Acidophiles are an important category of microorganisms defined by their ability to withstand and even grow in acidic environments. They are present in terrestrial and marine environments as well as the human body. The diversity, adaptation, and functions of these microorganisms can contribute to the development and application of new biotechnologies for resolving problems of resource exploitation, pollution, and human disease. This book presents breakthroughs and insights into the research on acidophiles. Chapters cover such topics as the two-component system (TCS) in the regulation of the sulfur metabolic process, adaptation mechanisms of acidophiles to low pH, regulation mechanisms and application strategy of quorum sensing in bioleaching bacteria, and Lactobacillus acidophilus and its potential role as a therapeutic for human bone disorders.

Advances in protein expression technologies have mushroomed in recent years. In this book current and emerging expression technologies are reviewed. Reviews of the molecular genetics of expression systems in various organisms are presented. Topics covered include: Expression of extremophilic proteins; expression in E. coli, Bacillus spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and methylotrophic yeasts; insect cell expression and the baculovirus system; and Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines for large-scale protein production. Also covered are two emerging expression systems, Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 and Caulobacter crescentus.

Modern methods and approaches, such as the analysis of molecular sequences to infer evolutionary relationships among organisms, have provided vast new sets of data to further our understanding ofliving organisms, but there remain enigmas in the biological world that will keep scientists working and thinking for decades. Microorganisms by virtue of their small size and almost unbounded diversity provide ample examples of intriguing mysteries that are being challenged with all of the techniques the modern scientific arsenal can provide. One whole arena of this battle to resolve puzzling mysteries about various microorganisms is the almost unbelievable ability of many micro-organisms to live in extreme environments. Whether the challenge is extreme heat, cold, pressure, hyper salinity, alkalinity or acidity, some micro-organisms live now where no life might seem possible. This fascinating state of affairs is the context for this present volume edited by Joseph Seckbach. This Volume is a compilation of many of the especially interesting questions and biological challenges that arise in the consideration of microorganisms in general and the extremophiles in particular.

The Desk Encyclopedia of Microbiology, Second Edition is a single-volume comprehensive guide to microbiology for the advanced reader. Derived from the six volume e-only Encyclopedia of Microbiology, Third Edition, it bridges the gap between introductory texts and specialized reviews. Covering topics ranging from the basic science of microbiology to the current "hot" topics in the field, it will be invaluable for obtaining background information on a broad range of microbiological topics, preparing lectures and preparing grant applications and reports. - The most comprehensive single-volume source providing an overview of microbiology to non-specialists - Bridges the gap between introductory texts and specialized reviews - Provides concise and general overviews of important topics within the field making it a helpful resource when preparing for lectures, writing reports, or drafting grant applications

Textbook of Molecular Biotechnology covers an amazing range of topics from the basic structure of the cell and diversity of microorganisms to the latest techniques in the field of biotechnology. Various topics have been included for the benefit of graduate and postgraduate students. In addition, the book will be of immense help for the researchers and can be used as a laboratory manual for various biotechnological techniques. A number of reputed subject experts, scientists, academicians, and researchers have contributed their chapters to this volume. This book describes the role of basic biotechnological tools in various spheres of human society, namely, agriculture, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, nanobiotechnology, proteomics, metagenomics and Intellectual Property rights.

Extremophiles belong to members of all three domains of life, i.e., bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. However, a high proportion of extremophiles are archaea and bacteria. These microbes live under chemical and physical extremes that are usually lethal to cellular molecules, yet they not only manage to survive but even thrive in such conditions. Extremophiles have important practical and industrial uses. They are a valuable source of industrially important enzymes also known as extremozymes. Recent research has revealed that extremozymes have unique structural features essential for biocatalysis under extreme conditions. Extremozymes have great commercial values and are known for their potential use in biotechnology, biomining, and bioremediation. Extremozymes and their Industrial Applications highlights the current and topical areas of research in this rapidly growing field of extremophiles and their applications. Expert researchers from around the globe are trying to uncover the underlying mechanisms responsible for their specific adaptations under extreme environments. The topics covered include the ability of acidophiles to maintain a neutral intracellular pH, the way psychrophiles "loosen up" their proteins at low temperatures, and other equally ingenious adaptations and metabolic strategies that extremophiles use to survive and flourish under extreme conditions. Extremozymes and their Industrial Applications also covers the established biotechnological uses of extremophiles and the most recent and novel applications, including their exploitation for enzyme production. Potential use of extremophiles and their enzymes in the generation of sustainable energy, biomass conversion, agro-waste processing, and biocontrol of phytopathogens is also covered. The book will be very useful for researchers and students working in the area of industrial microbiology and biotechnology, and microbial ecologists. It is also recommended reference text for those interested in the biochemistry and microbiology of extremophiles, as well as for those interested in bioprospecting, biomining, biofuels, and biodegradation. - Presents information exclusively based on extremozymes and their application in industries - Chapters have been collected from various experts and deals with contemporary issues related to extremozymes and their usability in various industries - Enriched with suitable illustrations that assist in increasing readership and broaden the reach of the book amongst scholars and academicians

