DNA sequencing of uncultured microbes from single cells from Roger S. Lasken, Mary-Jane Lombardo, Mark Novotny, Joyclyn Yee-Greenbaum and Rashel V. Grindberg writing in Metagenomics: Current Innovations and Future Trends : Development of a method to sequence DNA from a single cell has enabled new strategies to investigate the microbial world. Only a few years ago, sequencing from one cell was not feasible. A bacterium only contains a few femtograms of DNA which is insufficient for current sequencing technologies. This limitation was overcome read more ...

DNA Sequence Contribution to Nucleosome Distribution from Justin A. Fincher and Jonathan H. Dennis writing in Epigenetics: A Reference Manual : DNA in eukaryotes is efficiently and compactly organized into chromatin, the fundamental subunit of which is the nucleosome: approximately 150 bp of DNA spooled 1.65 times around a histone octamer. The location and density of nucleosomes play a role in regulating nuclear processes including transcription, replication, recombination, and repair. Mechanisms acting in trans , like ATP-dependent read more ...

Excerpt from a book review of Environmental Microbiology: Current Technology and Water Applications : "This volume provides a good overview of how newer techniques are being used to study environmental microbial populations, primarily in water. It is a very useful starting point for those who are looking for an introduction to some of the methods or need to come up to speed on developments over the last decade or so ... The chapters are very well referenced ... it provides quite a comprehensive and useful look at the applications of a range read more ...

Excerpt from a book review of Bacterial Pathogenesis: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms : "a valuable book for both graduate students and mature scientists working in the field of bacterial pathogenesis. The authors are all highly accomplished scientists and have carefully shared their work in a logical and comprehensive manner ... useful to those in many areas of research" from Rebecca T. Horvat (University of Kansas, USA) writing in read more ...

DNA Methylation Changes in Cancer from Samson Mani and Zdenko Herceg writing in Epigenetics: A Reference Manual : DNA methylation is an important regulator of gene transcription and a large body of evidence has demonstrated that aberrant DNA methylation is associated with unscheduled gene silencing, and the genes with high levels of 5-methylcytosine in their promoter region are transcriptionally silent. DNA methylation is essential during embryonic development, and in somatic cells, patterns of DNA methylation are generally transmitted to read more ...

Roy Gross and Dagmar Beier present a new book on Two-Component Systems in Bacteria In this book, expert authors from around the world present the current knowledge on two-component systems in bacteria and critically evaluate the vast amount of exciting new information that has been brought to light in recent years. The eighteen chapters cover various topics including the structure-function analysis of two-component systems, the sensing mechanisms, essential or atypical two-component systems and signaling networks, two-component systems in read more ...

Detection of Bacterial Spores: Prospects and Challenges from Sainath Rao Shilpakala, Krishna Mohan V. Ketha and Chintamani D. Atreya writing in Bacterial Spores: Current Research and Applications : Bacteria of several genera are able to form endospores when subjected to certain starvation conditions. The endospores are dormant forms that are structurally and biochemically different from the corresponding growing or vegetative cells. These bacterial endospores resist antibiotics, desciccation, and ordinary boiling than the vegetative cells. read more ...

Degradation of Spore Peptidoglycan During Germination from David L. Popham, Jared D. Heffron and Emily A. Lambert writing in Bacterial Spores: Current Research and Applications : During spore germination, several spore components are broken down and are discarded or recycled. The first major degradative step in germination is depolymerization of the spore cortex peptidoglycan. This is essential to allow full hydration of the spore core and the resumption of cellular metabolism. The spore cortex is a thick layer of peptidoglycan with read more ...

Cyclic di-GMP Signalling and Regulation in Bacteria from J. Maxwell Dow, Yvonne McCarthy, Karen O'Donovan, Delphine Caly and Robert P. Ryan writing in Bacterial Regulatory Networks : Cyclic di-GMP is now recognised as an almost universal second messenger in eubacteria that acts to regulate a wide range of functions including developmental transitions, adhesion, biofilm formation, motility and the synthesis of virulence factors. Cyclic di-GMP is synthesised from two GTP molecules by diguanylate cyclases that have a GGDEF domain and degraded read more ...

Shah M. Faruque presents a new book on Foodborne and Waterborne Bacterial Pathogens: Epidemiology, Evolution and Molecular Biology Food- and waterborne pathogens continue to be a major cause of mortality in developing countries and cause significant morbidity in developed nations. Important pathogens include species or strains of Salmonella, Vibrio, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia, Staphylococcus and Campylobacter . Understanding the molecular basis of pathogenesis, its evolution and spread is critical to the development of new read more ...

