The first volume of this Ebook series brings together the most recent advances from leading experts in the burgeoning field of biotechnology. This comprehensive text adopts a multidisciplinary approach and covers agricultural biotechnology, industrial and environmental biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and drug developments from plant sources, biochemical and molecular studies on gene expression, forestry, genetic engineering, gene delivery approaches, plant tissue culture and biochemical techniques/methods/protocols involved in different areas of plant biotechnology. This Ebook should prove to be a valuable resource for plant biotechnologists, plant biologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, pharmacologists, and pharmacists; agronomists, plant breeders, and geneticists; ethnobotanists, ecologists, and conservationists; medical practitioners and nutritionists; research investigators in industry, federal laboratories, and universities; and students and teachers in the biological and biomedical sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Carbohydrates (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides) exist naturally in free from and as components of other macromolecules (nucleic acids, proteins and lipids). Glycotherapy refers to this use of carbohydrates or glycoengineered macromolecules in fighting life-threatening diseases. Although glycotherapy is a relatively new and limited field of pharmacology, significant progress has been made in recent years in academia and the pharmaceutical industry facilitated by advances in enzymology and recombinant DNA technologies. Consequently, carbohydrate containing biologics are now used in therapeutic regimens. This volume provides a summary of the progress made in developing therapeutic solutions using glycoengineering techniques. Topics covered in this volume include the development of vaccines and antibodies against tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens for cancer treatment, the use of glycan for viral inhibition, glycoPEGylation, hyaluronic acid conjugation, and protein modification and conjugation for increasing therapeutic index using recombinant and chemoenzymatic approaches. The volume is essential reading for biochemists, pharmacologists and R&D professionals interested in glycotherapy.

Global plastic production is estimated to be over 300Mt annually. Most conventional plastics are predominantly produced from fossil fuels and are highly resistant to biodegradation, and only a small share of about 20% of spent plastics is believed to be recycled, which is a cause for environmental concern. Biodegradable plastics would solve this concern as they are a sustainable alternative, yet these do not even cover 5% of the global plastic market. Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a versatile group of polyesters produced by nature as prokaryotic storage materials. PHAs can be produced through sustainable bioprocess engineering and have displayed remarkable flexibility in their physical and chemical properties. PHAs are the subject of several scientific papers and numerous PHA patents have also been filed, generating significant interest in the plastic production industry. To develop overall sustainable and efficient production processes, all bioprocess steps need to be thoroughly understood and accounted for. These processes start with the selection of suitable inexpensive raw materials (microbes and enzymes), optimizing the process engineering and process regime, and conclude with the enhancement of product recovery in terms of time, energy, and material input. Microbial Biopolyester Production, Performance and Processing: Microbiology, Feedstocks, and Metabolism encompasses eight chapters that cover aspects of the microbiology and biotechnology of producing biodegradable plastics. The contents focus on the selection of powerful archaeal and eubacterial production strains, genetic engineering as a tool for optimized PHA production and inexpensive carbon sources for microbial cultures. The volume is a useful resource for bioprocess engineers, microbiologists, biotechnologists and chemical engineers interested in the basics of biodegradable plastic production. Recent Advances in Biotechnology is a book series comprising of peer-reviewed reference works and monographs that compile the latest developments in the field of biotechnology. Each volume has a thematic focus and features topical reviews written by experts. The series will highlight multidisciplinary perspectives to interested readers (biotechnologists, microbiologists, bioprocess engineers, agronomists, medical professionals, sustainability researchers etc.)

Global plastic production is estimated to be over 300Mt annually. Most conventional plastics are predominantly produced from fossil fuels and are highly resistant to biodegradation, and only a small share of about 20% of spent plastics is believed to be recycled, which is a cause for environmental concern. Biodegradable plastics would solve this concern as they are a sustainable alternative, yet these do not even cover 5% of the global plastic market. Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a versatile group of polyesters produced by nature as prokaryotic storage materials. PHAs can be produced through sustainable bioprocess engineering and have displayed remarkable flexibility in their physical and chemical properties. PHAs are the subject of several scientific papers and numerous PHA patents have also been filed, generating significant interest in the plastic production industry. To develop overall sustainable and efficient production processes, all bioprocess steps need to be thoroughly understood and accounted for. These processes start with the selection of suitable inexpensive raw materials (microbes and enzymes), optimizing the process engineering and process regime, and conclude with the enhancement of product recovery in terms of time, energy, and material input. Microbial Biopolyester Production, Performance and Processing: Bioengineering, Characterization, and Sustainability is a compilation of eight chapters covering bacterial polyesters, green plastics and PHAs from various angles. The contents of this volume focus on sustainable practices focus on the sustainability of processes that involve the synthesis and recycling of these meterials. The volume is a useful resource for bioprocess engineers, microbiologists, biotechnologists and chemical engineers interested in the basics of biodegradable plastic production.

