Biochemistry of microbial degradation

Biochemistry of microbial degradation PDF Author: Colin Ratledge
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401116873
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 598

Get Book

Book Description
Life on the planet depends on microbial activity. The recycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, phosphate and all the other elements that constitute living matter are continuously in flux: microorganisms participate in key steps in these processes and without them life would cease within a few short years. The comparatively recent advent of man-made chemicals has now challenged the environment: where degradation does not occur, accumulation must perforce take place. Surprisingly though, even the most recalcitrant of molecules are gradually broken down and very few materials are truly impervious to microbial attack. Microorganisms, by their rapid growth rates, have the most rapid turn-over of their DNA of all living cells. Consequently they can evolve altered genes and therefore produce novel enzymes for handling "foreign" compounds - the xenobiotics - in a manner not seen with such effect in other organisms. Evolution, with the production of micro-organisms able to degrade molecules hitherto intractable to breakdown, is therefore a continuing event. Now, through the agency of genetic manipulation, it is possible to accelerate this process of natural evolution in a very directed manner. The time-scale before a new microorganism emerges that can utilize a recalcitrant molecule has now been considerably shortened by the application of well-understood genetic principles into microbiology. However, before these principles can be successfully used, it is essential that we understand the mechanism by which molecules are degraded, otherwise we shall not know where best to direct these efforts.

Biochemistry of microbial degradation

Biochemistry of microbial degradation PDF Author: Colin Ratledge
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401116873
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 598

Get Book

Book Description
Life on the planet depends on microbial activity. The recycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, phosphate and all the other elements that constitute living matter are continuously in flux: microorganisms participate in key steps in these processes and without them life would cease within a few short years. The comparatively recent advent of man-made chemicals has now challenged the environment: where degradation does not occur, accumulation must perforce take place. Surprisingly though, even the most recalcitrant of molecules are gradually broken down and very few materials are truly impervious to microbial attack. Microorganisms, by their rapid growth rates, have the most rapid turn-over of their DNA of all living cells. Consequently they can evolve altered genes and therefore produce novel enzymes for handling "foreign" compounds - the xenobiotics - in a manner not seen with such effect in other organisms. Evolution, with the production of micro-organisms able to degrade molecules hitherto intractable to breakdown, is therefore a continuing event. Now, through the agency of genetic manipulation, it is possible to accelerate this process of natural evolution in a very directed manner. The time-scale before a new microorganism emerges that can utilize a recalcitrant molecule has now been considerably shortened by the application of well-understood genetic principles into microbiology. However, before these principles can be successfully used, it is essential that we understand the mechanism by which molecules are degraded, otherwise we shall not know where best to direct these efforts.

Microbial Degradation of Organic Compounds

Microbial Degradation of Organic Compounds PDF Author: David T. Gibson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 562

Get Book

Book Description


Microbial Biodegradation

Microbial Biodegradation PDF Author: Eduardo Díaz
Publisher: Horizon Scientific Press
ISBN: 9781904455172
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 402

Get Book

Book Description
In this timely book, expert international authors critically review all of the most important topics in this exciting field. This book is unique in that it is the first to review the area from a molecular biology and genomics perspective. Topics covered include: aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds; molecular detection methods (e.g. microautoradiography, mRNA analyses, etc.); genome-based predictive modeling; elucidation of regulatory networks; bioavailability; chemotaxis and transport issues; functional genomic analyses; natural attenuation; community fingerprinting and metagenomics; biotreatment; and biocatalysts engineering. The book will be essential reading for microbial degradation and bioremediation scientists, and of general interest for microbiologists working in field of environmental microbiology.

Microbial Degradation of Xenobiotics

Microbial Degradation of Xenobiotics PDF Author: Shree Nath Singh
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9783642237898
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 486

Get Book

Book Description
Our interest in the microbial biodegradation of xenobiotics has increased many folds in recent years to find out sustainable ways for environmental cleanup. Bioremediation and biotransformation processes harness the naturally occurring ability of microbes to degrade, transform or accumulate a wide range of organic pollutants. Major methodological breakthroughs in recent years through detailed genomic, metagenomic, proteomic, bioinformatic and other high-throughput analyses of environmentally relevant microorganisms have provided us unprecedented insights into key biodegradative pathways and the ability of organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The degradation of a wide spectrum of organic pollutants and wastes discharged into the environment by anthropogenic activities is an emerging need today to promote sustainable development of our society with low environmental impact. Microbial processes play a major role in the removal of recalcitrant compounds taking advantage of the astonishing catabolic versatility of microorganisms to degrade or transform such compounds. New breakthroughs in sequencing, genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and imaging are generating vital information which opens a new era providing new insights of metabolic and regulatory networks, as well as clues to the evolution of degradation pathways and to the molecular adaptation strategies to changing environmental conditions. Functional genomic and metagenomic approaches are increasing our understanding of the relative importance of different pathways and regulatory networks to carbon flux in particular environments and for particular compounds. New approaches will certainly accelerate the development of bioremediation technologies and biotransformation processes in coming years for natural attenuation of contaminated environments

