while there’s also discussion about how microbes may influence our decisions: even the way we think about how we think may need to be revisited. Invisible Friends introduces the reader to a vast, pullulating cohort of minute life – friends you never knew you had.Trade ReviewA fascinating exploration of the possibility of the microscopic world...This is not a book written to shock the reader, or to make the reader aghast at the number of microbes on their eyelashes, or in every breath they take. Rather, it is a book to prompt the restoration of the symbiotic relationship between the visible and invisible worlds, as well as the awareness and appreciation of what is contained within our microbiomes. -- Brian McHugh, Climate Thoughts with BrianInvisible Friends by Jake Robinson is just COOL. A journey through an ever changing understanding of the microscopic world. -- Charlie Bingham, nature and travel writerThis is an enthusiastic and hopeful romp through microbiology that encourages readers to rethink their relationship with nature and see themselves as embedded in it. -- The Inquisitive BiologistRefreshing... This book is a must for students of microbiology. -- Arindam Mitra, Microbiology TodayThis volume is an excellent introduction to the microbial world... The text is accessible to a lay audience, and it has a useful appendix with further scientific explanations and reading suggestions. Robinson uses storytelling and integrated interviews with scientists to make each point. This book could be used as a text in a general education science course as a way to introduce diverse topics such as ecology, environmental science, evolution, human health, and psychology as well as the obvious microbiology. -- D. Schulman, CHOICETable of ContentsIntroduction 1 The microbiome and humans as walking ecosystems 2 Rekindling old friendships in new landscapes 3 Antibiotic resistant landscapes 4 Microbes and social equity 5 The Psychobiotic Revolution 6 The Lovebug Effect 7 The Holobiont Blindspot 8 The glue that holds our ecosystems together 9 Microbes and trees 10 Rewild. Regenerate. Restore 11 Biointegrated design 12 Microbiome-Inspired Green Infrastructure (MIGI) 13 To catch a thief: forensic microbiology 14 Microbes in outer space 15 You are what your microbes eat 16 Nature connectedness Conclusion Microbes 101 Notes Glossary Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWhen we are born, we are basically sterile. By the time we die, we are more microbe than human. Microscopic organisms are essential to the development of human life. Until Antonie van Leeuwenhoek observed his own microbes under a self-made microscope in the seventeenth century, we were not even aware that they existed. Clinician-scientist Fergus Shanahan and graphic design artist Laura Gowers shed light on the microbial world. How can we nurture microbes in the face of the climate emergency? Why do Irish Travellers have a unique microbiome? A remarkable, groundbreaking graphic book.Table of Contents1 Evolving Together, 2 Discovering Each Other, 3 Living Together, 4 Growing Old Together, 5 Survivng the Future, Meet the Authors

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Book SynopsisA microscope is a gateway to another dimension, allowing us to explore the fascinating realm of microorganisms. From the colonies of green algae that grace the cover of this book, to bacteria, cellular structures and protozoa – an entire world of life, almost limitless and yet invisible to the naked eye, awaits through the lens of a microscope. Until now there has been no book that offers easy access to the exciting and mind-expanding world of microscopy. Practical, compact and accessible, this guide is written especially for beginners. It provides help in learning the correct use of a microscope and the production of preparations. Structured clearly in 25 short chapters, it allows the reader to progress in manageable stages. Each step focuses on a particular theme, introducing the relevant techniques. From illumination to observation, from slide preparation to staining, this book supplies all the building blocks needed for skilled use of microscopes. With this step-by-step approach, the way into the wonderful visual universe of the miniature becomes very simple, even if your first microscope is only a budget model: most of the activities suggested here work using a basic instrument without the more sophisticated accessories. Indeed, the history of microscopy shows that discoveries of great significance have been possible even with rather modest equipment. And this is just as true today. Illustrated throughout with photographs and diagrams, this book is the perfect companion as you discover the richness of microscopic life.Table of ContentsForeword Preface Introduction: Why use a microscope? Creating your own micro-laboratory 1. Structure of the microscope 2. How to use your microscope 3. Light – transmitter of information 4. Orders of magnitude 5. Three-dimensional images 6. Brownian movement 7. Simple wet mounts 8. Preparation by squashing 9. Tissue under the lens 10. Animal cells 11. Plasma flows and oblique lighting 12. Osmotic processes 13. Documentation 14. Tiny aquatic creatures 15. Cocci and bacilli 16. Preparing sections 17. Plant organs 18. Woody tissues 19. Distinctive animal tissues 20. Making permanent specimens 21. Surface examination 22. Investigating polarised light 23. Thin sections 24. Dusts and Rheinberg illumination 25. Microscopic photographs Index

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Book SynopsisDeath is not an end – it’s a new beginning. After death, all of the molecules that came together to form the living “you” become nutrients for millions of creatures, large and small. Your body becomes the hub of a complex ecosystem of microbes, insects, worms, plants and more. Cheer up! This book shows how you are going to live forever – as components of so many other wonderful creatures. It describes the science behind the remarkable recycling of your body. We begin with lessons about how your body functions, is a collection of valuable nutrients and is a home to millions of microbes. The book goes on to describe the various stages the body passes through as it decomposes following death. The microbes and insects that make use of your tissues are then introduced. Finally, you will learn about the enduring effects that your body will have on the wider biosphere. We are rich in valuable resources that will end up feeding an immense number and variety of other creatures. Inevitably, your body will support the continuation of life on our beautiful planet – this book describes how all this happens.Table of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1. It comes to us all Chapter 2. A rich bag of goodies - the human body as a source of nutrients2.1 What types of tissues are present in my body? 2.1.1 Epithelial tissue – keeping it all together2.1.2 Connective tissue – our support system 2.1.3 Muscle tissue – standing and moving2.1.4 Nervous tissue – “I’ve got a feeling” (thank you Beatles) 2.2 But what are all these tissues made up of?2.2.1 Small is beautiful, but big is also very important 2.2.2 Structures of the main macromolecules in humans 2.2.3 Where are macromolecules found in human tissues?2.3 How available to microbes and insects are the nutrients present in the human body? 2.4 And then, of course, we shouldn’t forget that brown, smelly stuff 2.5 Want to know more?Chapter 3. Our life-long microbial companions – who are they and what do they get up to while we’re alive?3.1 What are microbes? 3.1.1 What is the definition of a microbe? 3.1.2 So, how are these six types of microbes different from each other?3.1.3 They’re so small so they must be very simple creatures?3.1.4 How do we identify the various types of microbes? 3.2 Meet my best friends - my microbiota3.2.1 How many microbes live on me?3.2.2 Do all parts of my body have the same microbes?3.2.3 Which microbes live in my gut?3.2.3.1 Microbes that live in our mouth 3.2.3.2 Microbes that live in our stomach3.2.3.3 Microbes that live in our small intestine 3.2.3.4 Microbes that live in our large intestine3.2.4 Which microbes live on my skin? 3.2.5 Which microbes live in my respiratory system?3.2.6 What about the microbes that live at other body sites?3.3 How do we manage to co-exist with our microbiota?3.4 Want to know more?Chapter 4. Not a pretty picture – our appearance after death4.1 How can we find out what happens to a body after death?4.2 The decomposition of a human corpse follows a predictable pattern4.3 What are the various stages involved in decomposition?4.3.1 The fresh stage – 0 to 3 days after death 4.3.2 The bloat stage – 2 to 6 days after death4.3.3 The stage of active decay – 5 to 11 days after death4.3.4 Advanced decay (or post-decay) stage - 10 to 25 days after death4.3.5 Skeletal decay stage - >25 days after death 4.4 The smell of death - “I think, I think, I smell a stink, it comes from y…o…u” 4.5 Factors that affect the rate of decomposition4.6 Where’s my mummy?4.7 Want to know more?Chapter 5. The great betrayal – our own cells and our symbionts turn against us5.1 It all starts with autolysis – the damage is self-inflicted5.2. And now the microbes can take over5.3. It all comes down to ecology5.4. Ch…Ch….Ch….changes (with thanks to David Bowie)5.5. Mass migration – a world (or, at least, a corpse) without borders 5.6. Knock, knock – who’s there?5.6.1. A general overview – the broad-brush approach5.6.2. What happens to specific organs?5.6.2.1. What happens in your mouth?5.6.2.2. What happens in your gut?5.6.2.3. What happens to your skin?5.6.2.4. What happens in your brain?5.6.2.5. What goes on in your heart (with thanks to the Beatles)?5.6.2.6. What happens in your liver?5.6.2.7. What happens to your spleen?5.6.2.8. What happens to the uterus?5.6.2.9. What happens to the prostate?5.6.2.10. What happens to them bones, them bones, them dry bones (with thanks to the Johnson brothers)? 5.6.2.11. What happens to your blood?5.6.3. Come on in, it’s now open house – the invasion of the body-eaters5.7 Want to know more?Chapter 6. From the micro to the macro – now the big guys move in6.1 What is an insect?6.2. What goes on above ground – who’s first and who’s last?6.2.1 The fresh stage6.2.2 The bloat stage6.2.3 The active decay stage6.2.4 The advanced decay stage6.2.5 The skeletonisation stage6.2.6 Wave upon wave of insects – “Help, I’m not waving but drowning” 6.3 And now for what’s going on down below6.3.1 Early arrivals6.3.2 Now for the late-comers6.3.3 And last, but not least6.4 Want to know more?Chapter 7. And what about the rest of the big, wide world? Corpse decomposition and the environment7.1 What are the ways in which a corpse affects the environment?7.1.1 Let’s start with the sensual7.1.2 Now for the chemical7.1.2.1 Local effects7.1.2.2 Distant effects7.1.3 The biological impact 7.1.3.1 What happens to the soil microbiota? 7.1.3.2 Now for the nematodes7.1.3.3 The micro-arthropods are also affected7.1.3.4 What about insects?7.1.3.5 Are other animals affected?7.1.3.6 What about plants?7.1.3.7 The bigger picture7.2 Final thoughts7.3 Want to know more?APPENDIX I. GlossaryAPPENDIX II. Brief descriptions of microbes mentioned in the bookAPPENDIX III. Images of corpses

