An introductory text providing a broad coverage of the fundamentals of applied microbiology for non-specialists.

Microbes have an impact on our everyday lives, from the food we eat and the water we drink to the multitude of human infections. The authors introduce both the beneficial and adverse effects of interactions between microbes and their environment in a manner accessible to the non-specialist.

This much-praised basic laboratory manual for microbiology courses teaches students how to understand microorganisms and describes how to handle them safely and effectively.

The term microbes covers all the organisms too small to be seen by the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and unicellular protoctista. Microbes in Action examines the general characteristics of these organisms and provides detailed examples from each group.

This is a collection of twenty different articles from across the globe divided into four basic themes of microbial fertilisers, microbial metabolites, microbes in health and microbial fuels. The first chapter discusses removal of undesirable compounds from soil by a process called rhizoremediation. Sustainability of the ecosystem is greatly needed, which is pertinently covered in the first sub-theme of this volume. The second sub-theme of this collection focuses on diverse types of microbial metabolites with chapters on biosurfactants, carotenoids, organic acids, antibiotics and biosensors, each of which is important and significant in its own way. The third sub-theme of the book is enriched by a discussion on microbes in health with four chapters, each explaining probiotics, direct fed microbials (DFMs), the role of microbes in the production of vaccines, and survival mechanisms of human pathogenic fungi. The chapter on probiotics elucidates the role of microbiota in development of the immune system and their influence on the development of atopic conditions. Finally, the importance of probiotics as a simple but powerful tool that may influence human health by modulating the microbiota is introduced. In the review on DFMs, dissemination and efficacy of Bacillus direct-fed microbial candidates in the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens and their effect on health and performance parameters in different poultry diets is discussed as well. Next in this book, vaccines are analyzed, which have reduced the harmful impact of pathogenic microbes on human life. A discussion about long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that provide significant health benefits is introduced. LC-PUFAs can be recovered from many marine organisms, transgenic plants, fungi and many microorganisms, but the largest amount is currently extracted from fish. Finally, biological fuels like biodiesel and bioethanol, which can be generated by efficient utilization of the biotransforming ability of various microorganisms such as microalgae, cyanobacteria and yeasts, are covered in the fourth sub-theme of this volume with six engrossing chapters. One of the chapters discusses the use of waste water for growth of microalgae. Integration of waste water treatment with microalgae performs nutrient incorporation to algal biomass, and waste water remediation as additional benefit are also presented. Thus, the dual-process system provides the potential for energy and effective waste water treatment at lower costs compared to chemical treatment methods.

Microbiology in Clinical Practice presents the infections and syndromes caused by micro-organisms. It discusses the management of infective diseases and aetiological agents. It addresses the latex agglutination, immunofluorescent, monoclonal antibody, and nucleic acid probe investigations. Some of the topics covered in the book are the classification and pathogenicity of microbes; classification of bacteria; classification of viruses; classification of fungi; general principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy; antibiotic sensitivity tests; procedures in the laboratory for microbiological diagnosis; and the mode of action of antimicrobial drugs. The resistance to antimicrobial drugs are covered. The microbiological investigations of septicaemia are discussed. The text describes the human immunodeficiency virus infection and AIDS in infants. A study of the congenital immunodeficiency and impaired resistance to infection is presented. A chapter is devoted to the predisposing factors for anaerobic infections. Another section focuses on the infections of the central nervous system. The book can provide useful information to doctors, pathologists, neurologists, students, and researchers.

The authors present a basic and accessible introduction to the world of microbiology. In three sections, this book provides both a foundation and overview of the subject. In the first section, 'Microbial Structure and Mode of Life', the structure and functioning of fungi, bacteria and viruses are discussed (with particular attention being paid to their description and discussion of their reproduction and nutrition). The second section, 'Handling Microbes' introduces the methods used to culture, control and study these organisms in the laboratory. The final section covers the 'Isolation, Classification and Identification of Microbes'. This book is essential reading for anyone becoming interested in this subject, whether it be 6th form students, their teachers, or undergraduates.

The present book is a collection of twenty different articles from across the globe divided into four basic themes of microbial fertilizers, microbial metabolites, microbes in health and microbial fuels. The first chapter discusses removal of undesirable compounds from soil by a process called rhizoremediation. Sustainability of the ecosystem is greatly needed, which is pertinently covered in the first sub-theme of this volume. The second sub-theme of this collection focuses on diverse types of microbial metabolites with chapters on biosurfactants, carotenoids, organic acids, antibiotics and biosensors, each of which is important and significant in its own way. The third sub-theme of the book is enriched by a discussion on microbes in health with four chapters, each explaining probiotics, direct fed microbials (DFMs), the role of microbes in the production of vaccines, and survival mechanisms of human pathogenic fungi. The chapter on probiotics elucidates the role of microbiota in development of the immune system and their influence on the development of atopic conditions. Finally, the importance of probiotics as a simple but powerful tool that may influence human health by modulating the microbiota is introduced. In the review on DFMs, dissemination and efficacy of Bacillus direct-fed microbial candidates in the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens and their effect on health and performance parameters in different poultry diets is discussed as well. Next in this book, vaccines are analyzed, which have reduced the harmful impact of pathogenic microbes on human life. A discussion about long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that provide significant health benefits is introduced. LC-PUFAs can be recovered from many marine organisms, transgenic plants, fungi and many microorganisms, but the largest amount is currently extracted from fish. Finally, biological fuels like biodiesel and bioethanol, which can be generated by efficient utilization of the biotransforming ability of various microorganisms such as microalgae, cyanobacteria and yeasts, are covered in the fourth sub-theme of this volume with six engrossing chapters. One of the chapters discusses the use of waste water for growth of microalgae. Integration of waste water treatment with microalgae performs nutrient incorporation to algal biomass, and waste water remediation as additional benefit are also presented. Thus, the dual-process system provides the potential for energy and effective waste water treatment at lower costs compared to chemical treatment methods.