Elisabeth Carniel and B. Joseph Hinnebusch present a new book on Yersinia : Systems Biology and Control Three members of the genus Yersinia are important human pathogens, causing diseases ranging from the deadly Plague ( Yersinia pestis ) to a relatively mild gastroenteritis ( Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis ). Plague, a re-emerging disease, is endemic in many parts of the world. The extraordinary pathogenicity of Y. pestis makes it a potential bioterrorist weapon. On the other hand, the two enteropathogenic Yersinia species read more ...

CWSR (Cell Wall Stress-sensing Regulatory) Systems in Gram Negative Bacteria from Juan A. Ayala, Felipe Cava and Miguel A. de Pedro writing in Stress Response in Microbiology : The cell envelope is the major line of defence against environmental threats. It is an essential but vulnerable structure that shapes the cell and counteracts the turgor pressure. It provides a sensory interface, a molecular sieve and a structural support, mediating information flow, transport and assembly of supramolecular structures. Therefore, maintenance of cell read more ...

Corrosion and Fouling from Steve Flint and Gideon Wolfaardt writing in Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and Applications : Biofilms can directly or indirectly be attributed to deterioration of the underlying substratum. Corrosion may result, particularly if the surface comprises metal or metal alloy. This phenomenon, referred to as microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) affects many industries from food manufacture to medicine. The economic impact of corrosion is significant due to the need for replacing corroded equipment, repairs and read more ...

Control of Lytic Transglycosylase Activity within Bacterial Cell Walls from John M. Pfeffer, Patrick J. Moynihan, Chelsea A. Clarke, Chris Vandenende and Anthony J. Clarke writing in Bacterial Glycomics: Current Research, Technology and Applications : Lytic transglycosylases are an important class of bacterial enzymes that act on peptidoglycan with the same substrate specificity as lysozyme. Unlike the latter enzymes however, the lytic transglycosylases are not hydrolases, but instead cleave the glycosidic linkage between N -acetylmuramyl read more ...

Competence and Transformation from Berenike Maier writing in Bacillus : Cellular and Molecular Biology (Second edition) : Competence for transformation enables bacteria to take up exogenous DNA. The imported DNA can integrate into the chromosome by homologous recombination or anneal to form a self replicating plasmid. Development of competence in Bacillus subtilis is tightly regulated as a function of cell density during entry into the stationary growth phase. Additionally, competence occurs only in a small subpopulation of B. subtilis read more ...

Chromosome Segregation from Peter L. Graumann writing in Bacillus : Cellular and Molecular Biology (Second edition) : After a bit more than a decade of the use of GFP - or immuno-fluorescence microscopy to study bacterial chromosome segregation, it has become clear that this process is highly organized, temporally as well as spatially, and that a mitotic-like machinery exists that actively moves apart sister chromosomes. Several key factors in this process have been identified, and at least a rough overall picture can be drawn on how read more ...

Biofilm Control in Industrial Settings. A free webinar, Biofilm Control in Industrial Settings, will be presented by the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University on Tuesday 31 January 2012, 1:00-2:30 PM EST. Registration and additional information is available here Suggested reading: Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and read more ...

Cellulolytic Microorganisms from Thermal Environments from T.A. Vishnivetskaya, B. Raman, T.J. Phelps, M. Podar and J.G. Elkins writing in Extremophiles: Microbiology and Biotechnology : Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid fuels using biological processes offers a potential solution to partially offset the world's dependence on fossil fuels for energy. In nature, decomposition of organic plant biomass is brought about by the combined action of several interacting microorganisms existing in complex communities. Bioprospecting in read more ...

Cell Division from Frederico Gueiros-Filho writing in Bacillus : Cellular and Molecular Biology (Second edition) : Cell division is the process of generating two viable descendants from a progenitor cell. This involves two coordinated events: the replication and segregation of the bacterial chromosome and the splitting of the progenitor cell by cytokinesis, which in bacteria is also known as septum formation. Bacterial cells have developed a remarkably sophisticated protein machine capable of precisely splitting a progenitor cell at the read more ...

Catalytic Biofilms: a Powerful Concept for Future Bioprocesses from Rainer Gross, Andreas Schmid and Katja Buehler writing in Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and Applications : Biofilms are mainly known for causing problems in medical and industrial settings due to their persistence towards treatment with bactericides, including antibiotics. However, in the area of bioremediation they are widely recognized for their ability to degrade hazardous or organic compounds to CO 2 and biomass. Biofilms represent a highly interesting biological read more ...