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary role of viruses in evolution and how this is revolutionising biology and medicine.Darwin''s theory of evolution is still the greatest breakthrough in biological science. His explanation of the role of natural selection in driving the evolution of life on earth depended on steady variation of living things over time but he was unable to explain how this variation occurred. In the 150 years since publication of the Origin of Species, we have discovered three main sources for this variation mutation, hybridisation and epigenetics. Then on Sunday, 12th February, 2001 the evidence for perhaps the most extraordinary cause of variation was simultaneously released by two organisations the code for the entire human genome. Not only was the human genome unbelievably simple (it is only ten times more complicated than a bacteria), but embedded in the code were large fragments that were derived from viruses fragments that were vital to evolution of all organisms and the evidenTrade Review‘Viruses aren't always harmful … Frank Ryan uses some beautiful examples to illustrate this idea. Worth reading.’BBC Focus

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Book SynopsisWritten primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer will introduce students to topics at the forefront of the subject that are being applied to probe biological problems, or to address the most pressing issues facing society. These topics will include those that form the cornerstone of contemporary research, helping students to make the transition to active researcher.Students will acquire a solid understanding of the essentials of microbial biotechnology, its applications in agriculture, diagnostics and urban and artistic conservation, as well as the potential threats genetic modification may pose to public health, the environment and intellectual property.Table of Contents1: The basic principles of a biotechnology process 2: Microbial growth 3: Microbial bio-production 4: Biotechnology and food and drink production 5: Environmental biotechnology 6: Application of synthetic biology to biotechnology 7: Diagnostics 8: Microbial biotechnology and agriculture 9: Using extremophiles in biotechnology 10: Microbial biotechnology in the art and built environment 11: Ethical considerations

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Book SynopsisThis accessible book describes a fascinating range of emerging infectious disease outbreaks affecting humans, including rabies, Ebola virus, Lyme disease, bubonic plague, and of course, Covid-19. The book also covers emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, such as Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease, white nose syndrome, mange, and musk ox lungworm. These case studies span the entire range of zoonotic disease emergence pathways, from sheep testicles in Wyoming, USA to butchered bush rats in Vietnam! Transmission dynamics are examined from diverse perspectives - from global drivers of pathogen emergence (including globalization, land use patterns, and changing climates) to outbreak epidemiology (epidemic curves and disease spillover), to conservation and control interventions.Despite a recent explosion of courses on the topic, and a viral pandemic that has affected the entire world, this is the first textbook to focus on pathogen spillover ecology at the humanwildlife interface. EmeTable of Contents1: Spillover and emerging infectious diseases 2: The anatomy of disease 3: Descriptive epidemiology of disease outbreaks 4: Surveillance 5: Making simple predictions using models 6: The environment as a pathogen reservoir 7: Reservoir hosts 8: Identifying animal reservoirs during an epidemic 9: Emerging infectious diseases and globalizationDLtravel, trade, and invasive species 10: Climate change and emerging infectious diseases 11: Land use change and emerging infectious diseases 12: Impacts of emerging infectious diseases on wildlife populations 13: Infectious diseases in ecosystems 14: Infectious disease control 15: COVID-19, One Health, and pandemic prevention

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringThe term ''microbiomes'' encapsulates an important scientific breakthrough of recent years. This is the realization that humans, other animals, and plants harbour communities of microorganisms which are mostly beneficial but can occasionally cause or exacerbate disease. Our quickly developing understanding of microbiomes is being translated into novel microbial therapies for human disease and is contributing to sustainable practices in agriculture and food production. On the flipside, there is a growing concern that some claims for microbiomes, especially in relation to human health, far exceed the scientific data.This Very Short Introduction is an essential guide to the fast-moving discipline of microbiome science. It accessibly distills the key facts about our resident microbiomes, explains how and why our health and wellbeing depend on them, and provides readers with the fundamental knowledge they need to judge the reliability of claims about microbiome-based applications.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of illustrations 1: Living with microbes 2: How to get and keep a microbiome 3: Microbiomes, nutrition, and metabolic health 4: Microbiomes, the brain, and behaviour 5: Microbiomes and infectious disease 6: Plant microbiomes in agriculture and food production 7: Microbial therapies and healthy microbiomes Glossary Further reading

