Functional Microbial Genomics

Microbial Functional Genomics offers a timely summary of the principles, approaches, and applications. It presents a comprehensive review of microbial functional genomics, covering microbial diversity, microbial genome sequencing, genomic technologies, genome-wide functional analysis, applied functional genomics, and future directions. An introduction will offer a definition of the field and an overview of the historical and comparative genomics aspects.

Functional Microbial Genomics, edited by two leading experts in the field, provides the researcher with an up-to-date collection of articles on post-genome technologies central to studying the function of microorganisms.Since the release of the first complete genome sequence of a free-living organ

In this book, the latest tools available for functional metagenomics research are described.This research enables scientists to directly access the genomes from diverse microbial genomes at one time and study these “metagenomes”. Using the modern tools of genome sequencing and cloning, researchers have now been able to harness this astounding metagenomic diversity to understand and exploit the diverse functions of microorganisms. Leading scientists from around the world demonstrate how these approaches have been applied in many different settings, including aquatic and terrestrial habitats, microbiomes, and many more environments. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing microbiologists with a summary of the latest functional metagenomics literature on all specific habitats.

In recent decades, significant advances in new methodologies like DNA sequencing and high-throughput sequencing have been used to identify microorganisms and monitor their interactions with different environments. Microbial genomics techniques are opening new approaches to microbiology by revealing how microorganisms affect human beings and the environment. This book covers four major areas: 1) Environmental microbial genomics, 2) Microbial genomics in human health, 3) Microbial genomics in crop improvement and plant health protection, and 4) Genome analysis of microbial pathogens. Within these areas, the topics addressed include: microbial genome diversity, evolution, and microbial genome sequencing; bioinformatics and microarray-based genomic technologies; functional genomics of bioremediation of soil and water from organic and inorganic pollutants and carbon management; functional genomics of microbial pathogens and relevant microorganisms; functional genomics of model microorganisms; and applied functional genomics. Given its scope, the book offers a comprehensive source of information on the latest applications of microorganisms and microbial genomics to enhance the sustainability of agriculture and the environment.

Although we can't usually see them, microbes are essential for every part of human life-indeed all life on Earth. The emerging field of metagenomics offers a new way of exploring the microbial world that will transform modern microbiology and lead to practical applications in medicine, agriculture, alternative energy, environmental remediation, and many others areas. Metagenomics allows researchers to look at the genomes of all of the microbes in an environment at once, providing a "meta" view of the whole microbial community and the complex interactions within it. It's a quantum leap beyond traditional research techniques that rely on studying-one at a time-the few microbes that can be grown in the laboratory. At the request of the National Science Foundation, five Institutes of the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy, the National Research Council organized a committee to address the current state of metagenomics and identify obstacles current researchers are facing in order to determine how to best support the field and encourage its success. The New Science of Metagenomics recommends the establishment of a "Global Metagenomics Initiative" comprising a small number of large-scale metagenomics projects as well as many medium- and small-scale projects to advance the technology and develop the standard practices needed to advance the field. The report also addresses database needs, methodological challenges, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting this new field.

Functional Microbial Genomics, edited by two leading experts in the field, provides the researcher with an up-to-date collection of articles on post-genome technologies central to studying the function of microorganisms.Since the release of the first complete genome sequence of a free-living organism in 1995, over 100 microbial genomes have been completely sequenced. The advent of new technologies for post-genomic analyses has allowed the rapid exploitation of this genome sequence information, heralding a golden era in microbial research. Functional Microbial Genomics provides in-depth accounts from scientists working with these new technologies explaining both the techniques and the ways in which they have been applied to the study of gene function in different microbial species.Methods in Microbiology is the most prestigious series devoted to techniques and methodology in the field. Established for over 30 years, Methods in Microbiology will continue to provide you with tried and tested, cutting edge protocols to directly benefit your research.

Microbial Diversity in the Genomic Era, Second Edition presents techniques used for microbial taxonomy and phylogeny, along with their applications and respective strengths and challenges. Though many advanced techniques for the identification of unknown bacterium are available in the genomic era, a far fewer number of the total microbial species have been discovered and identified to date. With that in mind, this book incorporates recently developed biosystematics methods and approaches to assess microbial taxonomy, with suitable recommendations for where to apply them across the range of bacterial identification and infectious disease research. Here, international researchers in the field first provide a broad overview of microbial genomics research and microbiome directed medicine, followed by sections on molecular tools for microbial diversity research, extremophilic microbial diversity, functional microbial diversity across application areas, microbial diversity and infectious disease research, and future directions for research. Step-by-step methodologies are provided for key techniques, along with applied case studies breaking down recent research studies into the practical components, illuminating pathways for new studies across the field. This new edition has been fully updated to address advances in the field of microbiome directed medicine, and whole genome sequencing for studying microbial diversity, considering both recent technological advances and new applications areas, from extremophile studies to the latest approaches in human microbiome analysis. Instructs in techniques used for microbial taxonomy and phylogeny, with discussions of their applications and respective pros and cons Reviews the evolving field of microbial typing and the genomic technologies that enable comparative metagenomic analysis of complex microbial environments Covers microbiome directed translational research, as well as whole genome sequencing for studying microbial diversity, with newly added research protocols and case studies Reviews future applications in the field of microbiome directed medicine Features chapter contributions from global experts in the field

This volume guides researchers on how to characterize, image rare, and hitherto unknown taxa and their interactions, to identify new functions and biomolecules and to understand how environmental changes condition the activity and the response of the organisms living with us and in our environment. Chapters cover different organism types (i.e., archaea, bacteria, fungi, protest, microfauna and microeukaryotes) and propose detailed protocols to produce high quality DNA, to analyse active microbial communities directly involved in complex interactions or processes through stable isotope probing, to identify and characterize of new functional genes, to image in situ interactions and to apply bioinformatics analysis tools to complex metagenomic or RNAseq sequence data. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Microbial Environmental Genomics (MEG): Methods and Protocols, Second Edition aims to serve as a primary research reference for researchers in microbiology working to in the expanding field of molecular ecology and environmental genomics.