The Desk Encyclopedia of Microbiology, Second Edition is a single-volume comprehensive guide to microbiology for the advanced reader. Derived from the six volume e-only Encyclopedia of Microbiology, Third Edition, it bridges the gap between introductory texts and specialized reviews. Covering topics ranging from the basic science of microbiology to the current "hot" topics in the field, it will be invaluable for obtaining background information on a broad range of microbiological topics, preparing lectures and preparing grant applications and reports. - The most comprehensive single-volume source providing an overview of microbiology to non-specialists - Bridges the gap between introductory texts and specialized reviews - Provides concise and general overviews of important topics within the field making it a helpful resource when preparing for lectures, writing reports, or drafting grant applications

Many potential applications of synthetic and systems biology are relevant to the challenges associated with the detection, surveillance, and responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. On March 14 and 15, 2011, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats convened a public workshop in Washington, DC, to explore the current state of the science of synthetic biology, including its dependency on systems biology; discussed the different approaches that scientists are taking to engineer, or reengineer, biological systems; and discussed how the tools and approaches of synthetic and systems biology were being applied to mitigate the risks associated with emerging infectious diseases. The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology is organized into sections as a topic-by-topic distillation of the presentations and discussions that took place at the workshop. Its purpose is to present information from relevant experience, to delineate a range of pivotal issues and their respective challenges, and to offer differing perspectives on the topic as discussed and described by the workshop participants. This report also includes a collection of individually authored papers and commentary.

The 9th International Symposium on Yersinia was held in Lexington, Kentucky, USA on October 10-14, 2006. Over 250 Yersinia researchers from 18 countries gathered to present and discuss their research. In addition to 37 oral presentations, there were 150 poster presentations. This Symposium volume is based on selected presentations from the meeting and contains both reviews and research articles. It is divided into six topic areas: 1) genomics; 2) structure and metabolism; 3) regulatory mechanisms; 4) pathogenesis and host interactions; 5) molecular epidemiology and detection; and 6) vaccine and antimicrobial therapy development. Consequently, this volume covers a wide range of current research areas in the Yersinia field.

Biochemistry and Oral Biology presents a unique exposition of biochemistry suitable for dental students. It discusses the structural basis of metabolism and the general principles of nutrition. It addresses the soft tissues, hard tissues, and the biology of the mouth. Some of the topics covered in the book are the free radical production; scope of biochemistry; characteristics of atoms; structure and properties of water; molecular building materials; ionization of proteins; affinity chromatography of proteins; structural organization of globular proteins; classification of enzymes; and biochemically important sugar derivatives. The naturally occurring fatty acids are fully covered. The nucleic acid components are discussed in detail. The text describes in depth the energy equivalents of different nutrients. The physiological effects of dietary fiber vitamin D deficiency are completely presented. A chapter is devoted to the alternative methods of fluoride administration and description of vitamins. The book can provide useful information to dental students, and researchers.

When Antibiotics I was published in 1967, the teleological view was held by some that" antibiotics" were substances elaborated by certain microorgan isms for the purpose of competing with other microorganisms for survival in mixed ecological environments. However, not only had J. EHRLICH and his associates shown 15 years earlier that chloramphenicol was produced by Strepto myces venezuelae in cultures of sterilized soils but not in parallel cultures of the same soils which were not sterilized, but operationally, the search for anti cancer antibiotics was actively under way (Antibiotics I reporting on numerous such substances), although the concept of antibiosis could not logically justify such undertakings. This editor hesitates to accept the use of the term "antibiotic" for anti microbial agents of non microbiological origins which is sometimes encountered, but neither does he subscribe to the view that antibiotics are in some fundamental manner different from chemotherapeutic substances of other origins. Modes and mechanisms of action of chemotherapeutic compounds are not systematic functions of their origins nor of the taxonomical position of the target organisms. Consequently, in the selection of topics for Antibiotics III (published in 1975), synthetic drugs and natural products of higher plants (alkaloids) were represented, along with antibiotics in the strict sense of the definition. We now present Antibiotics V, for whose assembly the same selection criteria were applied as for Antibiotics Ill. The aggregate length of the contributions rendered it impractical to place the entire text between the covers of one book.