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Book SynopsisThe first in-depth study of Japanese fermentation science in the twentieth century. The Arts of the Microbial World explores the significance of fermentation phenomena, both as life processes and as technologies, in Japanese scientific culture. Victoria Lee's careful study documents how Japanese scientists and skilled workers sought to use the microbe's natural processes to create new products, from soy-sauce mold starters to MSG, vitamins to statins. In traditional brewing houses as well as in the food, fine chemical, and pharmaceutical industries across Japan, they showcased their ability to deal with the enormous sensitivity and variety of the microbial world. Charting developments in fermentation science from the turn of the twentieth century, when Japan was an industrializing country on the periphery of the world economy, to 1980 when it had emerged as a global technological and economic power, Lee highlights the role of indigenous techniques in modern science as it took shape in Japan. In doing so, she reveals how knowledge of microbes lay at the heart of some of Japan's most prominent technological breakthroughs in the global economy. At a moment when twenty-first-century developments in the fields of antibiotic resistance, the microbiome, and green chemistry suggest that the traditional eradication-based approach to the microbial world is unsustainable, twentieth-century Japanese microbiology provides a new, broader vantage for understanding and managing microbial interactions with society.Trade Review"Lee... describes many interesting developments associated with the modern production of various types of sake, including processes related to nutrition, alcohol content, and flavors, ultimately influencing the Japanese manufacture of antibiotics." * Choice *"The Arts of the Microbial World is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the industrial food system. * Isis *"In this brilliant tour de force, Lee orchestrates science, politics, and production to show how microbes—and the understanding of microbes—shaped Japan’s distinctive modernity. If you’ve ever eaten soy sauce or drunk sake, you’re the beneficiary of age-old fermentation practices. This deep-rooted knowledge, based on the insight that life is fermentation, played a vital role in the twentieth-century developments that put Japan at the forefront of modern medicine, food processing, and environmental understanding. This nuanced history demonstrates that although scientific problems may be universal, scientific practices are subtly shaped by culture and politics." -- Julia Adeney Thomas, coauthor of The Anthropocene: A Multidisciplinary Approach"In The Arts of the Microbial World, Lee explores how Japanese scientists treated microbes not as threats, but as gifts, from which they conjured new foods, drinks, drugs, fuels, and tastes. The result is a thrilling and surprising new history of fermentation biology that offers a nuanced counterpoint to western, gene-centric histories. Wonderfully written and brilliantly researched, this is compelling and exciting work." -- Christopher Otter, Ohio State University"Lee successfully pursues a sustained argument that remains integrated and coherent even as she explores its varied instantiations in different topics, times, and locations. The originality of the book lies not only in providing a history of Japanese fermentation science in the twentieth century in its institutional, economic, and cultural dimensions, but especially in demonstrating the continuing importance of an indigenous craft tradition in shaping the twentieth-century field. In doing so she convincingly shows the inadequacy of interpreting Japanese fermentation science as simply a case of technology transfer." -- John Lesch, University of California, BerkeleyTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION Microbe History 1 SAKE AND SHŌYU Remaking Mold Cultures 2 NUTRITION No Longer a Land of Plenty 3 NATION Asia’s Microbial Gardens and Japanese Knowledge 4 ALCOHOL Empire in Practice 5 ANTIBIOTICS Domesticating Penicillin 6 FLAVOR To Screen for Gifts CONCLUSION The Science of Modern Life Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Vision Guiding Modernization of Global Health Security Section I International Regulatory Environment to Prevent, Detect, and Respond2. Ethics and Global Health Security3. National Interagency Collaboration for Public Health4. The imperative for global cooperation to prevent and control pandemics 5. International Legal Issues of National Sovereignty and Authority Impacting Global Health Security Section II Global One Health to Address Pandemics - Ecological and Biological Challenges in the Dynamic Planet6. (Re-)emerging Viral Zoonotic Diseases at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface7. EEmergence and Dissemination of Antimicrobial Resistance at the Interface of Humans, Animals, and the Environment8. Toxic and Environmentally Ubiquitous Chemical Agents9. Global Climate Change Impacts on Vector Ecology and Vector-borne Diseases10. Assessment of Critical Gaps in Prevention, Control, and Response to Major Bacterial, Viral, and Protozoal Infectious Diseases at the Human, Animal, and Environmental Interface11. Urbanization, Human Societies and Pandemic Preparedness and Mitigation Section III People and Goods on the Move12. The Interconnected World of Trade, Travel, and Transportation Networks13. Mitigating Negative Economic Impacts of Pandemics14. Health Measures at Points of Entry for Prevention15. Rights-based Global Health Security through all-hazard risk management Section IV Tools and Techniques to Modernize Prevention, Detection, and Response16. Global Laboratory Systems17. Modernizing Public Health Surveillance18. Creating One Health, Integrated, and Informatics-Savvy Health Organizations 19. Analytics and Intelligence for Public Health Surveillance20. Tools and Techniques for Modernizing Prevention, Detection, and Response 21. Countering Vaccine Hesitancy Section V Moving to the Best-protected Global Community22. Science and Political Leadership in Global Health Security23. Influence of Finance and Philanthropy24. Enhancing Trust and Transparency in Public Health Programs25. Workforce Development26. Advancing Conceptual and Practical Links between Health System Preparedness and Long-term Benefits to Achieve Health Security 27. Measuring Progress of Public Health Response and Preparedness

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Book Synopsis"An invaluable portrait of the evolution of international health in recent decades." —William Bynum, Wall Street JournalTrade Review"An invaluable portrait of the evolution of international health in recent decades…We need more people like Peter Piot who will rise to the occasion with spirit and passion." -- William Bynum - Wall Street Journal"[A] fascinating account of the complex behavioural responses that epidemics trigger among their human hosts." -- José Esparza - Nature"From laboratories to field epidemiology, boardrooms and political chambers, [No Time To Lose] charts an incredibly impactful career in science and the fine arts of diplomacy, communication and political engagement in difficult situations." -- Chikwe Ihekweazu - Nature"Insightful." -- Andrew Jack - Financial Times"A riveting read." -- Laurie Garrett - The Lancet"A timely and accessible memoir…enthralling reading…will appeal to budding young scientists." -- Booklist (starred review)"Piot helped assure that affordable drugs revolutionizing AIDS treatment would be available to the poorest victims. He leaves a legacy of change and hope in two worlds—medicine and politics—and an urgent reminder that their cooperation saves lives." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Book SynopsisBrings together the various discoveries of microbiology. Of interest to general readers, this book provides a view of evolution as a process based on interdependency and their interconnectedness of life on the planet.Trade Review"A luminous prose style. . . . Clear, evocative, and, at its best, dense with realities rather than concepts or opinions, [Microcosmos] grips the serious reader in a way that transcends both science and science journalism." * New York Times Book Review *"Microcosmos is a book for all to read. Although the ideas expressed with such clarity and enthusiasm in this enthralling volume are soundly based on current scientific research they are couched in a language that anyone with a smattering of biology can easily grasp. . . . Microcosmos is a book packed with information and fascinating detail, but all of it to the purpose of demonstrating how life forms are interwoven with each other." * The Ecologist *"A fascinating, engrossing, superbly written account. . . . Makes the story of evolution—including very recent findings—accessible." * Los Angeles Times *"A stunning, complex chronicle . . . proposing that only an understanding of the microcosm from which life sprang can make possible our ultimate leap beyond Earth into a human-devised supercosm." * Publishers Weekly *"First published in 1986, Microcosmos is already regarded as a seminal book in its field." * Hartford Courant *Table of ContentsForeword by Lewis Thomas (1986) Preface (1997) Acknowledgments Introduction: The Microcosm 1. Out of the Cosmos 2. The Animation of Matter 3. The Language of Nature 4. Entering the Microcosm 5. Sex and Worldwide Genetic Exchange 6. The Oxygen Holocaust 7. New Cells 8. Living Together 9. The Symbiotic Brain 10. The Riddle of Sex 11. Late Bloomers: Animals and Plants 12. Egocentric Man 13. The Future Supercosm Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of the universally acclaimed textbook on fungal biology has been completely re-written, to take account of recent progress in the taxonomy, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, pathology and ecology of the fungi. The emphasis throughout is on whole-organism biology from an integrated, multidisciplinary perspective.Trade Review'… highly recommended.' Mycological Research'The drawings of this book are accurate and aesthetically pleasing. … The authors have taken greatest care in production of this work; legends to figured and tables, spelling of names, references are flawless. … The authors succeed in conveying much of their fascination to their readers. I can only wish this book, written by an eminent teacher of mycology, a very wide distribution.' Nova HedwigiaTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Protozoa: Myxomycota (slime moulds); 3. Protozoa: Plasmodiophoromycota; 4. Straminipila: minor fungal phyla; 5. Straminipila: Oomycota; 6. Chytridiomycota; 7. Zygomycota; 8. Ascomycota (ascomycetes); 9. Archiascomycetes; 10. Hemiascomycetes; 11. Plectomycetes; 12. Hymenoascomycetes: Pyrenomycetes; 13. Hymenoascomycetes: Erysiphales; 14. Hymenoascomycetes: Pezizales (operculate discomycetes); 15. Hymenoascomycetes: Helotiales (inoperculate discomycetes); 16. Lichenized fungi (chiefly Hymenoascomycetes: Lecanorales); 17. Loculoascomycetes; 18. Basidiomycota; 19. Homobasidiomycetes; 20. Homobasidiomycetes: gasteromycetes; 21. Heterobasidiomycetes; 22. Uredinales: the rust fungi; 23. Ustilaginomycetes: smut fungi and their allies; 24. Basidiomycete yeasts; 25. Anamorphic fungi.

