Several efforts have been made in developing strategies to supply the enzyme market, as well as in reducing its costs. It includes the selection of an appropriate enzyme source and the optimization of enzyme properties and secretion. Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) are industrially relevant biocatalysts that are capable of degrading plant cell wall biomass. The most important secreted enzymes related to plant cell wall decomposition are cellulases, hemicellulases, and auxiliary enzymes. These enzymes have been applied in the hydrolysis of plant biomass for the production of second-generation (2G) ethanol and several other high added value products. One of the bottlenecks for 2G ethanol production is the cost of enzymes applied on plant biomass hydrolysis. The improvement of proteins production by fungi applying system biology and genetic engineering is an interesting and promising strategy to reduce the enzymes cost and make the 2G ethanol production viable. Fungi play an important role in plant biomass degradation and biotechnology by producing and secreting high yields of enzymes. In spite of the fact that filamentous fungi present several advantages compared to other microorganisms due to the high level of proteins production, heterologous protein production is far from optimal levels and still needs to be improved. Currently, heterologous production of certain proteins is generally considerably lower than the levels obtained to homologous production. Many strategies have been studied in order to improve heterologous production of proteins by filamentous fungi, including the deletion of genes that encode for proteases, the deletion of lectin-like ER-Golgi cargo receptors and the co-expression of specific chaperones. It has been shown that the main bottleneck in the production of heterologous proteins is not caused by the low expression of the target gene. An experimental evidence suggests that most target proteins produced in filamentous fungi are lost or stuck in the secretory pathway due to errors in processing, modification or misfolding that result in their elimination by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control. Misfolded proteins alter homeostasis and proper ER functioning resulting in a state known as ER stress. ER stress activates a conserved signaling pathway called unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD), which upregulates genes responsible for restoring protein folding homeostasis in the cell and degrades misfolded protein in the cytosol by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The genetic manipulation of individual genes and changes in the genome seems not to be the best alternative to overcome the main bottlenecks in heterologous protein secretion. However, the understanding of complex interactions of important proteins and genes, as well as how they are regulated is more promising.

Plant mycobiome represents a diverse array of plant-associated communities of endophytic and epiphytic fungi. These communities fundamentally affect plant health, development, adaptation, and communication with the surrounding ecosystem. Furthermore, they have key roles in the establishment, diversification, productivity, and sustainability of different natural ecosystems. However, some of these communities are pathogenic for the plant itself or dangerous for the consumers, due to the production of mycotoxins. In other words, plant mycobiome represents two faces of a coin. This book aimed to explore contributions of the plant mycobiome in plant-environment interactions from different perspectives. Chapters of this book address numerous themes covering the recent advances in roles, diversity, and dynamics of these fungi as biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, growth promoters, and their secondary metabolites in the area of crop improvement for sustainability and biotechnology, as well as the plant pathogenic and toxigenic fungi. This book will be useful to postgraduate students, botanists, mycologists, ecologists, plant pathologists, and physiologists.

The tremendous progress in biology over the last half century - from Watson and Crick's elucidation of the structure of DNA to today's astonishing, rapid progress in the field of synthetic biology - has positioned us for significant innovation in chemical production. New bio-based chemicals, improved public health through improved drugs and diagnostics, and biofuels that reduce our dependency on oil are all results of research and innovation in the biological sciences. In the past decade, we have witnessed major advances made possible by biotechnology in areas such as rapid, low-cost DNA sequencing, metabolic engineering, and high-throughput screening. The manufacturing of chemicals using biological synthesis and engineering could expand even faster. A proactive strategy - implemented through the development of a technical roadmap similar to those that enabled sustained growth in the semiconductor industry and our explorations of space - is needed if we are to realize the widespread benefits of accelerating the industrialization of biology. Industrialization of Biology presents such a roadmap to achieve key technical milestones for chemical manufacturing through biological routes. This report examines the technical, economic, and societal factors that limit the adoption of bioprocessing in the chemical industry today and which, if surmounted, would markedly accelerate the advanced manufacturing of chemicals via industrial biotechnology. Working at the interface of synthetic chemistry, metabolic engineering, molecular biology, and synthetic biology, Industrialization of Biology identifies key technical goals for next-generation chemical manufacturing, then identifies the gaps in knowledge, tools, techniques, and systems required to meet those goals, and targets and timelines for achieving them. This report also considers the skills necessary to accomplish the roadmap goals, and what training opportunities are required to produce the cadre of skilled scientists and engineers needed.

Fungi: Biology and Applications, Second Edition provides a comprehensive treatment of fungi, covering biochemistry, genetics and the medical and economic significance of these organisms at introductory level. With no prior knowledge of the subject assumed, the opening chapters offer a broad overview of the basics of fungal biology, in particular the physiology and genetics of fungi and also a new chapter on the application of genomics to fungi. Later chapters move on to include more detailed coverage of topics such as antibiotic and chemical commodities from fungi, new chapters on biotechnological use of fungal enzymes and fungal proteomics, and fungal diseases of humans, antifungal agents for use in human therapy and fungal pathogens of plants.

Biotechnology and Biology of Trichoderma serves as a comprehensive reference on the chemistry and biochemistry of one of the most important microbial agents, Trichoderma, and its use in an increased number of industrial bioprocesses for the synthesis of many biochemicals such as pharmaceuticals and biofuels. This book provides individuals working in the field of Trichoderma, especially biochemical engineers, biochemists and biotechnologists, important information on how these valuable fungi can contribute to the production of a wide range of products of commercial and ecological interest. - Provides a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology of Trichoderma, fungi present in soil and plants - Includes most important current and potential applications of Trichoderma in bioengineering, bioprocess technology including bioenergy & biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, secondary metabolites and protein engineering - Includes the most recent research advancements made on Trichoderma applications in plant biotechnology and ecology and environment

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.

Systems Metabolic Engineering is changing the way microbial cell factories are designed and optimized for industrial production. Integrating systems biology and biotechnology with new concepts from synthetic biology enables the global analysis and engineering of microorganisms and bioprocesses at super efficiency and versatility otherwise not accessible. Without doubt, systems metabolic engineering is a major driver towards bio-based production of chemicals, materials and fuels from renewables and thus one of the core technologies of global green growth. In this book, Christoph Wittmann and Sang-Yup Lee have assembled the world leaders on systems metabolic engineering and cover the full story – from genomes and networks via discovery and design to industrial implementation practises. This book is a comprehensive resource for students and researchers from academia and industry interested in systems metabolic engineering. It provides us with the fundaments to targeted engineering of microbial cells for sustainable bio-production and stimulates those who are interested to enter this exiting research field.