Books

Over the past 15 years, the use of modern molecular biological approaches has radically advanced our understanding of nitrification processes. With chapters contributed by leading experts in the field, Nitrification fully reviews all the latest research findings on microbes involved in conventional aerobic nitrification, anaerobic ammonia oxidation, and related processes.

The book begins with an overview of the current state of the field. Next, the four principal groups of nitrifying microbes are examined in separate sections, covering conventional aerobic bacterial ammonia oxidizers, recently discovered aerobic archaeal ammonia oxidizers, anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing planctomycetes, and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Within each section, readers can gather current information on the ecology, phylogeny, biochemistry, molecular biology, and genomics of each group of microbes. The authors also discuss the latest industrial applications of nitrification and anammox processes. The final section of the book explores the ecology of nitrification in marine, freshwater, soil, and wastewater environments.

By reviewing all aspects of nitrification in one place, Nitrification introduces novices to the field and brings experienced researchers up to date with all the latest perspectives. Extensive references at the end of each chapter guide readers to the field’s growing body of primary research, making this book the ideal starting point for any investigation of nitrifying microbes.

Hardcover, 460 pages, full-color insert, illustrations, index.

The study of microbe-metal interactions is a burgeoning research area within environmental biogeochemistry. It has led to many major innovations and discoveries, including the development of microbial fuel cells, pili that function as “nanowires,“ and new, enhanced approaches to bioremediation. This publication, dedicated to the memory of geomicrobiology pioneer Terry Beveridge, reviews the current state of the science in the field. In addition, it examines emerging developments and applications and forecasts future research directions.

Microbial Metal and Metalloid Metabolism is divided into three sections: Environments, Processes, and New Technologies. Readers will find a broad range of current topics and approaches in microbe-metal research, including microbial fuel cells, unique microbial physiology, genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics. The book offers chapters to introduce novices to the field as well as chapters to bring advanced investigators fully up to date with the latest state-of-the-science findings and applications.

All the chapters have been authored by recognized leaders and innovators in the field. Their contributions are based on a thorough review of the current literature and their own first-hand research experience, making the book an ideal reference for investigators interested in the microbial metabolism of metals and metalloids. The book is also recommended as a text for graduate courses in microbial physiology, microbial ecology, and applied and environmental microbiology.

Hardcover, 369 pages, illustrations, index.

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Based on the author’s experiences teaching virology for more than 35 years, Virology: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis enables readers to develop a deep understanding of fundamental virology by emphasizing principles and discussing viruses in the context of virus families. Moreover, individual virus families are examined within the context of the Baltimore classification system, a key unifying theme that allows readers to assume basic facts about the replication strategy of a virus based on the nature of its genome.

The first chapter provides an historical overview, followed by a chapter introducing the principles of animal virus classification and the Baltimore classification system. The next chapter explores the various modes of virus infection and disease. Chapter 4 then considers host defenses against microorganisms and viral countermeasures to subvert those host defenses.

Armed with a solid foundation in basic principles, readers move on to eighteen subsequent chapters, each one dedicated to a particular virus family. These chapters detail the organization of the viral genome and its pattern of expression, with additional discussions covering viral structure, entry, assembly, release, and associated medical issues.

The flow of chapters in Virology constitutes a continuous narrative in which key principles are regularly reintroduced to show how they apply in different contexts. This emphasis on principles coupled with the text’s clear, straightforward writing style enables upper-level undergraduate and graduate students as well as professionals to grasp core principles of virology with ease.

Key Features

• Organization by virus family within the context of the Baltimore classification system provides a strategic framework for mastering the principles of virology
• Provides a uniform organization and logical flow of chapters as well as a consistent, accessible writing style
• Highlight boxes review fundamental molecular and cellular biology, introduce pioneers in the field of virology, and address serious public policy issues
• Key unanswered and thought-provoking scientific questions encourage critical thinking
• Examples show how virology has played a role in crucial public policy decisions

For more on the book and information on requesting an examination copy please visit http://www.asmscience.org/instructors

Hardcover, 750 pages, full-color illustrations, index.

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Interested in all things virology? Engage with Leonard C. Norkin on Facebook and read his virology anecdotes.