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Book SynopsisMicroscopic organisms are as important to plant growth as water and light. Microbe Science for Gardeners highlights the essential role of microbes in plant biosystems and health, provides practical how-to gardening advice for enhancing plant microbiomes and preventing disease, and debunks common gardening myths.Trade Review"Robert Pavlis' newest book, Microbe Science for Gardeners beautifully breaks it down in his usual no-nonsense way. If you want to learn anything about the science of soil, and what's in it, this book will help you easily understand the vital role microbes play in bringing soil (and everything growing in it) to life!" –Joe Lamp'l, founder, joegardener.com, The Online Gardening Academy™, creator/ executive producer, Growing a Greener World® "Robert Pavlis' Microbe Science for Gardeners is an accessible and understandable dive into the amazing relationship between microbes and plants. Useful and practical gardening advice." –Jeff Lowenfels, author, the Teaming Series and DIY Autoflowering Cannabis "Microbe Science for Gardeners is deeply in-tune with the current science and Pavlis also introduces us to lesser-known and developing ideas in soil microbiology that we will see grow over the next few years. No matter your understanding of soil biology, I suspect Microbe Science for Gardeners will leave you deeply enriched, as it has me. From backyard to farm-scale, this is a book every grower should possess." –Jesse Frost, author, The Living Soil Handbook: The No-till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market Gardening "This fascinating book by Robert Pavlis presents the latest science on what is known (and not known) about the multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that fill the soil, cover leaves, and interact with roots. This is an outstanding resource and should be in the hands of anyone interested in gardening!" –Linda Gilkeson, author, Backyard Bounty: The Complete Guide to Year-Round Organic Gardening in the Pacific Northwest "A must-have for gardeners who want to understand the unseen worlds above and below the soil, Robert Pavlis' latest book explains the hidden life keeping our plants thriving." –Rebecca Martin, technical editor, Mother Earth News "Robert Pavlis has a unique ability to communicate complex topics with ease and clarity. He has done it again with Microbe Science for Gardeners. This comprehensive exploration of soil ecology examines the dynamic relationships between plants and the microbiome of the soil, providing the reader with a guide to understanding the role of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes in the creation and maintenance of healthy soil." –Darrell Frey, owner, Three Sisters Farm, and author, Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm Table of Contents1. Introduction Why Learn About Microbes? Terms Used in This Book 2. The World Under a Microscope Microbes by the Numbers Microbes Are Important to Plants Microbes Can Harm Plants Gardeners Affect Microbes How Do Microbes Move Around? How Much Do We Really Know? 3. Bacteria How Do Bacteria Eat? Where Do Bacteria Live? Life Cycle of Bacteria Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria 4. Fungi What do Fungi Eat? Where Do Fungi Live? Life Cycle of Fungi Pathogenic Fungi Mycorrhizal Fungi 5. Yeast Life Cycle of Yeast Yeast-Plant Interactions Yeast in Hellebore Nectar Yeast Creates Alcoholics Yeast on Leaves Yeast in Soil A Bioindicator of Air Quality A Possible Solution to Plastic Pollution 6. Nematodes 7. Protozoa Life Cycle of Protozoa Nutrient Cycling Protozoa-Plant Interactions Plant Diseases 8. Viruses Viruses in Soil Life Cycle of a Virus The Spread of Viruses Virus Infection of Microbes Virus Infection of Plants Rapid Mutation Beneficial Interaction with Plants 9. More Microbes Archaea Actinomycetes Cyanobacteria Algae 10. Microbe Communities Microbe Communities and Microbiomes Signaling Between Microbes Microbes Attack Microbes Mycorrhizal Interactions Lichens 11. Plants Love Microbes Nutrient Availability The Phyllosphere Rhizosphere Rhizophagy Cycle Seed Microbiome 12. Manipulating Microbes Fungal-to-Bacterial Ratio Effect of Agriculture Biodiversity 13. Bioinoculants for the Garden Bioinoculants for Seeds Bioinoculants as a Foliar Spray Bioinoculants for Soil Microbes Are No Longer Living Should Gardeners Use Commercial Bioinoculants? Compost Tea 14. Pathogens You Suspect a Disease—What Now? List of Plant Diseases Fighting Plant Diseases Commercial Pesticides Human Diseases Endnotes Index About the Author Also by the Author About New Society Publishers

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Book SynopsisThe author team of Prescott's Microbiology continues to provide a modern approach to microbiology using evolution as a framework. This new 12th edition integrates impactful new changes to include a fresh new design to engage students and important content updates including SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 which are prominently featured, taxonomic schemes that have been extensively revised, recent epidemiological data, and mRNA vaccines which just scrapes the surface of this new edition.Table of ContentsPart One Introduction to MicrobiologyChapter: 1. The Evolution of Microorganisms and MicrobiologyChapter: 2. MicroscopyChapter: 3. Bacterial Cell StructureChapter: 4. Archaeal Cell StructureChapter: 5. Eukaryotic Cell StructureChapter: 6. Viruses and Other Acellular Infectious AgentsPart Two Microbial Nutrition, Growth, and ControlChapter: 7. Bacterial and Archaeal GrowthChapter: 8. Control of Microorganisms in the EnvironmentChapter: 9. Antimicrobial ChemotherapyPart Three Microbial MetabolismChapter: 10. Introduction to MetabolismChapter: 11. Catabolism: Energy Release and ConservationChapter: 12. Anabolism: The Use of Energy in BiosynthesisPart Four Microbial Molecular Biology and GeneticsChapter: 13. Bacterial Genome Replication and ExpressionChapter: 14. Regulation of Cellular ProcessesChapter: 15. Eukaryotic and Archaeal Genome Replication and ExpressionChapter: 16. Mechanisms of Genetic VariationChapter: 17. Microbial DNA TechnologiesChapter: 18. Microbial GenomicsPart Five The Diversity of the Microbial WorldChapter: 19. ArchaeaChapter: 20. Nonproteobacterial Gram-Negative BacteriaChapter: 21. ProteobacteriaChapter: 22. Gram-Positive BacteriaChapter: 23. ProtistsChapter: 24. FungiChapter: 25. VirusesPart Six Ecology and SymbiosisChapter: 26. Exploring Microbes in EcosystemsChapter: 27. Microbial InteractionsChapter: 28. Biogeochemical Cycling and Global Climate ChangeChapter: 29. Microorganisms in Marine and Freshwater EcosystemsChapter: 30. Microorganisms in Terrestrial EcosystemsPart Seven Pathogenicity and Host ResponseChapter: 31. Innate Host ResistanceChapter: 32. Adaptive ImmunityChapter: 33. The Microbe-Human EcosystemChapter: 34. Infection and Pathogenicity Part Eight Microbial Diseases, Detection, and Their ControlChapter: 35. Epidemiology and Public Health MicrobiologyChapter: 36. Clinical Microbiology and ImmunologyChapter: 37. Human Diseases Caused by Viruses and PrionsChapter: 38. Human Diseases Caused by BacteriaChapter: 39. Human Diseases Caused by Fungi and ProtistsPart Nine Applied MicrobiologyChapter: 40. Microbiology of FoodChapter: 41. Biotechnology and Industrial MicrobiologyChapter: 42. Applied Environmental MicrobiologyAppendix 1 A Review of the Chemistry of Biological MoleculesAppendix 2 Common Metabolic PathwaysAppendix 3 Microorganism Pronunciation Guide

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Book SynopsisA number of diseases and conditions that occur primarily in remote rural or poor urban areas of low-income countries have traditionally been neglected by the neuroscience research community.Table of ContentsTHE “GLOBAL WORLD VILLAGE” AND NEGLECTED DISEASES 1. Overview on neglected nervous system diseases: past, present and perspectives The volume editors 2. Travel, migration and neglected tropical diseases Zeno Bisoffi, Dora Buonfrate and Andrea Angheben, Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy 3. Stigma in neurological diseases at the Tropics Faustin Yepnjio, EN Tabah and Alfred Njamnshi, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon NEGLECTED INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 4. Nematode infections: Neurological involvement and neurobiology Yukifumi Nawa, Khon Kaen, University, Bangkok, Thailand 5. Amoebiasis: Neurological involvement and neurobiology Naveed Ahmed Khan, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan 6. Neuroschistosomiasis Teresa Cristina A Ferrari, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil 7. Neurocysticercosis: Neurology and neurobiology Arturo Carpio, University of Cuenca, Ecuador and Agnes Fleury INNN, Mexico City 8. Onchocerciasis: Neurological involvement Alfred Njamnshi and AC Zoung-Kanyi Bissek, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon 9. Human African trypanosomiasis: A highly neglected neurological disease Alain Buguet, Polyclinique Marie-Louise Poto-Djembo, Pointe Noire, République du Congo, Ghislain Mpanzou, Clinique Municipale Albert Leyono, Brazzaville, République du Congo, and Marina Bentivoglio, University of Verona, Verona, Italy , 10. Human African trypanosomiasis: Neurobiology Willias Masocha, Krister Kristensson and Martin Rottenberg, University of Kuwait and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 11. Chagas’ disease: Neurology and neurobiology José Rodrigues Coura, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 12. Neurodegeneration in leprosy: Insights from model systems and patients Toshihiro Masaki, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan, and Anura Rambukkana, University of Edinburgh, UK 13. Rabies: Neurology Alan Jackson, University of Manitoba, Canada– 14. Rabies : Neurobiology Monique Lafon, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France 15. Japanese encephalitis and other arbovirus infections: Neurology and neurobiology Usha Kant Misra and Jayantee Kalita, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India NEGLECTED TOXIC DISORDERS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 16. Khat addiction: Neurology Michael Odenwald, University of Konstanz, Germany 17. Khat addiction: Neurobiology Nilesh Patel, University of Nairobi, Kenya 18. Konzo: neurology of a permanent and non-progressive motor neuron Daniel Okitundu, University of Kinshasa, DR Congo, Dieudonné Mumba, Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa & National Institute of Biomedical Research, DR Congo and Desire Tshala-Katumbay, Center for Research on Occupational & Environmental Toxicology, Portland, USA 19. Food preservation, snake venoms and stroke in the Tropics Albert Akpalu, University of Accra, Ghana SEQUELS AND CONSEQUENCES 20. Infectious causes of epilepsy? Charles R. Newton, Wellcome Trust, Kilifi, Kenya, Ryan G. Wagner, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa 21. Cognitive impairment and behavioural disturbances following malaria or HIV infection in childhood Michael Kihara, Amina Abubakar, Charles RJC Newton, The Centre for Geographical Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya

