Iron plays a key role in biology as essential cofactor of numerous proteins. However, since it is only slightly soluble its bioavailability can be readily compromised under aerobic conditions. Moreover, due to its ability to catalyze the generation of free radicals, iron can also be toxic. Thus, it doesn’t surprise that living organisms have developed sophisticated means for acquiring iron whilst tightly controlling the intracellular concentrations of this metal in response to environmental conditions. Also, the critical role of iron has long been acknowledged in host vertebrate-parasite relationships where both partners compete for the acquisition of this essential element and activate complex signaling cascades to control their iron homeostasis during infection. Following the great interest that the mechanisms regulating the acquisition of iron and the control of iron homeostasis have generated among researchers studying plant-pathogen and legume-rhizobia interactions, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of irons’ various roles in the plant-microbial associations. The introductory chapter stresses the essentiality of iron in biological systems. The second chapter surveys the abundance of information on iron’s pivotal role in microbial plant pathogenesis and defence. Finally, the third chapter reviews the advances in our understanding of iron metabolism in the rhizobia, soil bacteria able to establish a symbiotic association with legumes and carry out nitrogen fixation. Molecular Aspects of Iron Metabolism in Pathogenic and Symbiotic Plant-Microbe Associations is a valuable resource to microbiologists, pathologists and scientists interested in iron uptake and metabolism in microbial pathogenesis, rhizobia legume associations, and plant physiology and immunity.

Iron plays a key role in biology as essential cofactor of numerous proteins. However, since it is only slightly soluble its bioavailability can be readily compromised under aerobic conditions. Moreover, due to its ability to catalyze the generation of free radicals, iron can also be toxic. Thus, it doesn’t surprise that living organisms have developed sophisticated means for acquiring iron whilst tightly controlling the intracellular concentrations of this metal in response to environmental conditions. Also, the critical role of iron has long been acknowledged in host vertebrate-parasite relationships where both partners compete for the acquisition of this essential element and activate complex signaling cascades to control their iron homeostasis during infection. Following the great interest that the mechanisms regulating the acquisition of iron and the control of iron homeostasis have generated among researchers studying plant-pathogen and legume-rhizobia interactions, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of irons’ various roles in the plant-microbial associations. The introductory chapter stresses the essentiality of iron in biological systems. The second chapter surveys the abundance of information on iron’s pivotal role in microbial plant pathogenesis and defence. Finally, the third chapter reviews the advances in our understanding of iron metabolism in the rhizobia, soil bacteria able to establish a symbiotic association with legumes and carry out nitrogen fixation. Molecular Aspects of Iron Metabolism in Pathogenic and Symbiotic Plant-Microbe Associations is a valuable resource to microbiologists, pathologists and scientists interested in iron uptake and metabolism in microbial pathogenesis, rhizobia legume associations, and plant physiology and immunity.

In this book, an international team of authors presents a comprehensive collection of reviews on iron uptake and metabolism in various microorganisms including rhizobia, Bordetella, Shigella, E. coli, Erwinia, Vibrio, Aeromonas, Francisella, Bacteroides, Campylobacter, cyanobacteria, Bacillus, staphylococci and yeasts. An entire chapter is dedicated to siderophores and another to heme uptake. The volume provides an expert and timely summary of current knowledge, with a focus on molecular and genetic aspects, and highlights some of the most exciting recent developments. Aimed at research scient.

An authoritative overview of the ecological activities of microbes in the biosphere Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology presents a broad overview of microbial activity and microbes' interactions with their environments and communities. Adopting an integrative approach, this text covers both conventional ecological issues as well as cross-disciplinary investigations that combine facets of microbiology, ecology, environmental science and engineering, molecular biology, and biochemistry. Focusing primarily on single-cell forms of prokaryotes — and cellular forms of algae, fungi, and protozoans — this book enables readers to gain insight into the fundamental methodologies for the characterization of microorganisms in the biosphere. The authors draw from decades of experience to examine the environmental processes mediated by microorganisms and explore the interactions between microorganisms and higher life forms. Highly relevant to modern readers, this book examines topics including the ecology of microorganisms in engineered environments, microbial phylogeny and interactions, microbial processes in relation to environmental pollution, and many more. Now in its second edition, this book features updated references and major revisions to chapters on assessing microbial communities, community relationships, and their global impact. New content such as effective public communication of research findings and advice on scientific article review equips readers with practical real-world skills. Explores the activities of microorganisms in specific environments with case studies and actual research data Highlights how prominent microbial biologists address significant microbial ecology issues Offers guidance on scientific communication, including scientific presentations and grant preparation Includes plentiful illustrations and examples of microbial interactions, community structures, and human-bacterial connections Provides chapter summaries, review questions, selected reading lists, a complete glossary, and critical thinking exercises Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology is an ideal textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in biology, microbiology, ecology, and environmental science, while also serving as a current and informative reference for microbiologists, cell and molecular biologists, ecologists, and environmental professionals.

This book provides in-depth coverage of environmental pollution sources, waste characteristics, control technologies, management strategies, facility innovations, process alternatives, costs, case histories, effluent standards, and future trends in waste treatment processes. It delineates methodologies, technologies, and the regional and global effects of important pollution control practices. It focuses on toxic heavy metals in the environment, various heavy metal decontamination technologies, brownfield restoration, and industrial, agricultural, and radioactive waste management. It discusses the importance of metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel, iron, and mercury.