Pathogens and Toxins in Foods: Challenges and Interventions offers a farm-to-table approach to food safety that enables readers to control microbial pathogens and toxic agents at all stages of the food supply chain. The book begins with chapters that help readers understand the characteristics of specific pathogens and toxins, the illnesses they cause, and the factors such as food processing operations that affect their survival and growth in food products.

Further, the chapters in the book explore the most recent advances in biological, chemical, and physical interventions to control food-borne hazards during pre-harvest, harvest, food processing, and in retail ready-to-eat foods and food service operations. Also included are chapters that discuss the latest methods to rapidly detect food-borne pathogens as well as the implementation of comprehensive food safety management systems.

Each chapter has been written by one or more leading experts in the field of food safety. Their advice is based on a thorough investigation of the literature as well as their own first-hand experience. In short, by drawing from hundreds of sources, this book offers food safety professionals a unique, single reference containing the latest understanding of food-borne hazards as well as the latest methods to detect and control their incidence.

Hardcover, 512 pages, illustrations, index.

As food- and waterborne pathogens become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, researchers are turning to bacteriophages as an alternative to keep our food and water supplies safe. This timely book provides a unique comprehensive review of the literature on the application of bacteriophages as therapeutic and prophylactic agents in the food production and processing industries, including food animals, plants, and aquaculture.

Bacteriophages in the Control of Food- and Waterborne Pathogens begins with chapters that describe how bacteriophages function, explaining why they have the potential to be highly effective antimicrobials. Next, the book explores opportunities to use bacteriophages to detect bacterial contamination of foods and water as well as to control pathogens during both food production and processing. In addition, the book examines bacteriophages that can have a negative effect on industrial food processes and bacteriophages that potentially can lead to the evolution of foodborne pathogens. Finally, safety and regulatory issues, which are crucial to the success of bacteriophage use, are covered.

This book, the first to comprehensively address all aspects of the application of bacteriophages for food industry use, provides several tested and proven approaches to solving a very serious food safety issue. It is highly recommended reading for food microbiologists, food industry professionals, government regulators, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of how these fascinating microorganisms can help ensure a safe food supply.

Hardcover, 333 pages, illustrations, index.

Historic and culturally important objects, like all materials, are vulnerable to microbial attack. Over time, microorganisms can affect paint, wood, paper, glass, textiles, metal, wax, stone, polymers, and coatings. Microbial deterioration of heritage materials can be caused by the formation and growth of biofilms or by direct attack by a variety of microorganisms, all of which may be difficult to correct without also damaging the materials themselves. On the other hand, microbial processes can also be adapted to conserve and even restore heritage materials, pointing to the complex nature of microbial interactions with these irreplaceable materials.

Cultural Heritage Microbiology assembles over twenty scientific papers published during the past two decades, each presenting a major advance in some facet of this complex field. These seminal articles, by a wide range of international experts, are grouped by the historic material affected. Each section is introduced by a thorough review, written for this volume, which serves to introduce and synthesize these past studies and to combine them with the latest cutting-edge findings to present the most current state of the field. Extensive references in every chapter and article offer valuable resources for further investigation.

Cultural Heritage Microbiology is ideal for anyone concerned with recognizing and dealing with microbial deterioration of heritage materials. Professionals and students in microbiology, conservation science, archaeology, fine arts, architecture, museum conservation, and other fields will find here the most current knowledge and approaches to preserving cultural heritage objects for generations to come.

Key Features

• Provides a unique, single overview of the seminal literature in conservation microbiology
• Presents the current state of the art along with a synthesis of the major developments over the years
• Represents the findings of leading international experts and pioneers in the field
• Offers conservation scientists and conservators an inclusive view of the heritage conservation field plus extensive resources for further investigation

Hardcover, 348 pages, illustrations, color insert, index.

Picornaviruses afflict the animal kingdom with a wide range of maladies, notably the common cold, encephalitis, hepatitis, meningitis, and polio in humans and the economically devastating foot-and-mouth disease in animals. With contributions from leading experts from around the world, this volume examines the most current breakthroughs as well as the challenges that lie ahead in picornavirus research. Based on the most recent basic and clinical research findings, The Picornaviruses encapsulates our current knowledge of the molecular biology, evolution, and pathogenesis of this large family of viruses. In addition, it examines the diseases that these viruses cause and the latest vaccines and antiviral drugs to prevent and control those diseases.

