In our view, the First International Penicillium and Aspergillus Workshop held in Baarn and Amsterdam in May, 1985, was a great success. The assembly in one place of so many specialists in these two genera produced both interesting viewpoints and lively discussions. But more particularly, a remarkable cohesion of ideas emerged, borne primarily of the realisation that taxonomy has passed from the hands of the solitary morphologist. The future of taxonomy lay in collaborative and multidisciplinary studies embracing morphology, physiology and newer methodologies. Penicillium and Aspergillus Workshop was borne logically The Second International from the first, and was held in Baarn on May 8-12, 1989. It was attended by 38 scientists from 16 countries. At this Workshop we have attempted to move further into new methods, especially by bringing together molecular biologists, medical and food mycologists and biochemists as well as more traditional taxonomists. We feel that the meeting contributed greatly to dialogue between taxonomists, and also fundamental and applied mycologists. At the meeting, we became aware that the approach to taxonomy of these genera is now becoming more pragmatic, with an increasing emphasis on consensus, and on stability of names. This is a noteworthy development, which we, as editors, welcome. So many species in Penicillium and Aspergillus are economically important in biotechnology, foods and medicine, and practical, stable taxonomy is of vital importance. These Proceedings comprise 40 papers divided into 9 chapters.

The book gives a review of penicillin production by Penicillium chrysogenum, and also deals with a number of general aspects of fungal cultivations, e.g. primary metabolism of filamentous fungi, morphology, monitoring of fungal cultivations, and bioreactor performance (more than 750 references).The first two chapters give an introduction to the area of penicillin production; with a review of the history and a survey of the present status of this industrially very important process in the first chapter. In the second chapter is given an introduction to the microorganism, i.e. its nutritional requirements, its taxonomy, and an overview of different strain development programmes.Chapter 3 gives an introduction to the concept of Physiological Engineering. This is followed by a review of various monitoring techniques and different theoretical techniques for analysis of cultivation processes, e.g. mathematic modeling, metabolic flux analysis, and metabolic control analysis.Chapter 4 and 5 give a review of the metabolism, with the primary metabolism being the topic of Chapter 4 and the secondary metabolism, i.e. penicillin biosynthesis, being the topic of Chapter 5. The review of the penicillin biosynthetic pathway is followed by a description of a number of results obtained using metabolic flux and metabolic control analysis.Chapter 6 is devoted to the morphology of the fungus, and it gives a detailed description of the growth mechanisms of filamentous fungi.Chapter 7 deals with the bioreactor performance during fungal cultivations, i.e. medium rheology, gas-liquid mass transfer, and mixing.Finally is the fed-batch process applied for penicillin production described in Chapter 8. It gives an overview of the most important factors influencing penicillin production.

Biotechnology is a word that was originally coined to describe the new processes which could be derived from our ability to manipulate, in vitro, the genetic material common to all organisms. I t has now become a generic term encompassing all "applications" of living systems, including the more traditional fermentation and agricultural industries. Recombinant DNA technology has opened up new opportunities for the exploitation of microorganisms and animal and plant cells as producers or modifiers of chemical and biological products. This series of handbooks deals exclusively with microorganisms which are at the forefront of the new technologies and brings together in each of its volumes the background information necessary to appreciate the historical development of the organisms making up a particular genus, the degree to which molecular biology has opened up new opportunities, and the place they occupy in today's biotechnology industry. Our aim was to make this primarily a practical approach, with emphasis on methodology, combining for the first time information which has largely been spread across a wide literature base or only touched upon briefly in review articles. Each handbook should provide the reader with a source text, from which the importance of the genus to his or her work can be identified, and a practical guide to the handling and exploitation of the organisms included.

Many species of penicillium and aspergillus are important in biotechnology, food, medicine, biodeterioration and other applied fields, so a practical and stable taxonomy is of vital importance. Recent developments in science and technology mean that taxonomic classification is no longer confined to classical morphological concepts, and the integrat

This volume describes the more relevant secondary metabolites of different fungi with current information on their biosynthesis and molecular genetics. Bolstered with color illustrations and photographs, the book describes the possible application of molecular genetics to directed strain improvement in great detail. The needs for future developments in this field are also discussed at length Written by authorities in the field, Biosynthesis and Molecular Genetics of Fungal Secondary Metabolites provides a cutting-edge perspective on fungal secondary metabolism and underlying genetics and is a valuable resource for scientists, researchers, and educators in the field of fungal biology.

