Genetics and Biochemistry of Antibiotic Production


Book Description

* Emphasizes the molecular genetics of antibiotic production * Provides the latest information on the organization of genes encoding the biosynthetic pathway * Explores the mechanisms governing their expression and regulation * Examines the role of resistance genes in protecting organisms from their own lethal products Genetics and Biochemistry of Antibiotic Production brings together the most up-to-date information on the genetic and biochemical mechanisms involved in antibiotic production. A collection of internationally recognized authors provide the latest information on the organization, function and regulation of genes responsible for antibiotic synthesis in a range of bacteria. This unique book groups antibiotics according to their biosynthetic affiliation, providing a background into evolutionary relationships while raising intriguing questions about the raison d'etre of antibiotics in nature.




Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance


Book Description

Antibiotics represent one of the most successful forms of therapy in medicine. But the efficiency of antibiotics is compromised by the growing number of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Antibiotic resistance, which is implicated in elevated morbidity and mortality rates as well as in the increased treatment costs, is considered to be one of the major global public health threats (www.who.int/drugresistance/en/) and the magnitude of the problem recently prompted a number of international and national bodies to take actions to protect the public (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/docs/road-map-amr_en.pdf: http://www.who.int/drugresistance/amr_global_action_plan/en/; http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/carb_national_strategy.pdf). Understanding the mechanisms by which bacteria successfully defend themselves against the antibiotic assault represent the main theme of this eBook published as a Research Topic in Frontiers in Microbiology, section of Antimicrobials, Resistance, and Chemotherapy. The articles in the eBook update the reader on various aspects and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of these mechanisms should facilitate the development of means to potentiate the efficacy and increase the lifespan of antibiotics while minimizing the emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogens.




Experimental Manipulation of Gene Expression


Book Description

Experimental Manipulation of Gene Expression discusses a wide range of host systems in which to clone and express a gene of interest. The aims are for readers to quickly learn the versatility of the systems and obtain an overview of the technology involved in the manipulation of gene expression. Furthermore, it is hoped that the reader will learn enough from the various approaches to be able to develop systems and to arrange for a gene of particular interest to express in a particular system. The book opens with a chapter on the design and construction of a plasmid vector system used to achieve high-level expression of a particular phage regulatory protein normally found in minute amounts in a phage-infected bacterial cell. This is followed by separate chapters on topics such as high-level expression vectors that utilize efficient Escherichia coli lipoprotein promoter as well as various other portions of the lipoprotein gene Ipp; DNA cloning systems for streptomycetes; and the design and application of vectors for high-level, inducible synthesis of the product of a cloned gene in yeast.







Assessing Ecological Risks of Biotechnology


Book Description

Assessing Ecological Risks of Biotechnology presents a comprehensive analysis of ecological risk assessment for biotechnology as viewed predominantly by scientists doing research in this area, but also by regulators, philosophers, and research managers. The emphasis is on the ecological risks associated with the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment. The book contains 17 chapters that are organized into four parts. Part I discusses the ecological experience gained from previous biological introductions. Part II explores the ecology and the genetics of microbial communities. Emphasis is given to the transport of microorganisms since one of the major ecological concerns about biotechnology is the danger of the spread of genetically engineered organisms to ecosystems other than the one to which they are released. Part III reviews mathematical models that can be used for ecological risk assessment at four different levels. Part IV concerns the regulation of biotechnology, current research trends, and social values.




Biology of Methylotrophs


Book Description

Biology of Methylotrophs introduces the reader to the study of methylotrophs - microorganisms that use reduced one-carbon compounds for growth. The book is divided into five parts. Part I covers the taxonomy, morphology, and ultrastructure of methylotrophic bacteria. Part II discusses the processes involved in their growth and metabolism. Part III talks about the possible applications of methylotrophs and their enzymes in industrial fields as well as chemistry. Part IV deals with the molecular genetics and the gene expression of methylotrophs, and Part V deals with their habitat and role in the environment. The text is recommended for microbiologists who would like to be acquainted with the subject or make further studies about methylotrophs.




Biotechnology of Antibiotics and Other Bioactive Microbial Metabolites


Book Description

In response to the field's need for an introductory text, the authors have distilled the vast and scattered literature relating to the biotechnology of microbial secondary metabolites. General biology, biosynthesis, the search for novel metabolites, and techniques for strain improvement are all discussed to provide undergraduate and graduate students with a concise, readable overview of the field.




Vaccines


Book Description

Vaccines: New Approaches to Immunological Problems presents the advances in the range of strategies and approaches for producing vaccines. The book is comprised of 20 chapters that cover the properties of different vaccines. The coverage of the text includes vaccines for cholera, malaria, helminth, and influenza. The book also discusses topics about the key elements of modern technologies that can be applied to different vaccines, such as active immunization strategies using anti-idiotypic antibodies; passive immunoprophylaxis with human monoclonal antibodies; and immunological adjuvants and their mode of action. The text will be of great use to scientists involved in the research and development of vaccines, such as molecular biologists, biochemists, and virologists.




Protein Engineering


Book Description

Protein Engineering: Approaches to the Manipulation of Protein Folding outlines the complexity of the protein-folding problem and the potential of using genetic tools which, in combination with physical techniques, are expected to shed new light. The book begins with an overview of the basic concepts of protein folding, along with prediction methods and protein-folding models. Separate chapters cover experimental approaches to in vitro protein folding; general approaches used to characterize the folding reaction, equilibrium and kinetic experiments; and strategies employed to elucidate structure/function relationships in proteins of unknown tertiary structure. Subsequent chapters cover the structural and functional features of the HIV envelope protein; x-ray diffraction of proteins; application of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to probe the secondary structure and orientation of membrane-associated proteins; and fluorescence measurements of proteins. The final chapters discuss nuclear magnetic resonance studies of proteins and the potential of the synthetic gene approach applied to the problem of protein folding.