The book emphasizes role of functional microbes in soil to improve fertility and plant health in agro-ecosystem. In this compendium main emphasis is on occurrence and distribution of microbial communities, In situ active microbial quorum in rhizosphere, metratranscriptomics for microflora- and fauna, and fnctional diversity in rhizosphere. The book also highlights the importance of PGPRs in rhizosphere, root endotrophic microbes, functional niche under biotic stress, functional niche under abiotic stress, functional root derived signals, as well as functional microbe derived signals. Approaches deployed in metatranscriptomics, and molecular Tools used in rhizosphere are also discussed in detail. The book presents content is useful for students, academicians, researchers working on soil rhizosphere and as a policy document on sustenance of agriculture.

This new volume of Methods in Enzymology continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. This volume covers microbial metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics, and includes chapters on such topics as in-solution FISH for single cell genome preparation, preparation of BAC libraries from marine microbial community DNA, and preparation of microbial community cDNA for metatranscriptomic analysis in marine plankton. - Continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field - Covers microbial metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics - Contains chapters on such topics as in-solution fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for single cell genome preparation, preparation of BAC libraries from marine microbial community DNA, and preparation of microbial community cDNA for metatranscriptomic analysis in marine plankton

Metagenomic research has paved the way for a comprehensive understanding of the microbial gene parts list in nature, but a full understanding of microbial gene expression, regulation, and ecology remains a challenge. In this thesis, I present the methodological foundations and applications of deep sequencing-based metatranscriptomics, for profiling community transcriptomes on spatial and temporal scales. Several findings and relevant hypotheses have emerged from this work. I show that transcripts of house-keeping genes necessary for the maintenance of basic cellular machinery are abundant and readily detectable. Habitat-specific transcripts are also discernible when comparing community transcriptomes along distinct geochemical conditions. Normalization of detected transcripts to their corresponding gene abundance suggests that numerically less abundant microorganisms may nevertheless contribute actively to ecologically relevant processes. Along the same lines, it is a recurrent observation that many transcripts are of unknown function or phylogenetic origin, and have not been detected in genomic/metagenomic data sets. These novel sequences may be derived from less abundant species or variable genomic regions that are not represented in sequenced genomes. Furthermore, I applied metatranscriptomics in a microcosm experiment, where a deep water mixing event was simulated and community transcriptomes were monitored over the course of 27 hours. Relative to the control, the treatment sample showed signals of stimulated photosynthesis and carbon fixation by phytoplankton cells, enhanced chemotactic, motility, and growth responses of heterotrophic bacteria, as well as possibly altered phage-host interactions. Such experimental metatranscriptomic studies are well suited to reveal how microorganisms respond during the early stages of environmental perturbations. Finally, I show that metatranscriptomic data sets contain a wealth of highly expressed small RNAs (sRNAs), transcripts that are not translated to proteins but instead function as regulators. I propose a bioinformatics pipeline for identifying these sRNA elements, characterizing their structures and genomic contexts, and predicting possible regulatory targets. The extraordinary abundance of some of the identified sRNAs raises questions about their ecological function, which warrants further biochemical and genetic studies. Overall, this work has extended our knowledge of functional potentials and in situ gene expression of natural microbial communities.

This book provides definitive methods to perform stable isotope probing (SIP) experiments, covering a wide spectrum of stable isotope techniques used in microbial ecology, such as methods to target and analyze labeled DNA, rRNA, mRNA, protein, and PLFA. Protocols to study stable isotope fractionation by microbial pathways, the analysis of labeled communities with Raman microscopy, Chip-SIM, as well as quantitative SIP (qSIP) and high-resolution SIP (HR-SIP) are also featured. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Stable Isotope Probing: Methods and Protocols provides readers with up-to-date protocols ranging from basic to the most sophisticated applications of SIP and will benefit anyone pursuing this exciting area of study.

Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere covers current knowledge on the molecular basis of plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere. Also included in the book are both reviews and research-based chapters describing experimental materials and methods. Edited by a leader in the field, with contributions from authors around the world, Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere brings together the most up-to-date research in this expanding area, and will be a valuable resource for molecular microbiologists and plant soil scientists, as well as upper level students in microbiology, ecology, and agriculture.

This book explores the significance of soil microbial diversity to understand its utility in soil functions, ecosystem services, environmental sustainability, and achieving the sustainable development goals. With a focus on agriculture and environment, the book highlights the importance of the microbial world by providing state-of-the-art technologies for examining the structural and functional attributes of soil microbial diversity for applications in healthcare, industrial biotechnology, and bioremediation studies. In seven chapters, the book will act as a primer for students, environmental biotechnologists, microbial ecologists, plant scientists, and agricultural microbiologists. Chapter 1 introduces readers to the soil microbiome, and chapter 2 discusses the below ground microbial world. Chapter 3 addresses various methods for exploring microbial diversity, chapter 4 discusses the genomics methods, chapter 5 provides the metaproteomics and metatranscriptomics approaches and chapter 6 details the bioinformatics tools for soil microbial community analysis, and chapter 7 concludes the text with future perspectives on further soil microbial uses and applications.

Microbial Diversity in the Genomic Era presents insights on the techniques used for microbial taxonomy and phylogeny, along with their applications and respective pros and cons. Though many advanced techniques for the identification of any unknown bacterium are available in the genomics era, a far fewer number of the total microbial species have been discovered and identified to date. The assessment of microbial taxonomy and biosystematics techniques discovered and practiced in the current genomics era with suitable recommendations is the prime focus of this book. - Discusses the techniques used for microbial taxonomy and phylogeny with their applications and respective pros and cons - Reviews the evolving field of bacterial typing and the genomic technologies that enable comparative analysis of multiple genomes and the metagenomes of complex microbial environments - Provides a uniform, standard methodology for species designation