Explores the utility and potential of extremophiles in sustainability and biotechnology Many extremophilic bio-products are already used as life-saving drugs. Until recently, however, the difficulty of working with these microbes has discouraged efforts to develop extremophilic microbes as potential drug reservoirs of the future. Recent technological advances have opened the door to exploring these organisms anew as sources of products that might prove useful in clinical and environmental biotechnology and drug development. Extremophiles features outstanding articles by expert scientists who shed light on broad-ranging areas of progress in the development of smart therapeutics for multiple disease types and products for industrial use. It bridges technological gaps, focusing on critical aspects of extremolytes and the mechanisms regulating their biosynthesis that are relevant to human health and bioenergy, including value-added products of commercial significance as well as other potentially viable products. This groundbreaking guide: Introduces the variety of extremophiles and their extremolytes including extremozymes Provides an overview of the methodologies used to acquire extremophiles Reviews the literature on the diversity of extremophiles Offers tools and criteria for data interpretation of various extremolytes/extremozymes Discusses experimental design problems associated with extremophiles and their therapeutic implications Explores the challenges and possibilities of developing extremolytes for commercial purposes Explains the FDA's regulations on certain microbial bio-products that will be of interest to potential industrialists Extremophiles is an immensely useful resource for graduate students and researchers in biotechnology, clinical biotechnology, microbiology, and applied microbiology.

This book ‘Extremophiles: Wastewater and Algal Biorefinery’ explores the potential of extremophiles/extremotolerant organisms in wastewater treatment, biorefining of algal biomass and in the treatment of industrial waste effluent. The book provides a holistic overview about the current status of extremophiles in waste water treatment and various industrial processes. The chapters comprehensively cover the scientific and research findings on various industrial applications of extremophiles such as biofuels, extremozymes, electricity generation, biofilms, microbial corrosion and waste water treatment etc. This book is an integrated source of literature for the scientists, engineers, academicians, and students working in the area of extremophiles, microbial technology and biorefinery.

This authored book collates information on extremophilic microorganisms from around the world with special emphasis on India. The main focus of this book is to describe extreme environments as the habitats of these microorganisms, mechanisms of the extremophiles to cope up with the surrounding environment, new taxa created, their physiological properties, their biotechnological potential in the production of different biomolecules and biomaterials, and their role in sustainability. The concept of the book is to have comprehensive information on the diversity of microorganisms in one place. The purpose of the present book is to make aware young researchers of the attempts made so far to isolate these different microbes, inspire them to revisit the extreme environments, investigate their biodiversity using advanced molecular techniques and explore further their biotechnological potential. This book is of interest to post-graduate students, young researchers of India as well as other countries. It is useful reading material for researchers involved in environmental microbiology, microbial diversity, microbial systematics, microbial culture collections, molecular taxonomy, and microbial biotechnology.

This book discusses microbial diversity in various habitats and environments, its role in ecosystem maintenance, and its potential applications (e.g. biofertilizers, biocatalysts, antibiotics, other bioactive compounds, exopolysaccharides etc.). The respective chapters, all contributed by renowned experts, offer cutting-edge information in the fields of microbial ecology and biogeography. The book explains the reasons behind the occurrence of various biogeographies and highlights recent tools (e.g. metagenomics) that can aid in biogeography studies by providing information on nucleic acid sequence data, thereby directly identifying microorganisms in various habitats and environments. In turn, the book describes how human intervention results in depletion of biodiversity, and how numerous hotspots are now losing their endemic biodiversity, resulting in the loss of many ecologically important microorganisms. In closing, the book underscores the importance of microbial diversity for sustainable ecosystems.