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Book SynopsisBacteria were the first life on Earth. But what do we really know about them? In this captivating, science-driven book, you’ll learn everything you need to know about these often misunderstood—and incredibly interesting—microbes.In this engagingly written and scientifically rigorous book, author and scientist Ludger Wess introduces an eclectic collection of impressive, useful, weird, and dangerous bacterial species. Wess reveals everything he knows about bacteria, including their ability to survive almost anywhere, to “sleep” for millions of years before becoming active again, to maintain their own immune systems (a discovery that has led to medical breakthroughs for humans), and to—hypothetically—live on other planets.In part two, Wess moves on to his curious compendium of bacterial species, presenting fifty fascinating portraits grouped by useful categories: bacteria that are record holders, extreme-habitat dwellers, unusual consumers, people-helpers, and people-harmers. Beautiful black-and-white illustrations accompany each portrait. At the end of this engrossing read, Wess recognizes how much we still don’t know about bacteria. But by starting here, we can come closer to understanding the first life on Earth.Trade Review"[C]aptivating... Wess's focus on the oddities of the bacterial world makes for an entertaining introduction to a critical, if underappreciated, facet of planetary life. Readers will come away with a deeper appreciation for the diversity of living organisms."—Publishers Weekly"We need more books like this... a great introduction to bacteria, complete with terrific illustrations."—Jeff Lowenfels, author of Teaming with Bacteria"Wow, wow, wow. Ludger Wess's deep dive into the lives of bacteria stretches the definition of life itself. Amazing."—Eugenia Bone, author of Microbia: A Journey into the Unseen World Around You"Reveals the unexpected marvels of the bacterial world, from the bottom of the Mariana Trench to the heights of the stratosphere, from the largest bacterium to the smallest."—Keith Seifert, author of The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi: Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes, and Bodies

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Book SynopsisMethods in microbial systematics have developed and changed significantly in the last 40 years. This has resulted in considerable change in both the defining microbial species and the methods required to make reliable identifications. Developments in information technology have enabled ready access to vast amounts of new and historic data online. Establishing both the relevance, and the most appropriate use, of this data is now a major consideration when undertaking identifications and systematic research. This book provides some insights into how current methods and resources are being used in microbial systematics, together with some thoughts and suggestions as to how both methodologies and concepts may develop in the future. It includes coverage of: The philosophy and changes in microbial systematics, including the relevance of names, new concepts of species, and the issues encountered with species that cannot be grown in culture. The application of new identification technologies, specifically those based on nucleic acids and complex chemo-taxonomic methods. The challenges of using published databases and other data resources in arriving at an identification appropriate to current species concepts. The practical requirements of an identification: obtaining and verifying reference cultures and data, and the type and level of identification required by different users. This book is suitable for academic researchers, scientists involved with identification or survey, microbiologists, students and extension workers.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Bridging 200 years of bacterial classification Chapter 2: Identification of fungi: background, challenges and prospects Chapter 3: Names of microorganisms and data resources to retrieve information about published names Chapter 4: Preserving the reference strains Chapter 5: Can older fungal sequence data be useful? Chapter 6: Data resources: role and services of culture collections Chapter 7: MALDI TOF MS and currently related proteomic technologies in reconciling bacterial systematics Chapter 8: MALDI-TOF MS and its requirements for fungal identification Chapter 9: The strength of chemotaxonomy Chapter 10: Microbial Genomic Taxonomy Chapter 11: Navigating bacterial taxonomy in a world of unchartered microbial organisms Chapter 12: Sequence-based identification and classification of fungi Chapter 13: Identification and Classification of Prokaryotes Using Whole Genome Sequences Chapter 14: Genomic sequences for fungi Chapter 15: What can genome analysis offer for bacteria? Chapter 16: Genomes Reveal the Cohesiveness of Bacterial Species Taxa and Provide a Path Toward Describing All of Bacterial Diversity Chapter 17: Are species concepts outdated for Fungi? Intraspecific variation in plant-pathogenic fungi illustrates the need of subspecific categorization Chapter 18: Where to now

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Book SynopsisThis book addresses current topics on pathogenic Vibrio spp. from a comprehensive and holistic perspective. Here, experts in the field provide timely chapters, ranging from genomics, pathogen emergence, and epidemiology to pathogenesis, virulence regulation and host colonization. Questions addressed include: How does climate change affect the spread of these bacteria? What is the status of current vaccines? Are there novel therapeutic options to treat Vibrio infections? Is there likelihood of emergence of new pathogenic strains or species? Can insights from mathematical models and epidemiology lead to prediction of pathogen outbreaks?Recent decades have seen a steady increase in Vibrio spp. infections originating in aquatic and marine habitats, driven by higher human population densities, warming of polluted oceans, natural and human-made disasters, and mass seafood production. These conditions increase the likelihood of pathogenic Vibrio spp. coming into contact with humans, making their study even more timely and relevant as these problems escalate over time. This book is a valuable resource for health management professionals, experienced microbiologists/ microbial ecologists, and early career scientists alike who want to learn more about these important environmental human pathogens. The ideas and technologies presented in this book for preventing, controlling, and monitoring Vibrio spp. infections contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being. Table of ContentsChapter 1. Vibrio Infections and the Twenty-First Century.- Chapter 2. New Insights into Vibrio Cholerae Biofilms from Molecular Biophysics to Microbial Ecology.- Chapter 3. Type VI Secretion Systems: Environmental and Intra-Host Competition of Vibrio cholerae.- Chapter 4. Motility Control as a Possible Link Between Quorum Sensing to Surface Attachment in Vibrio Species.- Chapter 5. The Vibrio Polar Flagellum: Structure and Regulation.- Chapter 6. Environmental Reservoirs of Pathogenic Vibrio Spp. and Their Role in Disease: The List Keeps Expanding.- Chapter 7. Cholera Dynamics and the Emergence of Pandemic Vibrio cholerae.- Chapter 8. Role of Bacteriophages in the Evolution of Pathogenic Vibrios and Lessons for Phage Therapy.- Chapter 9. Vibrio vulnificus, an Underestimated Zoonotic Pathogen.- Chapter 10. The Role of Nutrients and Nutritional Signals in the Pathogenesis of Vibrio cholerae.- Chapter 11. Stress Responses in Pathogenic Vibrios and Their Role in Host and Environmental Survival.- Chapter 12. Vibrio parahaemolyticus Epidemiology and Pathogenesis: Novel Insights on an Emerging Foodborne Pathogen.- Chapter 13. The Viable but Non-Culturable (VBNC) State in Vibrio Species: Why Studying the VBNC State Now, Is More Exciting than Ever.- Chapter 14. Structural Insights into Regulation of Vibrio Virulence Gene Networks.- Chapter 15. When Vibrios Take Flight: A Meta-Analysis of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Wild and Domestic Birds.- Chapter 16. What Whole Genome Sequencing Has Told Us About Pathogenic Vibrios.