This volume provides in-depth coverage of environmental pollution sources, waste characteristics, control technologies, management strategies, facility innovations, process alternatives, costs, case histories, effluent standards, and future trends in waste treatment processes. It delineates methodologies, technologies, and the regional and global effects of important pollution control practices. It focuses on specific industrial and manufacturing wastes and their remediation. Topics include: heavy metals, electronics, chemical, and textile manufacturing.

Recent years have seen tremendous progress in unraveling the molecular basis of different plant-microbe interactions. Knowledge has accumulated on the mecha nisms of the microbial infection of plants, which can lead to either disease or resistance. The mechanisms developed by plants to interact with microbes, whether viruses, bacteria, or fungi, involve events that can lead to symbiotic association or to disease or tumor formation. Cell death caused by pathogen infection has been of great interest for many years because of its association with plant resistance. There appear to be two types of plant cell death associated with pathogen infection, a rapid hypersensitive cell death localized at the site of infection during an incompatible interaction between a resistant plant and an avirulent pathogen, and a slow, normosensitive plant cell death that spreads beyond the site of infection during some compatible interactions involving a susceptible plant and a virulent, necrogenic pathogen. Plants possess a number of defense mechanisms against infection, such as (i) production of phytoalexin, (ii) formation of hydrolases, (iii) accumulation of hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein and lignin deposition, (iv) production of pathogen-related proteins, (v) produc tion of oligosaccharides, jasmonic acid, and various other phenolic substances, and (vi) production of toxin-metabolizing enzymes. Based on these observations, insertion of a single suitable gene in a particular plant has yielded promising results in imparting resistance against specific infection or disease. It appears that a signal received after microbe infection triggers different signal transduction pathways.

Beginning with the germ theory of disease in the 19th century and extending through most of the 20th century, microbes were believed to live their lives as solitary, unicellular, disease-causing organisms . This perception stemmed from the focus of most investigators on organisms that could be grown in the laboratory as cellular monocultures, often dispersed in liquid, and under ambient conditions of temperature, lighting, and humidity. Most such inquiries were designed to identify microbial pathogens by satisfying Koch's postulates.3 This pathogen-centric approach to the study of microorganisms produced a metaphorical "war" against these microbial invaders waged with antibiotic therapies, while simultaneously obscuring the dynamic relationships that exist among and between host organisms and their associated microorganisms-only a tiny fraction of which act as pathogens. Despite their obvious importance, very little is actually known about the processes and factors that influence the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities. Gaining this knowledge will require a seismic shift away from the study of individual microbes in isolation to inquiries into the nature of diverse and often complex microbial communities, the forces that shape them, and their relationships with other communities and organisms, including their multicellular hosts. On March 6 and 7, 2012, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the emerging science of the "social biology" of microbial communities. Workshop presentations and discussions embraced a wide spectrum of topics, experimental systems, and theoretical perspectives representative of the current, multifaceted exploration of the microbial frontier. Participants discussed ecological, evolutionary, and genetic factors contributing to the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities; how microbial communities adapt and respond to environmental stimuli; theoretical and experimental approaches to advance this nascent field; and potential applications of knowledge gained from the study of microbial communities for the improvement of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health and toward a deeper understanding of microbial diversity and evolution. The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary further explains the happenings of the workshop.

Plant pathology is an applied science that deals with the nature, causes and control of plant diseases in agriculture and forestry. The vital role of plant pathology in attaining food security and food safety for the world cannot be overemphasized.

In the past few decades, it has been realized through research that fungal siderophores epitomize the uptake of iron as well as other essential elements like zinc, magnesium, copper, nickel and arsenic. Understanding the chemical structures of different fungal siderophores and the membrane receptors involved in uptake of mineral ions has opened new areas for research. In this edited volume, recent research is presented on fungal siderophores in one comprehensive volume to provide researchers a strong base for future research. Siderophores are the low molecular weight, high affinity iron-chelating compounds produced by bacteria and fungi. They are responsible for transporting iron across the cell membrane. Fungi produce a range of hydroxamate siderophores involved in the uptake of essential elements in almost all microorganisms and plants. In recent years, siderophores have been used in molecular imaging applications to visualize and understand cellular functions, which thus provide an opportunity to identify new drug targets. Therefore, knowledge of fungal siderophores has become vital in current research. Siderophores have received much attention in recent years because of their potential roles and applications in various research areas. Their significance in these applications is because siderophores have the ability to bind a variety of metals in addition to iron, and they have a wide range of chemical structures and specific properties. For instance, siderophores function as biocontrols, biosensors, and bioremediation and chelation agents, in addition to their important role in weathering soil minerals and enhancing plant growth. This book focuses on siderophores with the following significant points. It discusses leading, state-of-the-art research in all possible areas on fungal siderophores. The contributors are well-known and recognized authorities in the field of fungal siderophores. It discusses a projection of practical applications of fungal siderophores in various domains. This is the first book exclusively on fungal siderophores. In this comprehensive, edited volume, we show leading research on fungal siderophores and provide the most recent knowledge of researchers' work on siderophores. This book presents in-depth knowledge on siderophores to researchers working in areas of health sciences, microbiology, plant sciences, biotechnology, and bioinformatics.