Recent Trends in Biofilm Science and Technology helps researchers working on fundamental aspects of biofilm formation and control conduct biofilm studies and interpret results. The book provides a remarkable amount of knowledge on the processes that regulate biofilm formation, the methods used, monitoring characterization and mathematical modeling, the problems/advantages caused by their presence in the food industry, environment and medical fields, and the current and emergent strategies for their control. Research on biofilms has progressed rapidly in the last decade due to the fact that biofilms have required the development of new analytical tools and new collaborations between biologists, engineers and mathematicians. - Presents an overview of the process of biofilm formation and its implications - Provides a clearer understanding of the role of biofilms in infections - Creates a foundation for further research on novel control strategies - Updates readers on the remarkable amount of knowledge on the processes that regulate biofilm formation

In last decades rapid scientific and engineering developments have been occuring within the context of Biotechnology. If the World Economy is to benefit fully from the advances in biosciences and biochemical engineering, it must be able to focus new knowledge on commercially appropriate targets. Modern Biotechnology is a mixture of far reaching innovation superimposed on an industrial background and it represents a means of production with bright prospects, challenging problems and stimulating competition. This NATO Advanced Study Institute on "RECENT ADVANCES IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY" held between September 16-27, 1991 in Ku§Etdasl was the first ASI on Biotechnology :Ln Turkey. !t was aiming to provide an updated overview of the fundamental principles, novel application areas and impact of Biotechnology on international economy. Recent developments in the field of Biotechnology have been thoroughly discussed, concentrating on various interdisciplinary aspects. The illain lectures presented at the Institute covered both scientific and commercial aspects of new developments in biotechnology and discussed the possible ways of meeting the challenges of the industry. The main lectures were supplemented by Oral 2nd Poster Presentations. Thus, this volume is comprised of three sections. Part I contains the i~vited lectures and Part II oral presentations. Exte~ded abstracts of poster presentations have been included in Part III to provide a more comprehensive coverage of the ASI.

Environmental stress caused by water continuously exposes buildings to microbial colonization. This is highly evident when both minor dampness and mass flooding occur. The text describes how microbiological corrosion of buildings and the structures and substances derived from these hazards are responsible for adverse health effects on people exposed to these contaminated environments. Microbiological Corrosion of Buildings: A Guide to Detection, Health Hazards, and Mitigation describes the key elements and methods for neutralising and removing microbiological contamination, and the operating algorithm for checking the effectiveness of preventative solutions. Ideal for construction engineers, microbiologists and professionals in the field. Features: Latest methods for detection of indoor microbial hazards Identifies the tools needed for natural, non-destructive and non-invasive methods of bio-corrosion removal Describes the social and health problems associated with exposure to microbiological hazards Provides case studies and examples of microorganisms responsible for microbial corrosion. ‘Climate change and the associated adverse effects, such as floods and whirlwinds, make the problem of microbiological corrosion of buildings that generates health risks and economic losses on a global scale, the focus of science and technology. The monograph presents a complex problem of building bio-corrosion, that requires knowledge of the distant fields of microbiology and building technology, for the use of both scientists and practitioners. This pioneering work of an interdisciplinary nature harmoniously combines knowledge on specific microbiological issues relating to the process of bio-corrosion and the associated health risks with detailed issues of construction technology concerning the prevention of bio-corrosion and its removal. The authors succeeded in combining a very high scientific level in the monograph with an accessible and understandable presentation of complex problems. The extensive references, ranging from "classical" items from many years ago to the most recent articles presenting the state of the art in this field, are worth emphasising.’ —Prof. Jacek Dutkiewicz, Ph.D., D.Sc., Institute of Rural Health in Lublin

‘Protection against harmful bioaerosol is one of today’s major concerns. This applies both to people inside and outside the work environment. In this book, renowned scientists provide up-to-date and authoritative reviews of the latest scientific research and practice that has contributed to our understanding of the harmfulness of the bioaerosol and protection against it. A detailed discussion of bioaerosol protection methods and equipment as well as presenting future trends in prognostic modelling are the undeniable value of this monograph. This comprehensive book is indispensable for anyone involved in occupational and environmental hygiene, biological hazard, recognition and control in occupational and public environments’. — Bogumił Brycki, Adam Mickiewicz University The threats of biological airborne hazards are a global danger throughout the world today. Respiratory Protection Against Hazardous Biological Agents covers sources and practices of bioaerosol sampling, and discusses the prevention of these airborne hazards. The most common workplace hazard is poor air quality. The book provides the basic principles of a safe work environment in the conditions where workers might be exposed to harmful bioaerosols. It presents key characteristics of biological hazards and their effects on the human body. It examines microbial growth in filtering materials and provides the details of specific risks for users of respiratory protective devices. The book will present the reader a guide on how to measure the risk of exposure of biological agents and properly select respiratory protective devices. The book is ideal for the health and safety professionals and experts in the field of environmental health. FEATURES: Evaluates the risk of exposure to biological agents Describes the characteristics of biological factors and their effects on the human body Provides training on the importance of respiratory protective devices Examines microorganisms in the work environment Provides examples and case studies

The Biology of ß-Lactam Antibiotics