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Book SynopsisFocusing on current and future uses of microbes as production organisms, this practice-oriented textbook complements traditional texts on microbiology and biotechnology. The editors have brought together leading researchers and professionals from the entire field of industrial microbiology and together they adopt a modern approach to a well-known subject. Following a brief introduction to the technology of microbial processes, the twelve most important application areas for microbial technology are described, from crude bulk chemicals to such highly refined biomolecules as enzymes and antibodies, to the use of microbes in the leaching of minerals and for the treatment of municipal and industrial waste. In line with their application-oriented topic, the authors focus on the "translation" of basic research into industrial processes and cite numerous successful examples. The result is a first-hand account of the state of the industry and the future potential for microbes in industrial processes. Interested students of biotechnology, bioengineering, microbiology and related disciplines will find this a highly useful and much consulted companion, while instructors can use the case studies and examples to add value to their teaching.Table of ContentsPreface xvii 1 Historical Overview and Future Perspective 1Bernhard Eikmanns, Marcella Eikmanns, and Christopher J. Paddon 1.1 Use of Fermentation Procedures Before the Discovery of Microorganisms (Neolithic Era = New Stone Age Until 1850) 1 1.2 Investigation of Microorganisms and Beginning of Industrial Microbiology (1850 Until 1940) 7 1.3 Development of New Products and Procedures: Antibiotics and Other Biomolecules (From 1940) 11 1.4 Genetic Engineering is Introduced into Industrial Microbiology (From Roughly 1980) 15 1.5 Future Perspectives: Synthetic Microbiology 18 References 20 Further Reading 21 2 Bioprocess Engineering 23Michael R. Ladisch, Eduardo Ximenes, Nathan Mosier, Abigail S. Engelberth, Kevin Solomon, and Robert Binkley 2.1 Introduction 23 2.1.1 Role of Bioreactors 25 2.1.2 Basic Bioreactor Configurations 26 2.1.3 Types of Growth Media 27 2.2 Nonstructured Models 28 2.2.1 Nonstructured Growth Models 28 2.2.1.1 Unstructured Models 29 2.2.1.2 Biotechnical Processes 30 2.2.2 Modeling Fermentations 32 2.2.3 Metabolic Pathways 39 2.2.4 Manipulation of Metabolic Pathways 40 2.2.5 Future of Pathway Design 42 2.3 Oxygen Transport 43 2.3.1 Aerobic versus Anaerobic Conditions 43 2.3.2 kLa – Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficient 44 2.4 Heat Generating Aerobic Processes 46 2.5 Product Recovery 49 2.5.1 Basics 49 2.5.2 In Situ Product Recovery (ISPR) 49 2.6 Modeling and Simulation of Reactor Behavior 51 2.6.1 Basic Approaches and Software 51 2.6.2 Numerical Simulation of Bioreactor Function 51 2.6.3 Contamination of Bioreactors 52 2.7 Scale-up 53 References 54 Further Reading 57 3 Food 59Gülhan Ünlü and Barbara Nielsen 3.1 Fermented Foods 59 3.1.1 Food Preservation 59 3.1.2 Flavor and Texture 60 3.1.3 Health Benefits 60 3.1.4 Economic Impact 62 3.2 Microorganisms and Metabolism 62 3.2.1 Fermentation Processes 64 3.2.2 Starter Cultures 65 3.3 Yeast Fermentations – Industrial Application of Saccharomyces Species 65 3.3.1 Grain Fermentation for Ethanol Production – Beer 66 3.3.2 Grain Fermentation for CO2 Production – Bread 69 3.3.2.1 Yeast Preparation 69 3.3.3 Fruit Fermentation –Wines and Ciders 71 3.4 Vinegar – Incomplete Ethanol Oxidation by Acetic Acid Bacteria Such as Gluconobacter oxydans 75 3.4.1 Substrates: Wine, Cider, and Malt 75 3.4.2 Distilled (White) Vinegar 77 3.4.3 Balsamic and Other Specialty Vinegars 77 3.5 Bacterial and Mixed Fermentations – Industrial Application of Lactic Acid Bacteria, with or without Yeast or Molds 78 3.5.1 Milk – Cultured Milks – Buttermilk, Yogurt, Kefir, and Cheese 78 3.5.1.1 Bacteriophage Contamination – Death of a Culture 81 3.5.2 Meats – Sausages, Fish Sauces, and Pastes 82 3.5.3 Vegetables – Sauerkrauts and Pickles, Olives 83 3.5.4 Grains and Legumes – Soy Sauce, Miso, Natto, and Tempeh 86 3.5.5 Cocoa and Coffee 87 3.6 Fungi as Food 88 3.6.1 Mushrooms 88 3.6.2 Single-Cell Protein – Fusarium venenatum 90 3.7 Conclusions and Outlook 91 References 92 Further Reading 92 4 Technical Alcohols and Ketones 95Peter Dürre 4.1 Introduction 95 4.2 Ethanol Synthesis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Clostridium autoethanogenum 97 4.2.1 Application 97 4.2.2 Metabolic Pathways and Regulation 97 4.2.3 Production Strains 98 4.2.4 Production Processes 98 4.2.5 Ethanol – Fuel of the Future? 100 4.2.6 Alternative Substrates for Ethanol Fermentation by Cellulolytic Bacteria and Clostridium autoethanogenum 100 4.3 1,3-Propanediol Synthesis by Escherichia coli 101 4.3.1 Application 101 4.3.2 Metabolic Pathways and Regulation 102 4.3.3 Production Strains 102 4.3.4 Production Processes 104 4.4 Butanol and Isobutanol Synthesis by Clostridia and Yeast 105 4.4.1 History of Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol (ABE) Fermentation by Clostridium acetobutylicum and C. beijerinckii 105 4.4.2 Application 106 4.4.3 Metabolic Pathways and Regulation 107 4.4.4 Production Strains 110 4.4.5 Production Processes 110 4.4.6 Product Toxicity 113 4.5 Acetone Synthesis by Solventogenic Clostridia 113 4.5.1 Application 113 4.5.2 Metabolic Pathways and Regulation 113 4.5.3 Production Strains 114 4.5.4 Production Processes 114 4.6 Outlook 115 Further Reading 115 5 Organic Acids 117Michael Sauer and Diethard Mattanovich 5.1 Introduction 117 5.2 Citric Acid 119 5.2.1 Economic Impact and Applications 120 5.2.2 Biochemistry of Citric Acid Accumulation 120 5.2.3 Industrial Production by the Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus niger 122 5.2.4 Yarrowia lipolytica: A Yeast as an Alternative Production Platform 123 5.3 Lactic Acid 124 5.3.1 Economic Impact and Applications 124 5.3.2 Anaerobic Bacterial Metabolism Generating Lactic Acid 125 5.3.3 Lactic Acid Production by Bacteria 125 5.3.4 Lactic Acid Production by Yeasts 126 5.4 Gluconic Acid 127 5.4.1 Economic Impact and Applications 127 5.4.2 Extracellular Biotransformation of Glucose to Gluconic Acid by Aspergillus niger 128 5.4.3 Production of Gluconic Acid by Bacteria 129 5.5 Succinic Acid 129 5.5.1 Economic Impact and Applications 130 5.5.2 Pilot Plants for Anaerobic or Aerobic Microbes 130 5.6 Itaconic Acid 132 5.6.1 Economic Impact and Applications 132 5.6.2 Decarboxylation as a Driver in Itaconic Acid Accumulation 132 5.6.3 Production Process by Aspergillus terreus 132 5.6.4 Metabolic Engineering for Itaconic Acid Production 132 5.7 Downstream Options for Organic Acids 134 5.8 Perspectives 135 5.8.1 Targeting Acrylic Acid – Microbes Can Replace Chemical Process Engineering 136 5.8.2 Lignocellulose-Based Biorefineries 136 Further Reading 137 6 Amino Acids 139Lothar Eggeling 6.1 Introduction 139 6.1.1 Importance and Areas of Application 139 6.1.2 Amino Acids in the Feed Industry 140 6.1.3 Economic Significance 141 6.2 Production of Amino Acids 142 6.2.1 Conventional Development of Production Strains 142 6.2.2 Advanced Development of Production Strains 144 6.3 l-Glutamate Synthesis by Corynebacterium glutamicum 145 6.3.1 Synthesis Pathway and Regulation 145 6.3.2 Production Process 148 6.4 l-Lysine 148 6.4.1 Synthesis Pathway and Regulation 148 6.4.2 Production Strains 150 6.4.3 Production Process 152 6.5 l-Threonine Synthesis by Escherichia coli 153 6.5.1 Synthesis Pathway and Regulation 153 6.5.2 Production Strains 154 6.5.3 Production Process 155 6.6 l-Phenylalanine 155 6.6.1 Synthesis Pathway and Regulation 155 6.6.2 Production Strains 156 6.6.3 Production Process 157 6.7 Outlook 158 Further Reading 159 7 Vitamins, Nucleotides, and Carotenoids 161Klaus-Peter Stahmann and Hans-Peter Hohmann 7.1 Application and Economic Impact 161 7.2 l-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) 163 7.2.1 Biochemical Significance, Application, and Biosynthesis 163 7.2.2 Regioselective Oxidation with Bacteria in the Production Process 164 7.3 Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 166 7.3.1 Significance as a Precursor for Coenzymes and as a Pigment 166 7.3.2 Biosynthesis by Fungi and Bacteria 167 7.3.3 Production by Ashbya gossypii 168 7.3.4 Production by Bacillus subtilis 171 7.3.5 Downstream Processing and Environmental Compatibility 173 7.4 Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) 174 7.4.1 Physiological Relevance 174 7.4.2 Biosynthesis 176 7.4.3 Production with Pseudomonas denitrificans 176 7.5 Purine Nucleotides 178 7.5.1 Impact as Flavor Enhancer 178 7.5.2 Development of Production Strains 178 7.5.3 Production of Inosine or Guanosine with Subsequent Phosphorylation 179 7.6 β-Carotene 180 7.6.1 Physiological Impact and Application 180 7.6.2 Production with Blakeslea trispora 181 7.7 Perspectives 181 Further Reading 183 8 Antibiotics and Pharmacologically Active Compounds 185Lei Fang, Guojian Zhang, and Blaine A. Pfeifer 8.1 Microbial Substances Active Against Infectious Disease Agents or Affecting Human Cells 185 8.1.1 Distribution and Impacts 185 8.1.2 Diversity of Antibiotics Produced by Bacteria and Fungi 189 8.2 β-Lactams 190 8.2.1 History, Effect, and Application 190 8.2.2 β-Lactam Biosynthesis 190 8.2.3 Penicillin Production by Penicillium chrysogenum 193 8.2.4 Cephalosporin Production by Acremonium chrysogenum 193 8.3 Lipopeptides 193 8.3.1 History, Effect, and Application 193 8.3.2 Lipopeptide Biosynthesis 194 8.3.3 Daptomycin Production by Streptomyces roseosporus 194 8.3.4 Cyclosporine Production by Tolypocladium inflatum 194 8.4 Macrolides 197 8.4.1 History, Effect, and Application 197 8.4.2 Macrolide Biosynthesis 197 8.4.3 Erythromycin Production by Saccharopolyspora erythraea 197 8.5 Tetracyclines 200 8.5.1 History, Effect, and Application 200 8.5.2 Tetracycline Biosynthesis 200 8.5.3 Tetracycline Production by Streptomyces rimosus 201 8.6 Aminoglycosides 201 8.6.1 History, Effect, and Application 201 8.6.2 Aminoglycoside Biosynthesis 201 8.6.3 Tobramycin Production by Streptomyces tenebrarius 203 8.7 Claviceps Alkaloids 203 8.7.1 History, Effect, and Application 203 8.7.2 Alkaloid Biosynthesis 203 8.7.3 Ergotamine Production by Claviceps purpurea 203 8.8 Perspectives 203 8.8.1 Antibiotic Resistance 203 8.8.2 New Research Model for Compound Identification 206 8.8.3 Future Opportunities 207 Further Reading 211 9 Pharmaceutical Proteins 213Heinrich Decker, Susanne Dilsen, and Jan Weber 9.1 History, Main Areas of Application, and Economic Importance 213 9.2 Industrial Expression Systems, Cultivation and Protein Isolation, and Legal Framework 215 9.2.1 Development of Production Strains 215 9.2.2 Isolation of Pharmaceutical Proteins 221 9.2.3 Regulatory Requirements for the Production of Pharmaceutical Proteins 222 9.3 Insulins 223 9.3.1 Application and Structures 223 9.3.2 Manufacturing Processes by Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 225 9.3.2.1 Production of a Fusion Protein in E. coli 226 9.3.2.2 Production of a Precursor Protein, the So-Called Mini Proinsulin with the Host Strain S. cerevisiae 228 9.4 Somatropin 230 9.4.1 Application 230 9.4.2 Manufacturing Process 231 9.5 Interferons – Application and Manufacturing 232 9.6 Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor 234 9.6.1 Application 234 9.6.2 Manufacturing Process 235 9.7 Vaccines 235 9.7.1 Application 235 9.7.2 Manufacturing Procedure Using the Example of GardasilTM 236 9.7.3 Manufacturing Process Based on the Example of a Hepatitis B Vaccine 237 9.8 Antibody Fragments 238 9.9 Enzymes 239 9.10 Peptides 240 9.11 View – Future Economic Importance 240 Further Reading 242 10 Enzymes 243David B.Wilson, Maxim Kostylev, Karl-Heinz Maurer, Marina Schramm, Wolfgang Kronemeyer, and Klaus-Peter Stahmann 10.1 Fields of Application and Economic Impacts 243 10.1.1 Enzymes are Biocatalysts 243 10.1.2 Advantages and Limitations of Using Enzymatic Versus Chemical Methods 244 10.1.3 Brief History of Enzyme Used for the Industrial Production of Valuable Products 245 10.1.4 Diverse Ways That Enzymes are Used in Industry 246 10.2 Enzyme Discovery and Improvement 250 10.2.1 Screening for New Enzymes and Optimization of Enzymes by Protein Engineering 250 10.2.2 Classical Development of Production Strains 251 10.2.3 Genetic Engineering of Producer Strains 253 10.3 Production Process for Bacterial or Fungal Enzymes 255 10.4 Polysaccharide-Hydrolyzing Enzymes 255 10.4.1 Starch-Cleaving Enzymes Produced by Bacillus and Aspergillus Species 257 10.4.2 Cellulose-Cleaving Enzymes: A Domain of Trichoderma reesei 259 10.4.3 Production Strains 261 10.5 Enzymes Used as Cleaning Agents 263 10.5.1 Subtilisin-Like Protease 264 10.5.2 Bacillus sp. Production Strains and Production Process 265 10.6 Feed Supplements – Phytases 266 10.6.1 Fields of Applications of Phytase 267 10.6.2 Phytase in the Animals Intestine 267 10.6.3 Production of a Bacterial Phytase in Aspergillus niger 269 10.7 Enzymes for Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry 271 10.7.1 Examples for Enzymatic Chemical Production 271 10.7.2 Production of (S)-Profens by Fungal Lipase 271 10.8 Enzymes as Highly Selective Tools for Research and Diagnostics 272 10.8.1 Microbial Enzymes for Analysis and Engineering of Nucleic Acids 272 10.8.2 Specific Enzymes for Quantitative Metabolite Assays 275 10.9 Perspectives 276 10.9.1 l-DOPA by Tyrosine Phenol Lyase 276 10.9.2 Activation of Alkanes 276 10.9.3 Enzyme Cascades 276 References 277 Further Reading 277 11 Microbial Polysaccharides 279Volker Sieber, Jochen Schmid, and Gerd Hublik 11.1 Introduction 279 11.2 Heteropolysaccharides 282 11.2.1 Xanthan: A Product of the Bacterium Xanthomonas campestris 282 11.2.1.1 Introduction 282 11.2.1.2 Regulatory Status 282 11.2.1.3 Structure 282 11.2.1.4 Biosynthesis 284 11.2.1.5 Industrial Production of Xanthan 286 11.2.1.6 Physicochemical Properties 287 11.2.1.7 Applications 289 11.2.2 Sphingans: Polysaccharides from Sphingomonas sp. 291 11.2.3 Hyaluronic Acid: A High-Value Polysaccharide for Cosmetic Applications 293 11.2.4 Alginate: Alternatives to Plant-Based Products by Pseudomonas and Azotobacter sp. 294 11.2.5 Succinoglycan: Acidic Polysaccharide from Rhizobium sp. 294 11.3 Homopolysaccharides 295 11.3.1 α-Glucans 296 11.3.1.1 Pullulan 296 11.3.1.2 Dextran 296 11.3.2 β-Glucans 297 11.3.2.1 Linear β-glucans like cellulose and curdlan 297 11.3.2.2 Branched β-Glucans Like Scleroglucan and Schizophyllan 297 11.3.3 Fructosylpolymers like Levan 298 11.4 Perspectives 298 Further Reading 299 12 Steroids 301Shuvendu Das and Sridhar Gopishetty 12.1 Fields of Applications and Economic Importance 301 12.2 Advantages of Biotransformations During Production of Steroids 303 12.3 Development of Production Strains and Production Processes 305 12.4 Applied Types of Biotransformation 307 12.5 Synthesis of Steroids in Organic – Aqueous Biphasic System 310 12.6 Side-chain Degradation of Phytosterols by Mycobacterium to Gain Steroid Intermediates 311 12.7 Biotransformation of Cholesterol to Gain Key Steroid Intermediates 313 12.8 11-Hydroxylation by Fungi During Synthesis of Corticosteroids 313 12.9 Δ1-Dehydrogenation by Arthrobacter for the Production of Prednisolone 316 12.10 17-Keto Reduction by Saccharomyces in Testosterone Production 317 12.11 Double-Bond Isomerization of Steroids 318 12.12 Perspectives 319 References 320 Further Reading 321 13 Bioleaching 323Sören Bellenberg, Mario Vera Véliz, and Wolfgang Sand 13.1 Acidophilic Microorganisms Dissolve Metals from Sulfide Ores 323 13.1.1 Brief Overview on the Diversity of Acidophilic Mineral-Oxidizing Microorganisms 325 13.1.2 Natural and Man-Made Habitats of Mineral-oxidizing Microorganisms 325 13.1.3 Biological Catalysis of Metal Sulfide Oxidation 328 13.1.4 Importance of Biofilm Formation and Extracellular Polymeric Substances for Bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans 330 13.2 Bioleaching of Copper, Nickel, Zinc, and Cobalt 334 13.2.1 Economic Impact 334 13.2.2 Heap, Dump, or Stirred-tank Bioleaching of Copper, Nickel, Zinc, and Cobalt 337 13.3 Gold 342 13.3.1 Economic Impact 343 13.3.2 Unlocking Gold by Biooxidation of the Mineral Matrix 343 13.4 Uranium 346 13.4.1 Economic Impact 346 13.4.2 In Situ Biomining of Uranium 346 13.5 Perspectives 347 13.5.1 Urban Mining – Processing of Electronic Waste and Industrial Residues 347 13.5.2 Microbial Iron Reduction for Dissolution of Mineral Oxides 348 13.5.3 Biomining Goes Underground – In Situ Leaching as a Green Mining Technology? 348 References 351 Further Reading 351 14 Wastewater Treatment Processes 353Claudia Gallert and Josef Winter 14.1 Introduction 354 14.1.1 Historical Development of Sewage Treatment 354 14.1.2 Resources from Wastewater Treatment 357 14.1.3 Wastewater and Storm Water Drainage 358 14.1.4 Wastewater Characterization and Processes for Effective Wastewater Treatment 358 14.1.5 Suspended or Immobilized Bacteria as Biocatalysts for Effective Sewage Treatment 360 14.2 Biological Basics of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Removal from Sewage 362 14.2.1 Aerobic and Anaerobic Degradation of Carbon Compounds 362 14.2.1.1 Mass and Energy Balance 366 14.2.2 Fundamentals of Nitrification 368 14.2.3 Elimination of Nitrate by Denitrification 371 14.2.4 New Nitrogen Elimination Processes 371 14.2.5 Microbial Phosphate Elimination 372 14.3 Wastewater Treatment Processes 374 14.3.1 Typical Process Sequence in Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants 374 14.3.2 Activated Sludge Process 376 14.3.3 Trickling Filters 378 14.3.4 Technical Options for Denitrification 379 14.3.5 Biological Phosphate Elimination 381 14.3.6 Sewage Sludge Treatment 382 14.3.6.1 Aerobic and Anaerobic Sewage Sludge Treatment 382 14.3.6.2 Sanitation and Quality Assurance of Sewage Sludge 384 14.4 Advanced Wastewater Treatment 384 14.4.1 Elimination of Micropollutants 385 14.4.2 Wastewater Disinfection 385 14.5 Future Perspectives 386 References 386 Further Reading 388 Index 389

