Advances in Applied Microbiology (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Advances in Applied Microbiology 2
Copyright Page 5
Contents 7
Contributions 11
Chapter 1: Bacterial L-Forms 13
I. Introduction 14
II. Definition and Characteristics of L-Forms 15
A. Definition of L-forms 15
B. Induction and cultivation 18
III. Significance of L-Forms 21
A. Contributions to bacterial cell division 22
B. Contributions to membrane organisation 26
C. Biotechnology 30
D. L-form interaction and association with eukaryotes 33
IV. Conclusions 43
Acknowledgments 43
References 43
Chapter 2: Biochemistry, Physiology and Biotechnology of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria 53
I. Introduction 55
II. Diversity of SRB 56
A. Distribution in the environment 56
B. Major characteristics 57
III. Central Metabolic Pathways of SRB 58
A. Sulfur metabolism 58
B. Nitrogen metabolism 61
C. Hydrogen metabolism 63
D. Oxygen metabolism 64
E. Fermentation of organic substrates 65
F. Fermentation of inorganic sulfur compounds 65
G. Carbon metabolism 66
IV. Characteristics of Electron Transfer Proteins 66
A. Soluble electron transfer proteins 66
B. Membrane-associated electron transport complexes 70
V. Environmental Impact of SRB 71
A. Biocorrosion of ferrous metals 71
B. Corrosion of concrete and stonework 74
C. Impact on the petroleum industry 75
VI. Biotechnology of SRB 77
A. Bioremediation of organic compounds 77
B. Immobilization of toxic metals 84
C. Reduction of azo dyes 93
D. Recovery of precious metals 94
VII. Perspective 96
Acknowledgments 96
References 96
Chapter 3: Biotechnological Applications of Recombinant Microbial Prolidases 111
I. Introduction 112
II. Prolidase 115
A. Mechanism of substrate specificity and catalysis 115
B. Proposed reaction mechanism 117
C. Structure-function information provided by the solved Pyrococcus furiosus prolidase structure 118
D. Molecular and catalytic properties of recombinant prolidases 121
III. Applications of Prolidases 123
A. Detoxification of OP compounds 123
B. Uses in the food industry 128
C. Impact on human health 130
IV. Advances in and Limitations of the Use of Prolidase for Biotechnological Applications 133
V. Conclusions 135
Acknowledgments 135
References 136
Chapter 4: The Capsule of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans 145
I. Introduction 146
II. Capsule Components and Structure 148
A. Structure of capsular components 150
B. Capsule dynamics 157
III. Capsule Synthesis in Cryptococcus 166
A. Genes, enzymes and signaling pathways 166
B. GXM traffic in C. neoformans 178
C. Polysaccharide connections at the C. neoformans surface 182
IV. Capsule Functions in C. neoformans: The Capsule as a Virulence Factor: Function During the Interaction with the Host 184
A. Role of the capsule during interaction with the host 184
B. Role of the exopolysaccharides during infection 190
C. Origin of the capsule as virulence factor 200
V. Use of Capsular Components as Antifungal Targets and Vaccine 202
A. Capsule as an antifungal target: mAbs to the capsule as therapeutic alternative 202
B. Use of capsular components as vaccine 206
VI. Future Perspectives 207
Acknowledgments 208
References 208
Chapter 5: Baculovirus Interactions In Vitro and In Vivo 229
I. Introduction 230
II. Baculovirus Infection Process 231
III. Baculovirus Interactions 232
IV. Baculovirus Interactions In Vitro 233
A. Antagonistic interactions 233
B. Neutralistic interactions 242
V. Baculoviruses Interactions In Vivo 244
A. Neutralism 244
B. Mutualism 245
C. Antagonism 246
VI. Conclusions 247
VII. Future Prospects 247
Acknowledgments 247
References 248
Chapter 6: Posttranscriptional Gene Regulation in Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus 253
I. Introduction 254
II. KSHV-Encoded miRNAs 255
A. Discovery and conservation of KSHV-encoded miRNAs 256
B. Targets of KSHV miRNAs 257
C. KSHV miR-K12-11 is an ortholog of miR-155 257
III. ORF57, A Multifunctional Regulator of Gene Expression 258
A. ORF57 stimulates the export of intronless viral mRNAs 259
B. ORF57 affects transcription and RNA stability 260
C. ORF57 enhances viral pre-mRNA splicing 262
IV. SOX Destabilizes Cellular mRNAs 262
V. Kaposin B Stabilizes AU-Rich mRNAs 263
VI. The PAN-ENE is a cis-acting RNA Stability Element 264
VII. Summary 265
Acknowledgment 266
References 266
Index 275
Contents of Previous Volumes 281
Color Plates 293