Microbes

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.

• PREFACE xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv1 HUMAN AND MICROBIAL WORLD 11.1 Prologue 11.2 Innovations in Microbiology for Human Welfare 11.3 The Microbial World 241.4 Future Challenges: Metagenomics 572 GENE TECHNOLOGY: APPLICATIONS AND TECHNIQUES 652.1 Prologue 652.2 Introduction to Gene Technology 652.3 Nucleic Acid Hybridization 752.4 DNA Sequencing 882.5 Polymerase Chain Reaction 992.6 Omics Technology and Microbes 1032.7 Bioinformatics in Microbial Technology 1242.8 Future Challenges: The Biochips 1263 MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS 1513.1 Prologue 1513.2 Microbial Biology 1523.3 Infection and Immunity 1603.4 Bacterial Pathogens and Associated Diseases 1853.5 Viral Pathogens and Associated Diseases 2093.6 Prions 2273.7 Parasitic Infections 2283.8 Fungal Pathogen 2493.9 Microbial Diagnostics 2533.10 Future Challenges: Promises of Pharmacogenomics 2654 IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MICROBES 2754.1 Prologue 2754.2 Principles of Taxonomy 2764.3 Using Phenotypic Characteristics to Identify Microbes 2814.4 Using Genotypic Character to Identify Microbes 2994.5 Characterizing Strain Differences 3064.6 Classification of Microbes on the Basis of Phenotypic Characteristics 3194.7 Classification of Microbes on the Basis of Genotypic Characters 3244.8 Future Challenges: Aptamers for Detection of Pathogens 3335 DIVERSITY OF MICROORGANISMS 3395.1 Prologue 3395.2 Physiological Diversity of Microorganisms 3395.3 Thriving in Terrestrial Environment 3455.4 Aquatic Environment 3535.5 Animals as Habitat 3645.6 Archaea in Extreme Environments 3685.7 Biogeochemical Cycles 3735.8 Environmental Influence and Control of Microbial Growth 3775.9 Microorganisms and Organic Pollutants 3855.10 Microorganisms and Metal Pollutants 3965.11 Environmentally Transmitted Pathogens 4055.12 Microorganisms as Friends of Man 4535.13 Microbes as a Disastrous Enemy 4685.14 Future Challenges: Microbes in the Space 4726 MICROBES IN AGRICULTURE 4816.1 Prologue 4816.2 The Soil Plant Microorganisms 4826.3 Root Microbial Interaction 5006.4 Pathogenic Microbes in Agriculture 5086.5 Microbes as a Tool of Genetic Engineering 5356.6 Future Challenges: Functional Genomics Approach for Improvement of Crops 5577 MICROBES AS A TOOL FOR INDUSTRY AND RESEARCH 5677.1 Prologue 5677.2 Historical Development 5677.3 Clinical Diagnostics in a New Era 5787.4 Industrial Microorganisms and Product Formation 6157.5 Major Industrial Products for Health and Industry 6227.6 Food Diagnostics, Food Preservation, and Foodborne Microbial Diseases 6497.7 Future Challenges: Next Generation Diagnostics Industry 680References 681INDEX 685