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE Your body is teeming with tens of trillions of microbes. It's an entire world, a colony full of life. In other words, you contain multitudes. They sculpt our organs, protect us from diseases, guide our behaviour, and bombard us with their genes. They also hold the key to understanding all life on earth. In I Contain Multitudes, Ed Yong opens our eyes and invites us to marvel at ourselves and other animals in a new light, less as individuals and more as thriving ecosystems. You'll never think about your mind, body or preferences in the same way again. 'Super-interesting... He just keeps imparting one surprising, fascinating insight after the next. I Contain Multitudes is science journalism at its best' Bill GatesSHORTLISTED FOR THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2017 SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2017Trade ReviewSuper-interesting... He just keeps imparting one surprising, fascinating insight after the next. I Contain Multitudes is science journalism at its best -- Bill Gates[A] marvellous, thrilling and richly annotated book… I call it marvellous: everything about the microbial world is to be marvelled at. And it is a page-turner in a very old-fashioned sense. All life is here, and death too, and sex and violence, including deviations of which you had never dreamed ... We have an inner life, in every sense, and are the richer for it: richer still for this witty and compelling book. -- Tim Radford * Guardian *Beyond fascinating. An amazing book. It'll change the way you think about the world. It'll change who you think you are. -- Helen Macdonald, author of H is for HawkMomentous ... an essential read -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *I Contain Multitudes makes the importance of popularising science…sparklingly clear... From his vibrant introduction to his witty endnotes, Yong’s expertise and narration hold no less wonder than a sacred text. -- Kate Womersley * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for the non-major/allied health student (and also appropriate for mixed majors courses), this text provides a rock solid foundation in microbiology. It has a concise and readable style, covers the most current concepts, and gives students the knowledge and mastery necessary to understand advances of the future. By carefully and clearly explaining the fundamental concepts, using a body systems approach in the coverage of disease, and offering vivid and appealing instructional art, Microbiology: A Human Perspective draws students back to their book again and again!

