About Book

Microbes are single-cell organisms so tiny that millions can fit into the eye of a needle. A cryptogam is a plant that reproduces by spores, without flowers or seeds. Some microbes make us sick; others are important for our health. The most common types are bacteria, viruses and fungi. There are also microbes called protozoa. These are tiny living things that are responsible for diseases such as toxoplasmosis and malaria. The term is very general. It is used to describe many different types of life forms, with dramatically different sizes and characteristics: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, viruses, microscopic animals. At a time in which global food demand is increasing as the availability of farmable land is decreasing, microbes play a key role in sustainably optimizing agricultural processes. They thrive in soil and are an important part in many of a plant's biological functions. They aid crop growth, secure nutrients and even fend off pests naturally. This book provides comprehensive insights into the field of microbes and cryptogams. It talks in detail about the various methods and procedures of this field. It explores recombinant microbes, biological systems, inflammatory response, heterologous microbes, organic particle catalyst, pathogenesis, beneficial microbes, diseases and antioxidant properties. The topics included in this book are of utmost significance and are bound to provide incredible insights to readers. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject. It aims to serve as a resource guide for students and facilitate the study of the discipline.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Improving Yield and Antioxidant Properties of Strawberries by Utilizing Microbes and Natural Products.............................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Nutritional and health benefit profile of strawberry.....................3

3. Enhancement of yield and antioxidant contents in strawberry by

various natural products including chitosan...................................7

4. Strawberry growth, yield, and quality improvement by probiotic

bacteria..................................................................................................10

5. Future perspectives.............................................................................16

Chapter 2 Beneficial Microbes: Roles in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance....................................................................................................27

Abstract.................................................................................................27

1. Introduction..........................................................................................27

2. Probiotics..............................................................................................28

3. Synbiotics..............................................................................................33

4. Antimicrobial potentials of beneficial microbes against antibiotic

resistant strains....................................................................................34

5. Beneficial microbes in the gut; effects on antibiotic resistant

strains....................................................................................................35

6. Current applications...........................................................................37

7. Future directions.................................................................................40

8. Conclusions..........................................................................................41

Conflict of interest..............................................................................42

Chapter 3 Diet and Microbes in the Pathogenesis of Lupus............................51

Abstract ................................................................................................51

1. Introduction..........................................................................................51

2. The hygiene hypothesis.....................................................................52

3. Diet and SLE........................................................................................55

4. The role of gut microbiota................................................................65

5. Bacterial metabolites and mechanisms of action..........................67

Chapter 4 Accelerated Detection of Microbes Utilizing an Organic Particle

Catalyst in the Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli MMO-MUG

(Colilert®) test.............................................................................................89

1. Introduction..........................................................................................89

2. Materials and methods......................................................................91

3. Results...................................................................................................94

4. Discussion...........................................................................................101

Chapter 5 Interaction of FIV with Heterologous Microbes in the Feline AIDS

Model.........................................................................................................104

1. Introduction........................................................................................104

2. The feline AIDS model....................................................................105

3. Simultaneous infections: Both opportunists and

transactivators....................................................................................108

4. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of simultaneous

infections.............................................................................................117

5. Conclusions........................................................................................121

Chapter 6 Microbes and the Inflammatory Response in Necrotising

Enterocolitis..............................................................................................132

1. Introduction........................................................................................132

2. The role of microbes in NEC.........................................................136

3. Maturity of the gut and the innate immune response.............152

4. The inflammatory response............................................................153

5. Hypothetical model of NEC...........................................................158

6. Probiotics............................................................................................160

7. Future directions...............................................................................161

Acknowledgements...........................................................................162

Chapter 7 Viscoelasticity in Biological Systems: A Special Focus

on Microbes ............................................................................................178

1. Introduction........................................................................................178

2. Methods of measuring cellular viscoelasticity ...........................181

3. Viscoelastic cellular components and super structures ...........192

4. Factors affecting viscoelasticity of biological materials ...........204

5. Summary ...........................................................................................205

6. Conclusions and outlook ..............................................................206

Acknowledgement ...........................................................................206

Chapter 8 Heterologous Expression and Extracellular Secretion of Cellulases in Recombinant Microbes.....................................................................219

1. Introduction........................................................................................219

2. Enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose .......................................221

3. Native cellulolytic organisms.........................................................224

4. Recombinant cellulolytic organisms ............................................225

5. Future of cellulosic ethanol.............................................................229

6. Conclusions........................................................................................231

7. Acknowledgements...........................................................................231

Citation......................................................................................................237

Index...........................................................................................................239

About Author

Sheryl Calvin pursued her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from University College, Navarre. She has conducted works on genetically modified organisms. Her research area of working is based on process biotechnology, biopolymers, and bio energy. She is a Guest Lecturer at Community College, Cork. Fields of expertise comprises food chemistry, cellular biology, natural products and related applications. She has contributed more than 40 papers on international peer-reviewed journals. Calvin has also been awarded the "Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award" for her excellence & contributions.