This book is the first comprehensive volume on the "Nramp family", highlighting the physiological importance of Nramp proteins as metal transporters. The molecular knowledge of these membrane proteins is presented from an evolutionary perspective, considering Nramp cellular function and mechanism of transport in key model organisms. The pathological significance of Nramp genetic polymorphism is discussed with emphasis on metal homeostasis and microbial infection. The chapters were contributed by leading investigators, providing a timely state of the art book in this rapidly growing field. The Nramp Family will be useful to a broad community of scientists interested in metal transport and molecular biology. It will be of interest to the research audience in the broad fields of metal ions and molecular medicine.

This volume of Current Topics in Membranes focuses on metal transmembrane transporters and pumps, a recently discovered family of membrane proteins with many important roles in the physiology of living organisms. The book summarizes the most recent advances in the field of metal ion transport and provides a broad overview of the major classes of transporters involved in homeostasis of heavy metals. Various families of the transporters and metal specificities are discussed with the focus on the structural and mechanistic aspects of their function and regulation. The reader will access information obtained through a variety of approaches ranging from X-ray crystallography to cell biology and bioinformatics, which have been applied to transporters identified in diverse biological systems, such as pathogenic bacteria, plants, humans and others. Field is cutting-edge and a lot of the information is new to research community Wide breadth of topic coverage Contributors of high renown and expertise

Cation Transporters in Plants presents expert information on the major cation transporters, along with developments of various new strategies to cope with the adverse effects of abiotic and biotic stresses. The book will serve as a very important repository for the scientist, researcher, academician and industrialist to enhance their knowledge about cation transport in plants. Further, applications listed in the book will facilitate future developments in crop designing strategies. This comprehensive resource provides an alternative strategy for abiotic and biotic stress management in agricultural and horticultural crops. In addition, it will further improve basic knowledge om the origin and mechanism of cation homeostasis and their role in developmental transition and stress regulation. - Contains in-depth knowledge about various cation transporters in plants - Provides information about important macro and micronutrient cation transporters and their applications in the agricultural and biotechnology sectors - Facilitates agricultural scientists and industries in future crop designing strategies - Provides an alternative strategy for abiotic and biotic stress management in agricultural and horticultural crops

This book provides a comprehensive review on the status of iron nutrition in plants. It contains updated reviews of most relevant issues involving Fe in plants and combines research on molecular biology with physiological studies of plant-iron nutrition. It also covers molecular aspects of iron uptake and storage in Arabidopsis and transmembrane movement and translocation of iron in plants. This book should serve to stimulate continued exploration in the field.

Horticultural crops are an excellent source of vitamins, antioxidants, and fibers that play an important role in human health. The discovery of modern genomic tools, the continuous generation of genomic data, and the application of comparative and functional genomics are high importance innovations with numerous applications in crop breeding. The utilization of all these new techniques in combination with the analysis of genomic data using bioinformatics tools, contribute to a better understanding of the function of various agronomic traits of interest as well as horticultural crops breeding. Over the last few years, novel genome editing tools such as the CRISPR-Cas9, have been developed and revolutionized molecular technologies due to their simplicity, high efficiency, and specificity.

Our survival as multicellular organisms requires the constant surveillance of our internal and external (mucosal) environments by the multifarious elements of the innate and acquired systems of immunity. The objective of this surveillance, expensive as it is to the organisms, is to recognise and kill invading microorganisms. Over the past fifty years the cells and mediators involved in our immune defences have been painstakingly identified. However, it is only relatively recently that the ability of microorganisms to evade immunity has been recognised and investigated. Bacterial Evasion of Host Immune Responses introduces the reader to the mechanisms used by bacteria to evade both humoral and cellular immune responses, using systems ranging in complexity from the simple quorum sensing molecules - acyl homoserine lactones - to the supramolecular syringe-like devices of type III secretion systems. This book will be of interest to researchers and graduate students in microbiology, immunology, pharmacology and molecular medicine.

During the past few years, major scientific discoveries have greatly contributed to our understanding of the relationship between metals and genetics. The fields which have contrib uted to this area range from Clinical Medicine and Genetics to Biochemistry and Chemistry. The aim of this book is to bring together investigators from these diverse fields to reflect on the broad implications of direct and indirect interactions of metals and genetic components. The volume begins with a tribute to the late Karen Wetterhahn, an outstanding scien tist in the field, who will be sadly missed by her friends and colleagues because of her un timely death. The book has 28 chapters contributed by scientists who are internationally known for their expertise and outstanding research. The subject matters are divided into five major sections. The first section discusses genetic response to environmental expo sure to metals. Potentially devastating health crises have been reported in recent years from several parts of the world, which stem from environmental exposure to metals. In this section, authors report their findings on the effects and influence of metals in gene ex pression and their consequences to human health. The section on metal carcinogenesis and metal caused DNA damage, presents the latest advances in our knowledge of the molecu lar mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This topic is at the very heart of our understanding of how cancer may be caused by various metals.

Genomics has revolutionized biological research over the course of the last two decades. Genome maps of key agricultural species have offered increased understanding of the structure, organization, and evolution of animal genomes. Building upon this foundation, researchers are now emphasizing research on genome function. Published with the World Aquaculture Society, Functional Genomics in Aquaculture looks at the advances in this field as they directly relate to key traits and species in aquaculture production. Functional Genomics in Aquaculture opens with two chapters that provide a useful general introduction to the field of functional genomics. The second section of the book focuses on key production traits such as growth, development, reproduction, nutrition, and physiological response to stress and diseases. The final five chapters focus on a variety of key aquaculture species. Examples looking at our understanding of the functional genomes of salmonids, Mediterranean sea bass, Atlantic cod, catfish, shrimp, and molluscs, are included in the book. Providing valuable insights and discoveries into the functional genomes of finfish and shellfish species, Functional Genomics in Aquaculture, will be an invaluable resource to researchers and professionals in aquaculture, genetics, and animal science.

The interactions between the plant, soil, and microbes are very complex in nature and may be antagonistic, mutualistic, or synergistic, depending upon the types of microorganisms and their association with the plant and soil. The multi-trophictactics are involved in these types of interactions to nourish the plants in various habitats and conditions. Understanding the mechanisms of these interactions is highly desired to utilize the knowledge in such an eco-friendly and sustainable way, which may not only resolve the upcoming food security issues but also make the environment green by reducing the chemical inputs. Plant, Soil and Microbes: Mechanisms and Molecular Interactions, along with the recently published Plant, Soil and Microbes: Implications in Crop Science, provide detailed accounts of the exquisite and delicate balance between the three critical components of agronomy. Specifically, these two titles focus on the basis of nutrient exchange between the microorganisms and the host plants, the mechanism of disease protection and the recent molecular details emerged from studying this multitropic interaction. Together they provide a solid foundation for the students, teachers, and researchers interested in soil microbiology, plant pathology, ecology and agronomy.

This book covers the state-of-the-art of microalgae physiology and biochemistry (and the several –omics). It serves as a key reference work for those working with microalgae, whether in the lab, the field, or for commercial applications. It is aimed at new entrants into the field (i.e. PhD students) as well as experienced practitioners. It has been over 40 years since the publication of a book on algal physiology. Apart from reviews and chapters no other comprehensive book on this topic has been published. Research on microalgae has expanded enormously since then, as has the commercial exploitation of microalgae. This volume thoroughly deals with the most critical physiological and biochemical processes governing algal growth and production.