This volume presents recent developments in the novel drug development and potential of extremophilic cyanobacteria. It discusses how these tiny organism originated, produce oxygen that leads to evolution of life on the earth, how their survival strategies in extreme climatic conditions lead to diverse metabolic pathways, and the opportunity to use them to develop novel drugs. The book is comprised of five chapters, starting with the origin of cyanobacteria, their survival strategies under extreme conditions, and their capabilities to change metabolic activities.The second chapter explores the different metabolic pathways found in cyanobacteria and examines advances in this field and recent techniques like MALDI-TOF imaging and metagenomics tools as well as in silico techniques for rapid screening of secondary metabolites. Further chapters cover the glycomics of cyanobacteria, anticancer drug development, and some issues and challenges of using cyanobacteria to develop drugs. Extremophilic Cyanobacteria For Novel Drug Development provides insight into future perspectives in drug development and is a key resource for students, researchers and professionals in pharmacy, medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy biotechnology, biology, and academics.

Natural Bioactive Compounds: Technological Advancements deals with the latest breakthroughs in the field of screening, characterization and novel applications of natural bioactive compounds from diverse group of organisms ranging from bacteria, viruses, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, bryophytes, higher plants, sponges, corals and fishes. Written by some of the most reputed scientists in the field, this book introduces the reader to strategies and methods in the search for bioactive natural products. It is an essential read for researchers and students interested in bioactive natural products, their biological and pharmacological properties, their possible use as chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents, and other future potential applications. Explores natural sources of bioactive compounds, including cyanobacteria, bacteria, viruses, fungi and higher plants Discusses the potential applications of biological products, such as their use in medicine (antibiotics, cancer research, immunology), as food additives, supplements and technological substances Analyzes the contributions of emerging or developing technologies for the study of bioactive natural compounds (characterization and purification)

Antibiotic Resistance: Mechanisms and New Antimicrobial Approaches discusses up-to-date knowledge in mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and all recent advances in fighting microbial resistance such as the applications of nanotechnology, plant products, bacteriophages, marine products, algae, insect-derived products, and other alternative methods that can be applied to fight bacterial infections. Understanding fundamental mechanisms of antibiotic resistance is a key step in the discovery of effective methods to cope with resistance. This book also discusses methods used to fight antibiotic-resistant infection based on a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of the resistance. Discusses methods used to fight antibiotic-resistant infection based on a deep understanding of mechanisms involved in the development of the resistance Provides information on modern methods used to fight antibiotic resistance Covers a wide range of alternative methods to fight bacterial resistance, offering the most complete information available Discusses both newly emerging trends and traditionally applied methods to fight antibiotic resistant infections in light of recent scientific developments Offers the most up-to-date information in fighting antibiotic resistance Includes involvement of contributors all across the world, presenting questions of interest to readers of both developed and developing countries

This book emphasizes and presents the latest information on eco-physiology and biochemistry of cyanobacteria with special emphasis on their biodiversity, molecular mechanisms of some important biological processes and survival mechanisms under myriad of environmental conditions as well as bioremediation. Cyanobacteria are the most dominant prokaryotic floras on the Earth’s surface, and are of great importance in terms of ecological, economical and evolutionary perspectives. They are oldest groups of photosynthetic autotrophs, which create oxygenic atmosphere for the development and sustainability of ecosystems with different life forms. The book presents an integrative approach to their possible biotechnological application in the field of bio-energy and various aspects of biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology of photosynthesis. The various chapters describe the different applications of cyanobacteria as bio-energy sources and in phycoremediation. The contents incorporated in this book can be used as a textbook by undergraduate and post-graduate students, teachers, and researchers in the most interesting fields of physicochemical ecology and biochemistry of cyanobacteria.

Biopolymers for Food Design, Volume 20 in the Handbook of Bioengineering series, describes how biopolymers have made a major impact in the food industry, from food design, to food control and safety. Biopolymers can be used in the development of novel nutritional alternatives, to replace difficult to obtain food products, or for foods inaccessible or inappropriate for a particular population (i.e. allergic to specific components). In addition, some polymers can be used as functional ingredients, and can also represent efficient scaffolds for food ingredients with therapeutic values. This valuable reference is ideal for those looking for new solutions for the food industry. Presents common biopolymers and their applications in food bioengineering, from food design, to control and safety Identifies how the use of certain biopolymers can result in faster production time and reduced costs Includes cutting-edge technologies used in research for food design and other food-related applications Discusses the use of biopolymers in food packaging, shelf-life extension, and the creation of novel food products

This volume highlights recent breakthroughs in the interdisciplinary areas of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering and bioprocess engineering for the production of green chemicals. It also presents practical experimental and computational tools for the design, construction and manipulation of cyanobacteria cell factories. The respective contributions cover new technologies in the field, such as novel genetic transformation techniques and bioinformatics analysis methods and address various aspects of cyanobacterial synthetic biology, offering a valuable resource for students and researchers in the fields of industry microbiology and biomedical engineering.

Green technologies are no longer the “future” of science, but the present. With more and more mature industries, such as the process industries, making large strides seemingly every single day, and more consumers demanding products created from green technologies, it is essential for any business in any industry to be familiar with the latest processes and technologies. It is all part of a global effort to “go greener,” and this is nowhere more apparent than in fermentation technology. This second volume in the groundbreaking new set, High Value Fermentation Products, focuses on industries that a concerned with human welfare, including the leather industry, textiles, pharmaceutical and medical, food processing, and others. Covering topics such as chitin and chitosan, microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates, propanediol, and many others, the editors and contributors have contributed to an extremely important facet of chemical and process engineering and how to move these industries into a much more sustainable and environmentally conscious direction. From converting waste into apparel to creating healthier foods and more effective medicines, this is truly a monumental work that is a must-have for any chemical engineer, scientist, or chemist.