The first eleven chapters explore the structural and mechanistic bases of picornavirus replication, highlighting new insights about the host cell interactions needed for virus growth. The next six chapters illustrate how the regular occurrence of mutations, typical of viruses with RNA as genetic material, generates the quasispecies dynamics that underlie viral fitness. Together with more drastic recombination events, the book shows how this error-prone RNA replication may have generated the variety of viruses embodied in the different picornavirus genera. The final twelve chapters focus on picornaviruses that cause disease, examining pathogenicity and innate and acquired immune responses against infection as well as the latest vaccine and antiviral drug strategies.

Synthesizing the latest developments in the study of picornaviruses, the book underscores our growing understanding of the close connections among picornavirus biology, diversity, evolution, and disease. Moreover, it serves as a springboard for developing new approaches to understanding this important family of viruses as well as preventing and treating picornaviral diseases.

Hardcover, 493 pages, full-color insert, illustrations, index.

The third edition of the acclaimed Manual of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology reviews the newest techniques, approaches, and options in the use of microorganisms and other cell culture systems for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes and proteins, foods and beverages, fuels and fine chemicals, and other products. Readers will find a rich array of methods and discussions of productive microbial processes, with means for improving the organism, the process, and the product. Cell cultures based on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms are examined, including thorough coverage of mammalian cell culture. Genetics, strain improvement, genetic engineering, and bioprospecting are discussed with regard to a wide variety of organisms and processes.

Focusing on the latest advances and findings that have brought us to the current state of the art and science, this edition features an entire new section devoted to the microbial production of biofuels and fine chemicals, as well as a stronger emphasis on mammalian cell culture methods. Many chapters review the latest genomic and other “omics” approaches. The book covers new methods that enhance the capacity of microbes used for a wide range of purposes, from winemaking to pharmaceuticals to bioremediation, at volumes from micro- to industrial scale.

The editors have enlisted a multidisciplinary group of experts to serve as authors, including microbial ecologists, physiologists, geneticists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and biochemical engineers. Their contributions are based not only on a thorough evaluation of the primary literature, but also on the authors’ own invaluable firsthand experience in industrial microbiology and biotechnology. Readers will find significant new insights into the development of industrial microbiology and biotechnology processes and products.

Hardcover, 766 pages, illustrations, index.

Infections remain the leading cause of death worldwide and as new antibiotics are developed, organisms develop mechanisms of resistance. Successful treatment of skin infections relies on accurate and swift diagnosis, and visual inspection remains the most important means to that end. This book aims to provide a highly illustrated guide to the diagnosis of common bacterial, fungal, viral, and tropical skin infections, as well as recognition of arthropods of medical importance. The text is divided into chapters by class of organism, and in each chapter by clinical entity. It will be of lasting value to dermatologists in practice and training, and to physicians in infectious disease, as a learning resource and a clinical reference.

Hardcover. 144 pages, full-color illustrations throughout, index

Over the past twenty-five years, the number of patients with compromised immune systems has grown astronomically. High-risk patients such as these require a unique set of healthcare solutions that take into consideration everything from the etiology and degree of immune suppression to the individual patient’s nutritional status. This comprehensive volume, assembled by a group of distinguished authors, examines a wide range of approaches and challenges to infectious disease diagnostics for immunocompromised patients.

Divided into four sections, the book takes a multifaceted approach to the detection and characterization of infections encountered in this high-risk patient group. The first section provides a broad explanation of the causes of immune suppression, the populations at risk for infections, and the various kinds of infections. The next section addresses crucial laboratory diagnostic methods for individual pathogens, while the third section takes a more systematic perspective on the affected organs in immunocompromised patients. The volume concludes with a discussion of future trends in the field. The material is clearly summarized in practical, user-friendly procedures that can be applied to everyday patient care challenges.

This book will be an indispensable reference for laboratory professionals, infectious disease physicians, oncologists, and other healthcare providers who care for immunocompromised patients.

Electronic Only, 479 pages, full-color insert, illustrations, index.