Knowledge in microbiology is growing exponentially through the determination of genomic sequences of hundreds of microorganisms and the invention of new technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, to deal with this avalanche of information. These genomic data are now exploited in thousands of applications, ranging from those in medicine, agriculture, organic chemistry, public health, biomass conversion, to biomining. Microbial Biotechnology. Fundamentals of Applied Microbiology focuses on uses of major societal importance, enabling an in-depth analysis of these critically important applications. Some, such as wastewater treatment, have changed only modestly over time, others, such as directed molecular evolution, or 'green' chemistry, are as current as today's headlines. This fully revised second edition provides an exciting interdisciplinary journey through the rapidly changing landscape of discovery in microbial biotechnology. An ideal text for courses in applied microbiology and biotechnology courses, this book will also serve as an invaluable overview of recent advances in this field for professional life scientists and for the diverse community of other professionals with interests in biotechnology.

Preamble Acknowledgments 1 Microbial Diversity 1 Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes 2 The Importance of the Identification and Classification of Microorganisms 10 Plasmids and the Classification of Bacteria 16 Analysis of Microbial Populations in Natural Environments 19 Taxonomic Diversity of Bacteria with Uses in Biotechnology 25 Characteristics of the Fungi 35 Classification of the Fungi 35 Culture Collections and the Preservation of Microorganisms 41 Summary 42 Selected References and Online Resources 43 2 Microbial Biotechnology: Scope, Techniques, Examples 45 Human Therapeutics 46 Agriculture 54 Food Technology 59 Single-Cell Protein 64 Environmental Applications of Microorganisms 67 Microbial Whole-Cell Bioreporters 74 Organic Chemistry 77 Summary 85 Selected References and Online Resources 86 3 Production of Proteins in Bacteria and Yeast 90 Production of Proteins in Bacteria 90 Production of Proteins in Yeast 125 Summary 143 Selected References 144 4 The World of "Omics": Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, and Metabolomics 147 More...