Biosynthesis of Capsular Polysaccharides and Exopolysaccharides from Anne N. Reid and Leslie Cuthbertson writing in Bacterial Glycomics: Current Research, Technology and Applications : Capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) and exopolysaccharides (EPSs) enhance bacterial survival in the environment, contribute to symbiotic interactions between plants and bacteria, and mediate interactions between plant and animal pathogens and their hosts. Bacteria express a wide array of CPS and EPS structures that are assembled by one of three distinct read more ...

Biofilms: Applications in Bioremediation from Gabriele Pastorella, Giulio Gazzola, Seratna Guadarrama and Enrico Marsili writing in Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and Applications : Bioremediation uses microorganisms to remove, detoxify, or immobilize pollutants, and does not require addition of harmful chemicals. Bioremediation is particularly suitable for large areas where contaminant concentrations are relatively low and the hydrology of the soil does not support an aggressive chemical remediation strategy. In the last few years, read more ...

Biofilms in Wastewater Treatment Systems from G.A. Clark Ehlers and Susan J. Turner writing in Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and Applications : Biofilms occur frequently inside various engineered systems for wastewater treatment. These include traditional trickling filter systems, modified lagoons, and specialized supplementary systems for nutrient removal or treatment of specialized wastes. The major advantages of biofilm systems over suspension treatment is the high microbial density that can be achieved, leading to smaller read more ...

Excerpt from a book review of Molecular Virology and Control of Flaviviruses : "a valuable reference for experienced researchers ... This well-designed book covers the important new scientific data on pathogenic flaviviruses and will serve as a valuable resource for investigators working on methods to prevent disease from these viruses." from Rebecca T. Horvat (University of Kansas, USA) writing in read more ...

Biofilms in Freshwater: Their Importance for the Maintenance and Monitoring of Freshwater Health from Gavin Lear, Andrew Dopheide, Pierre-Yves Ancion, Kelly Roberts, Vidya Washington, Jo Smith and Gillian D. Lewis writing in Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and Applications : This chapter reviews our current understanding of the roles biofilm-associated microbial communities play in both maintaining and improving the ecological health of freshwater rivers and streams. Biofilms are where most of the bacteria present in freshwater systems read more ...

Biofilms in Disease from James D. Bryers writing in Microbial Biofilms: Current Research and Applications : Clinically related research on biofilms has expanded exponentially in the past ten years due to the pandemic of nosocomial (hospital-related) infections. Biofilms are thought to cause a significant amount of all human microbial infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nosocomial infections are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. with more than two million cases annually (or approximately 10% of read more ...

Biochemical and Structure-function Analyses of the HPV E7 Oncoprotein from Leonardo G. Alonso, Lucía B. Chemes, María L. Cerutti, Karina I. Dantur, and Gonzalo de Prat-Gay writing in Small DNA Tumour Viruses : The human papillomavirus E7 oncoprotein is the main transforming agent of this important pathogen. Although its primary action is binding and targeting the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein, over two decades of research has shown a much more complex mode of action where multiple cellular partners and cellular read more ...

Bacterial Virulence Gene Expression Contributed By the Alternative σ Factor, σ54 from Patricia C. Burrows, Simone C. Wiesler, Zhensheng Pan, Martin Buck and Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj writing in Bacterial Regulatory Networks : Amongst the many accessory factors that bind RNA polymerase (RNAp) and serve to control its activities, sigma (σ) factors ubiquitously feature in programming of gene expression in response to abiotic and biotic cues. Here we review the role of the major variant σ factor, σ54, in the read more ...

Bacterial Lipoarabinomannan: Structure to Biogenesis from Arun K. Mishra, Sarah M. Batt, Luke J. Alderwick, Klaus Futterer, and Gurdyal Singh Besra writing in Bacterial Glycomics: Current Research, Technology and Applications : Lipoarabinomannan is an amphipathic lipoglycan found in the cell wall of most Actinomycetes. The majority of bacteria from the sub-order Corynebacterineae , including Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Mycobacterium smegmatis and Corynebacterium glutamicum , and from genus Rhodococcus , Gordonia and Amycolatopsis ; all read more ...

Bacterial Flagellar Glycosylation Systems: Opportunities and Applications from Susan M. Twine and Susan M. Logan writing in Bacterial Glycomics: Current Research, Technology and Applications : The biosynthesis and assembly of the flagellar apparatus has been the subject of extensive studies over many decades. More recently, glycosylation of the major structural protein, the flagellin, has been shown to be an important component of numerous flagellar systems in both Archaea and Bacteria, playing either an integral role in assembly and for a read more ...