Bücher der Reihe SpringerBriefs in Microbiology

This work describes the current knowledge of biochemical mechanisms regulating initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli, which focuses on the control of  activity of the DnaA protein. Examples of direct linkages between DNA replication and other cellular processes are provided. In addition, similarities of the mechanisms of regulation of DNA replication operating in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are identified, and implications for understanding more complex processes, like carcinogenesis are suggested.Studies of recent years provided evidence that regulation of DNA replication in bacteria is more complex than previously anticipated. Multiple layers of control seem to ensure coordination of this process with the increase of cellular mass and the division cycle. Metabolic processes and membrane composition may serve as points where integration of genome replication with growth conditions occurs. It is also likely that coupling of  DNA synthesis with cellular metabolism may involve interactions of replication proteins with other macromolecular complexes, responsible for various cellular processes. Thus, the exact set of factors participating in triggering the replication initiation may differ depending on growth conditions. Therefore, understanding the regulation of DNA duplication requires placing this process in the context of the current knowledge on bacterial metabolism, as well as cellular and chromosomal structure. Moreover, in both Escherichia coli and eukaryotic cells, replication initiator proteins were shown to play other roles in addition to driving the assembly of replication complexes, which constitutes another, yet not sufficiently understood, layer of coordinating DNA replication with the cellcycle.

This SpringerBrief on Spx reviews the investigations that led to the discovery of Spx and its orthologs and ties together the results of various studies that have explored the function and control of spx in Gram-positive organisms.  Spx of Bacillus subtilis has been extensively studied, but very little has been published about it. This book incorporates a number of studies that have been conducted in other Gram positive bacteria, which examined the role of Spx orthologs in stress response, bacterial development and virulence.  The book contains an overview that will introduce the protein and its orthologous forms, its association with RNA polymerase, the species of Gram-positive bacteria in which it is found, and the conditions in which it is abundant and active. Spx is a member of a large group of proteins belonging to the ArsC/Spx protein family, so the review touches upon the bioinformatic support for the protein family composition and its meaning with regard to protein structure/function. ¿

Stress, high blood pressure, smoking, pollution, fast foods, overweight, excessive travelling, surgery, less movement are common features in our modern life. These features are risky for blood clotting disorders. According to WHO, over 29% of the total mortalities worldwide are due to thrombosis. By the year, 2020 cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) may cause an estimated 25 million deaths per year, thus antithrombotic therapy is of great interest. The available thrombolytic agents such as urokinase are highly expensive, antigenic, quite unspecific, pyretogenic and hemorrhagenic. Therefore, the production of fibrinolysing enzymes, which rapidly dissolute thrombi within the vascular tree, without the detriments by microorganisms, as described in this book, is the desirable aim of today's research.

This SpringerBrief sheds new light on bioactive materials from extremophiles with the focus on the biosynthesis processes and related genomics. It deals with all aspects of the chemical compounds produced by organisms living under extreme conditions that may have potential as drugs or lead to novel drugs for human use.

This book provides ample knowledge and better understanding of Streptococcus pyogenes and their superantigens. Useful aspects of superantigens and different therapeutic interventions to eradicate superantigens induced diseased are also discussed.

This book describes the complex processes involved in styrene degradation by microbes, including highly adaptive microorganisms, the various enzymes involved in styrene biodegradation, new styrene-catabolic routes, novel regulatory mechanisms, and the genes coding for styrene metabolizing enzymes.

The book describes the products produced by carboxydotrophic bacteria and their biotechnological applications. These organisms may be used to produce new metabolites, and the oxidases from them may be used to produce fuel cells and biosensors for CO.

To date only around forty lasso peptides have been isolated, but genome mining approaches have revealed that they are widely distributed among Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, particularly in Streptomyces, making available a rich resource of novel lasso peptides and enzyme machineries towards lasso topologies.

The environmental problems caused by petroleum-based plastic and plastic waste have led to an increasing demand for biobased and biodegradable plastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). This book highlights the potential of plant oils, especially palm oil, as a feedstock for PHA production.

This SpringerBrief sheds new light on bioactive materials from marine extremophiles. It deals with all aspects of the chemical compounds produced by organisms living under extreme conditions that may have potential as drugs or lead to novel drugs for human use.

to Cyclic glucans are polysaccharides that are predominantly produced by Agrobacterium, Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium sp. In this book, the applications, properties, analytical tools, production and genes of four main cyclic -glucans from microorganisms are highlighted and critically evaluated.

Extremophiles are known to thrive under harsh environmental conditions. Many extremophilic bio-products are already used as life-saving drugs. Recent technological advancements of systems biology have opened the door to explore these organisms anew as sources of products that might prove useful in clinical, environmental and drug development.

The present work focuses on the diagnosis of TB, covering all its possible ways. This book is intended to be a quick and useful reference for the diagnosis of TB, being of special use for clinicians, pulmonologists and microbiologists, but also to every professional, professors and students involved in research and practice on TB diagnosis.

A discussion of the chemical compounds produced by organisms living under extreme conditions that may have potential as drugs or leads to novel drugs for human use. This SpringerBrief deals with bioactive materials from terrestrial extremophiles.