Focusing on issues of gene organization, regulation, and evolution in the context of the whole life of the cell, this new volume complements the editors' classic 1993 volume Bacillus subtilis and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria. Building upon the previous edition, Bacillus subtilis and Its Closest Relatives contains an updated annotation of the complete B. subtilis genome and includes a unique compilation of major pathways of metabolism and macromolecular synthesis, correlating genes and proteins and assigning new functions to many genes. It also provides clear explanations of the major regulatory mechanisms that are unique to gram-positive bacteria as well as an overview of their special properties. This essential reference offers detailed, current information and is valuable reading for microbiologists, biotechnologists, and students.

Bacillus subtilis is a motile gram-positive bacterium widespread in the soil and the gut of animals which has been reported to cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. In Bacillus subtilis: Morphology, Functions and Role in Disease Management, the authors begin by outlining the main features of chemotaxis as a behaviour, then reviewing the molecular machinery Bacillus subtilis uses to sense and respond to chemical cues. Following this, the authors discuss how bacterial biofilms can form on biotic and abiotic surfaces, developing various reversible and irreversible stages depending on environmental conditions. An important characteristic of biofilm is the extracellular matrix, which is usually formed by exopolysaccharide and extracellular proteins by Bacillus subtilis. Next, this compilation highlights the key features in Bacillus subtilis lipopeptides as eco-friendly controllers of plant pathogens. Currently, phytopathogens impact all agricultural systems, leading to economic losses worldwide. The closing chapter discusses NKCP®, a novel dietary supplement derived from traditional Japanese traditional food, which improved patients symptoms and blood pressure by improving blood flow through antithrombotic and fibrinolytic properties.

This book describes the structures and functions of active protein filaments, found in bacteria and archaea, and now known to perform crucial roles in cell division and intra-cellular motility, as well as being essential for controlling cell shape and growth. These roles are possible because the cytoskeletal and cytomotive filaments provide long range order from small subunits. Studies of these filaments are therefore of central importance to understanding prokaryotic cell biology. The wide variation in subunit and polymer structure and its relationship with the range of functions also provide important insights into cell evolution, including the emergence of eukaryotic cells. Individual chapters, written by leading researchers, review the great advances made in the past 20-25 years, and still ongoing, to discover the architectures, dynamics and roles of filaments found in relevant model organisms. Others describe one of the families of dynamic filaments found in many species. The most common types of filament are deeply related to eukaryotic cytoskeletal proteins, notably actin and tubulin that polymerise and depolymerise under the control of nucleotide hydrolysis. Related systems are found to perform a variety of roles, depending on the organisms. Surprisingly, prokaryotes all lack the molecular motors associated with eukaryotic F-actin and microtubules. Archaea, but not bacteria, also have active filaments related to the eukaryotic ESCRT system. Non-dynamic fibres, including intermediate filament-like structures, are known to occur in some bacteria.. Details of known filament structures are discussed and related to what has been established about their molecular mechanisms, including current controversies. The final chapter covers the use of some of these dynamic filaments in Systems Biology research. The level of information in all chapters is suitable both for active researchers and for advanced students in courses involving bacterial or archaeal physiology, molecular microbiology, structural cell biology, molecular motility or evolution. Chapter 3 of this book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.

The Molecular Biology of the Bacilli, Volume I: Bacillus subtilis focuses on areas of research traditionally investigated in Bacillus subtilis, as well as topics in which outstanding progress has been made. It discusses the sporulation, defective bacteriophage, and transformation of Bacillus subtilis. Organized into 11 chapters, the book begins with the genetic map of Bacillus subtilis, followed by DNA replication and RNA polymerase of the said species. The book then describes the translational apparatus of Bacillus subtilis. It also explains the genetic transformation in Bacillus subtilis; the sporulation genes; the regulatory mechanisms in the development of lytic bacteriophages in this species; the temperate Bacillus subtilis phages; the specialized transduction in Bacillus subtilis; and molecular cloning in this organism. Lastly, the book considers the most economically important areas of the microbiological industry employing bacilli, including the production of enzymes, nucleosides, riboflavin, and preparations pathogenic to insects. This book will be useful to scientists who are concerned with the use of Bacillus subtilis as a tool for the study of molecular biology and to those who wish to increase the medical, veterinary, and industrial usefulness of this and related organisms.

The Flagellar World is a unique publication. The product of years of research and data collection by the author, this book is a pictorial guide to flagella in a variety of organisms. Each EM image is accompanied by a short description of the system in each organism. These never-before-seen pictures represent a wide variety of flagella, including Legionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and many others. Researchers in microbiology, immunology, and parasitology will find this a fascinating and useful resource. - A unique publication with many never before seen EM images of flagella - A historical document of years of research on flagella - Fills a specific niche that shows flagella in several varied organisms

Bacillus subtilis has become widely adopted as a model organism for laboratory studies and is one of the best understood prokaryotes in terms of molecular and cellular biology. Its superb genetic amenability and relatively large size have provided powerful tools to investigate a bacterium in all possible aspects. This reference work provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the current knowledge and new research in Bacillus molecular and cellular biology. Subjects covered include chromosome replication, DNA repair, chromosome segregation, cell division, transcription and translation, RNA-mediated regulation, general and regulatory proteolysis, the actin-like MreB cytoskeleton, the membrane proteome, the cell wall, endospore formation, biofilms, multicellularity and social behaviour, competence and transformation.

The genus Bacillw; has a long history of importance, both from an economic point of view and as a source of experimental microorganisms. This volume critically reviews aspects of identification, molecular biology, and growth that are of impor tance for the current and anticipated future exploitation of members of this group. In addition, the volume includes a chapter on taxonomy, as the importance of good taxonomy is often not fully appreciated; on sporulation, since so many important products are produced concomitantly with this process and we are beginning to understand the mechanisms by which the process is controlled; and, finally, on the cell envelope, as we are only just beginning to appreciate the significance of dif ferences between the cell walls of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria for productivity and processing. The commercial importance of Bacillus lies mainly in the area of enzyme pro duction for the food, drink, and detergent markets. Increasingly, however, the ability of Bacillus to secrete proteins, coupled with its regulatory acceptability, has resulted in strenuous efforts to develop species of Bacillus as hosts for the produc tion of value-added heterologous proteins. Difficulties have often been encoun tered, indicating a need to divert more resources to improving our understanding of the molecular biology of members of this grou p. Experience with Escherichia coli, a far from ideal organism from a commercial point of view, suggests that an in creased investment in Bacillus is likely ultimately to be productive.