Biotransformations: Microbial Degradation of Health-Risk Compounds

Biotransformations: Microbial Degradation of Health-Risk Compounds PDF Author: V.P. Singh
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 9780080544922
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 281

Get Book

Book Description
A comprehensive and consolidated account of how microorganisms can play a significant role in degrading and detoxifying toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic compounds is detailed in this book. Moreover, the volume deals with all aspects of microbial degradation, ranging from screening methods for the degradative microorganisms, processes of degradation, strain improvement for enhanced biodegradation, and elimination of undesirable compounds to improving health and environmental protection strategies. The book will provide an opportunity for scientists in the areas of microbiology, biochemistry, engineering, food science, biotechnology, and environmental science to obtain a clear understanding of microbial biotransformations of xenobiotics, as well as an interface between industry and the academic world. The first book of its kind, it will open new vistas of research in the field of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology in general, and Biotransformations in particular.

Biodegradation and Bioremediation

Biodegradation and Bioremediation PDF Author: Ajay Singh
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3662060663
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 332

Get Book

Book Description
In this volume, experts from universities, government labs and industry share their findings on the microbiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of biodegradation and bioremediation. The text covers numerous topics, including: bioavailability, biodegradation of various pollutants, microbial community dynamics, properties and engineering of important biocatalysts, and methods for monitoring bioremediation processes. Microbial processes are environmentally compatible and can be integrated with non-biological processes to detoxify, degrade and immobilize environmental contaminants.

Biodegradation

Biodegradation PDF Author: W.B. Betts
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1447134702
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 245

Get Book

Book Description
Two major problems encountered as we approach a new century are the availability of resources for chemicals and energy, and environmental pollution. This book highlights the importance of biotransformation as a solution to these problems and considers traditionally separate areas as one interdependent discipline, in terms of the underlying mechanistic biochemistry and the research techniques employed. The provision of resources has largely centred around non-renewable materials, especially oil. Diminishing reserves of these, together with uncertainties of supply and cost have stimulated great interest in renewable resources. These are largely lignocellulosic materials (e.g. wood and straw) which are available through natural biomass turnover, farming and forestry and from wastes generated by industrial processes. An excellent example is that of kraft lignin, a by-product of pulp and paper production, amounting to 60 million tonnes per annum and which is largely wasted by burning or landfilling. This aromatic polymer has enormous potential as a feedstock to the chemical industry. Environmental pollution is no longer accepted as inevitable for a technological society. Over the past decade there has been a tremendous increase in awareness of the effects of pollution and public pressure has influenced both industry and government. However, to be realistic, it is not possible to replace all processes generating polluting wastes with clean alternatives. Instead, treatments of pollution, both at source and after an incident, are alternatives in many instances and a great deal of emphasis is currently being placed on these.

Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation

Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation PDF Author: Surajit Das
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128004827
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 641

Get Book

Book Description
Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation brings together experts in relevant fields to describe the successful application of microbes and their derivatives for bioremediation of potentially toxic and relatively novel compounds. This single-source reference encompasses all categories of pollutants and their applications in a convenient, comprehensive package. Our natural biodiversity and environment is in danger due to the release of continuously emerging potential pollutants by anthropogenic activities. Though many attempts have been made to eradicate and remediate these noxious elements, every day thousands of xenobiotics of relatively new entities emerge, thus worsening the situation. Primitive microorganisms are highly adaptable to toxic environments, and can reduce the load of toxic elements by their successful transformation and remediation. Describes many novel approaches of microbial bioremediation including genetic engineering, metagenomics, microbial fuel cell technology, biosurfactants and biofilm-based bioremediation Introduces relatively new hazardous elements and their bioremediation practices including oil spills, military waste water, greenhouse gases, polythene wastes, and more Provides the most advanced techniques in the field of bioremediation, including insilico approach, microbes as pollution indicators, use of bioreactors, techniques of pollution monitoring, and more

Biodegradation and Persistence

Biodegradation and Persistence PDF Author: B. Beek
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3540680969
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 338

Get Book

Book Description
Biodegradation is a key phenomen among environmental processes. Low degradation rates lead to the persistence of chemicals in the environment and, as a consequence, to delayed or long-term effects, which may be even unknown by now. In this volume the editor has pulled together the newest results of research in biodegradation and persistence of potential environmentally harmful substances and the complex process involved. The main focus is on the microbial degradation, the evolution and predictability of the respective pathways and their impact on bioremediation. Additional chapters deal with sewage treatment plants, the impact of toxicants on impaired biodegradation, and with the need of a more realistic view on fate and behaviour of chemicals in the environment.

Microbial Degradation and Detoxification of Pollutants

Microbial Degradation and Detoxification of Pollutants PDF Author: Maulin P. Shah
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110743620
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Get Book

Book Description
This book explores how bioremediation biotechnology is used to remove pollutants in wastewater. Remediation of wastewater is important to ensure that pollutants generated in industry do not effect our environment negatively. Traditional wastewater remediation is not a sustainable process, however by using biological means the sustainability can be improved. Both conventional methods and bioremediation technologies are discussed. Applications for heavy metal, nitrate, and petroleum bioremediation, nanotechnology in bioremediation, and more are explored.