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA fascinating ethnography of microbes that opens up new spaces for anthropological inquiry The trillions of microbes in and on our bodies are determined by not only biology but also our social connections. Gut Anthro tells the fascinating story of how a sociocultural anthropologist developed a collaborative “anthropology of microbes” with a human microbial ecologist to address global health crises across disciplines. It asks: what would it mean for anthropology to act with science? Based partly at a preeminent U.S. lab studying the human microbiome, the Center for Genome Sciences at Washington University, and partly at a field site in Bangladesh studying infant malnutrition, it examines how microbes travel between human guts in the “field” and in microbiome laboratories, influencing definitions of health and disease, and how the microbiome can change our views on evolution, agency, and life.As lab scientists studied the interrelationships between gut microbes and malnutrition in resource-poor countries, Amber Benezra explored ways to reconcile the scale and speed differences between the lab, the intimate biosocial practices of Bangladeshi mothers and their children, and the looming structural violence of poverty. In vital ways, Gut Anthro is about what it means to collaborate—with mothers, local field researchers in Bangladesh, massive philanthropic global health organizations, with the microbiome scientists, and, of course, with microbes. It follows microbes through various enactments in scientific research—microbes as kin, as data, and as race. Revealing how racial categories are used in microbiome research, Benezra argues that microbial differences need transdisciplinary collaboration to address racial health disparities without reifying race as a straightforward biological or social designation.Gut Anthro is a tour de force of science studies and medical anthropology as well as an intensely personal and deeply theoretical accounting of what it means to do anthropology today. Cover alt text:Black background overlaid with a pink organic path suggestive of a human digestive system. Title appears within the guts as if being processed.Trade Review"From start to finish, Gut Anthro demonstrates how relations are integral to science. With bold, page-turning prose, Amber Benezra traces microbiokinships from kitchen tables to scientific laboratories, offering a refreshingly honest analysis of how knowledge and process are one and the same. Miscarriage. Diarrhea. Career ambitions. Humanitarian hubris. Anthropological complicity. We learn from microbes—and the messy, fragile, tenacious humans that study them—how much the minute details of mundane life matter. Alternately hopeful and unsettling, this is a book that expertly does what microbes have always done: change how we see, how we collaborate, and who we are."—Emily Yates-Doerr, author of The Weight of Obesity: Hunger and Global Health in Postwar Guatemala"This is an utterly arresting ethnographic examination of a networked bioscience project that stretches from sample collection in Bangladesh to data analysis at a U.S. university. Amber Benezra offers an account—rigorous, revelatory, wrenching—of the vexed promises of acting as both participant and observer in the contact zones of today’s international biomedical research."—Stefan Helmreich, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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