An accessible introduction to the world of microbes--from
basic microbe biology through industrial applications

Microbes affect our lives in a variety of ways--playing an
important role in our health, food, agriculture, and environment.
While some microbes are beneficial, others are pathogenic or
opportunistic.

Microbes: Concepts and Applications describes basic
microbe biology and identification and shows not only how they
operate in the subfields of medicine, biotechnology, environmental
science, bioengineering, agriculture, and food science, but how
they can be harnessed as a resource. It provides readers with a
solid grasp of etiologic agents, pathogenic processes,
epidemiology, and the role of microbes as therapeutic agents.

Placing a major emphasis on omics technology, the book covers
recent developments in the arena of microbes and discusses their
role in industry and agriculture, as well as in related fields such
as immunology, cell biology, and molecular biology. It offers
complete discussions of the major bacterial, viral, fungal, and
parasitic pathogens; includes information on emerging infectious
diseases, antibiotic resistance, and bioterrorism; and talks about
the future challenges in microbiology.

The most complete treatment of microbial biology available,
Microbes features eye-opening chapters on:

* Human and Microbial World

* Gene Technology: Application and Techniques

* Molecular Diagnostic and Medical Microbiology

* Identification and Classification of Microbes

* Diversity of Microorganisms

* Microbes in Agriculture

* Microbes as a Tool for Industry and Research

Complete with charts and figures, this book is an invaluable
textbook for university teachers, students, researchers, and people
everywhere who care about microorganisms.

Dr. Mousumi Debnath received her BSx and MSc from Calcutta
University and PhD from the Unversity of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Her
main research interest is in the field of abiotic stress on
medicinal plants using plant biotechnology tools. Presently she
isengaged in research on genomics and metabolomics of medicinal
plants. She also holds a postgraduate degree in Business management
(MBA) specialising in Human resource management. She presently
serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of
Biotechnology, Jaipur Engineering College and Research centre,
Affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University,India.

Professor Prakash Singh Bisen, PhD,D.Sc is an eminent
scientist in the field of Biotechnology with over 32 years of
research and teaching experience. He has one US Patent and an
Indian Patent on Tuberculosis to his credit. He is also an author
of over 130 research publicationsPresently, Professor Bisen is the
Chairman of Bisen Biotech and Biopharma (P) Ltd. - a private
equity venture which focuses on diagnostic solutions for widespread
diseases. Professor Bisen is also the Chairman of the Vikrant
Group, which focuses on advancing technical education through
technical institutes at Gwalior and Indore, India.

Dr. G.B.K.S. Prasad is a Professor of Biochemistry at
Jiwaji University, India and possess over 25 yrs of experience as a
teacher and researcher in the field of Medical Biotechnology. He
teaches Clinical Biochemistry and Medical Biotechnology to
Postgraduate students at Jiwaji University and published over 50
research papers in peer reviewed scientific journals. He was at
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene as a Commonwealth
Staff Fellow. The focus of his research is Diagnostics and
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

Microbes affect our lives in a variety of waysplaying an important role in our health, food, agriculture, and environment. While some microbes are beneficial, others are pathogenic or opportunistic.

Microbes: Concepts and Applications describes basic microbe biology and identification and shows not only how they operate in the subfields of medicine, biotechnology, environmental science, bioengineering, agriculture, and food science, but how they can be harnessed as a resource. It provides readers with a solid grasp of etiologic agents, pathogenic processes, epidemiology, and the role of microbes as therapeutic agents.

Placing a major emphasis on omics technology, the book covers recent developments in the arena of microbes and discusses their role in industry and agriculture, as well as in related fields such as immunology, cell biology, and molecular biology. It offers complete discussions of the major bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens; includes information on emerging infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, and bioterrorism; and talks about the future challenges in microbiology.

The most complete treatment of microbial biology available, Microbes features eye-opening chapters on:

• Human and Microbial World
• Gene Technology: Application and Techniques
• Molecular Diagnostic and Medical Microbiology
• Identification and Classification of Microbes
• Diversity of Microorganisms
• Microbes in Agriculture
• Microbes as a Tool for Industry and Research

Complete with charts and figures, this book is an invaluable textbook for university teachers, students, researchers, and people everywhere who care about microorganisms.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv

1 HUMAN AND MICROBIAL WORLD 1
1.1 Prologue 1
1.2 Innovations in Microbiology for Human Welfare 1
1.3 The Microbial World 24
1.4 Future Challenges: Metagenomics 57

2 GENE TECHNOLOGY: APPLICATIONS AND TECHNIQUES 65
2.1 Prologue 65
2.2 Introduction to Gene Technology 65
2.3 Nucleic Acid Hybridization 75
2.4 DNA Sequencing 88
2.5 Polymerase Chain Reaction 99
2.6 Omics Technology and Microbes 103
2.7 Bioinformatics in Microbial Technology 124
2.8 Future Challenges: The Biochips 126

3 MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS 151
3.1 Prologue 151
3.2 Microbial Biology 152
3.3 Infection and Immunity 160
3.4 Bacterial Pathogens and Associated Diseases 185
3.5 Viral Pathogens and Associated Diseases 209
3.6 Prions 227
3.7 Parasitic Infections 228
3.8 Fungal Pathogen 249
3.9 Microbial Diagnostics 253
3.10 Future Challenges: Promises of Pharmacogenomics 265

4 IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MICROBES 275
4.1 Prologue 275
4.2 Principles of Taxonomy 276
4.3 Using Phenotypic Characteristics to Identify Microbes 281
4.4 Using Genotypic Character to Identify Microbes 299
4.5 Characterizing Strain Differences 306
4.6 Classification of Microbes on the Basis of Phenotypic Characteristics 319
4.7 Classification of Microbes on the Basis of Genotypic Characters 324
4.8 Future Challenges: Aptamers for Detection of Pathogens 333

5 DIVERSITY OF MICROORGANISMS 339
5.1 Prologue 339
5.2 Physiological Diversity of Microorganisms 339
5.3 Thriving in Terrestrial Environment 345
5.4 Aquatic Environment 353
5.5 Animals as Habitat 364
5.6 Archaea in Extreme Environments 368
5.7 Biogeochemical Cycles 373
5.8 Environmental Influence and Control of Microbial Growth 377
5.9 Microorganisms and Organic Pollutants 385
5.10 Microorganisms and Metal Pollutants 396
5.11 Environmentally Transmitted Pathogens 405
5.12 Microorganisms as Friends of Man 453
5.13 Microbes as a Disastrous Enemy 468
5.14 Futur…