Progress in Food Biotechnology covers recent advances in the food processing sector. Readers will gain an academic and industrial perspective on how biotechnology improves food product quality, yield, and process efficiency. Novel opportunities for utilizing value-added products in the food industry, such as microbial cultures, enzymes, flavour compounds, and other food ingredients are also explained. Chapters in the volume cover topics related to (1) food bioactive peptides and functional properties of proteins, (2) classification, biosynthesis, and application of bacterial exopolysaccharides, (3) enzymatic modification of phospholipids, and related applications, (4) microbial culture research and application in food fermentation, (5) probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, (6) biotechnological production of food additives, (7) phenolic-based nanoparticles and relevant applications, (8) enzyme discovery approaches and industrial dairy enzyme applications, (9) bioconversion of major industrial and agro-industrial by-products into various bio-products as examples of a bio-based economy, and (10) plant epigenetics and future prospects of epigenetics to improve crop quality. Information is presented in a simple language supported by graphs, tables, numbers, market trends, and accounts of successful product launches. This volume is a handy resource for a broad range of industrial researchers, students, and biotech professionals from both academia and industry who are involved in the multidisciplinary fields of food biotechnology and food chemistry.

More than 4 decades have passed since the birth of the first in vitro fertilized baby in 1978. The use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to overcome infertility has increased steadily with the simultaneous increase in the number of fertility centers in every part of the world. Access to infertility clinics is playing an important role in the treatment of different forms of infertility (like tubal disease, ovarian aging, or ovarian dysfunction). This book captures the state of current and recent advances in assisted reproduction technology in humans and livestock in an easy and comprehensive way for non-experts and learners. 10 chapters cover the biology of reproduction, and male ART methods (sperm retrieval and freezing) and female ART methods (oocyte activation, and cryopreservation), and finally embryo ARTs (assisted hatching and cloning techniques) with simple definitions and explanations. Tips to overcome problems are also presented where appropriate along with references for further reading. This book is a simple primer for students who are involved in courses in embryology or reproductive technologies as part of programs in biology, biotechnology, medicine, and physiology.

Mind Maps in Clinical Chemistry presents information about clinical laboratory techniques with the for junior healthcare professionals, medical residents and students. Book chapters provide guides which enable readers to suggest, arrange and interpret clinical chemistry tests effectively to enhance clinical care. Chapters of the book cover range of topics relevant to laboratory testing, clinical physiology and medical biochemistry which will equip readers with adequate knowledge on the subject. Key Features i. Topic-based presentation over 24 chapters ii. Coverage of practical and theoretical knowledge iii. Lucid and integrated presentation of concepts iv. Wide range of topics covered including laboratory testing, clinical physiology of organs and systems as well as endocrinology and toxicology v. packed with practical lab testing information Mind Maps in Clinical Chemistry is an ideal textbook for quick and easy learning of clinical laboratory knowledge for undergraduate and graduate students as well as teachers instructing courses at these levels.

Mind Maps in Clinical Chemistry presents information about clinical laboratory techniques for junior healthcare professionals, medical residents and students. Each chapter enables readers to suggest, arrange and interpret clinical chemistry tests effectively with the objective of enhancing clinical care. Chapters of this part cover a range of topics focused on biochemical analysis including tumor detection, special topics in clinical biochemistry, the clinical chemistry of diseases, lab instrumentation and reference ranges of diseases. Key Features i. Topic-based presentation through 31 chapters in 6 sections ii. Coverage of practical and theoretical knowledge iii. Lucid and integrated presentation of concepts iv. Wide range of topics covered including tumor detection, special topics in clinical biochemistry, the clinical chemistry of diseases, lab instrumentation, and reference ranges in medical diagnosis v. Packed with practical lab testing information Mind Maps in Clinical Chemistry is an ideal textbook for quick and easy learning of clinical laboratory knowledge for undergraduate and graduate students as well as teachers instructing courses at these levels.

This book introduces the most recent research findings on selected parasitic weeds that occur in Jordan and are also spread in Middle Eastern countries. It is a valuable source of information for researchers, students as well as farmers, giving readers a better understanding of these regional parasites and their unusual growth patterns. The book set consists of two volumes. The first volume includes information about genera which are typically known as root parasites. These genera are Orobanchaceae, Santalaceae, and Cynomoriaceae families. The second volume covers stem parasites of the Cuscutaceae, Loranthaceae and Viscaceae families. The detailed information presented in this set makes this an essential reference on weeds and parasitic plants in Jordan and Middle Eastern regions. Key Features: - Chapters cover the biology, ecology, distribution, economic significance, host ranges, and control methods of a variety of regional weeds in an organized way - It includes information on parasitic families, genera and species that are found in Jordanian flora and their hosts. - It also provides coloured photos of weeds - Presents the latest techniques for plant pest management - Provides references for further reading - Includes a glossary and appendix suitable for beginners

This book introduces the most recent research findings on selected parasitic weeds that occur in Jordan and are also spread in Middle Eastern countries. It is a valuable source of information for researchers, students as well as farmers, giving readers a better understanding of these regional parasites and their unusual growth patterns. The book set consists of two volumes. The first volume includes information about genera which are typically known as root parasites. These genera are Orobanchaceae, Santalaceae, and Cynomoriaceae families. The second volume covers stem parasites of the Cuscutaceae, Loranthaceae and Viscaceae families. The detailed information presented in this set makes this an essential reference on weeds and parasitic plants in Jordan and Middle Eastern regions. Key Features: - Chapters cover the biology, ecology, distribution, economic significance, host ranges, and control methods of a variety of regional weeds in an organized way - It includes information on parasitic families, genera and species that are found in Jordanian flora and their hosts. - It also provides coloured photos of weeds - Presents the latest techniques for plant pest management - Provides references for further reading - Includes a glossary and appendix suitable for beginners.