Microbial toxins are secondary metabolites that accumulate in the organism and, to a large extent, are metabolically inactive towards the organism that produces them. The discovery of penicillin, a secondary metabolite of Penicillium notatum West (= P. chrysogenum Thom), in 1929 marked a milestone in the development of antibiotics (microbial toxins). In the intensive studies that followed this discovery, scientists chemically characterized several new molecules (toxins) from secondary metabolites of microbes, some having a definite function in causing pathogenesis in plants. Toxins are also known to playa significant role in inciting animal (human) and insect diseases and as plant growth regulators. Many common toxins have also been isolated from different microbes exhibiting a wide spectrum of biological activity. Toxins are broadly divisible into several characteristic groupings - polyketides, oxygen heterocyclic compounds, pyrons, terpenoidS, amino acids - diketopiperazines, polypeptides etc. Recent research has indicated that these toxins play an important role in plant pathogenesis, disease epidemics, plant breeding, biological control of plant pathogens and insect pests, induced resistance, plant-pathogen interactions etc. Toxins produced by weed pathogens are exploited as lead molecules in developing environmentally friendly herbicides.

This volume represents the proceedings of the 9th International Proton Transport Conference, "Mechanisms and Consequences of Proton Transport" held in Leura, Australia, August 19 -21, 200 I. This conference has been held since 1971 every 3 to 4 years with few exceptions in association with the Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. The first meeting was held in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Max-Planck'Institute. Countries hosting the conference have been Germany (twice), Sweden (twice), India, Canada, USA, Great Britain, and now Australia. Over the past 30 years participants at these Proton Transport Conferences have been principal contributors to the major discoveries in the physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology of gastric acid secretion. These include development of the H2-receptor blockers, defining the signaling pathways for the regulation of acid secretion, identifying the gastric proton pump, discovery and development of proton pump inhibitory drugs, and elucidating the physiology and biochemistry of Helicobacter pylori.

This volume represents the proceedings of the 9th International Proton Transport Conference, "Mechanisms and Consequences of Proton Transport" held in Leura, Australia, August 19 -21, 200 I. This conference has been held since 1971 every 3 to 4 years with few exceptions in association with the Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. The first meeting was held in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Max-Planck'Institute. Countries hosting the conference have been Germany (twice), Sweden (twice), India, Canada, USA, Great Britain, and now Australia. Over the past 30 years participants at these Proton Transport Conferences have been principal contributors to the major discoveries in the physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology of gastric acid secretion. These include development of the H2-receptor blockers, defining the signaling pathways for the regulation of acid secretion, identifying the gastric proton pump, discovery and development of proton pump inhibitory drugs, and elucidating the physiology and biochemistry of Helicobacter pylori.

Microbial toxins are secondary metabolites that accumulate in the organism and, to a large extent, are metabolically inactive towards the organism that produces them. The discovery of penicillin, a secondary metabolite of Penicillium notatum West (= P. chrysogenum Thom), in 1929 marked a milestone in the development of antibiotics (microbial toxins). In the intensive studies that followed this discovery, scientists chemically characterized several new molecules (toxins) from secondary metabolites of microbes, some having a definite function in causing pathogenesis in plants. Toxins are also known to playa significant role in inciting animal (human) and insect diseases and as plant growth regulators. Many common toxins have also been isolated from different microbes exhibiting a wide spectrum of biological activity. Toxins are broadly divisible into several characteristic groupings - polyketides, oxygen heterocyclic compounds, pyrons, terpenoidS, amino acids - diketopiperazines, polypeptides etc. Recent research has indicated that these toxins play an important role in plant pathogenesis, disease epidemics, plant breeding, biological control of plant pathogens and insect pests, induced resistance, plant-pathogen interactions etc. Toxins produced by weed pathogens are exploited as lead molecules in developing environmentally friendly herbicides.

This volume represents the proceedings of the 9th International Proton Transport Conference, "Mechanisms and Consequences of Proton Transport" held in Leura, Australia, August 19 -21, 200 I. This conference has been held since 1971 every 3 to 4 years with few exceptions in association with the Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. The first meeting was held in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Max-Planck'Institute. Countries hosting the conference have been Germany (twice), Sweden (twice), India, Canada, USA, Great Britain, and now Australia. Over the past 30 years participants at these Proton Transport Conferences have been principal contributors to the major discoveries in the physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology of gastric acid secretion. These include development of the H2-receptor blockers, defining the signaling pathways for the regulation of acid secretion, identifying the gastric proton pump, discovery and development of proton pump inhibitory drugs, and elucidating the physiology and biochemistry of Helicobacter pylori.

This volume represents the proceedings of the 9th International Proton Transport Conference, "Mechanisms and Consequences of Proton Transport" held in Leura, Australia, August 19 -21, 200 I. This conference has been held since 1971 every 3 to 4 years with few exceptions in association with the Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. The first meeting was held in Frankfurt, Germany, at the Max-Planck'Institute. Countries hosting the conference have been Germany (twice), Sweden (twice), India, Canada, USA, Great Britain, and now Australia. Over the past 30 years participants at these Proton Transport Conferences have been principal contributors to the major discoveries in the physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology of gastric acid secretion. These include development of the H2-receptor blockers, defining the signaling pathways for the regulation of acid secretion, identifying the gastric proton pump, discovery and development of proton pump inhibitory drugs, and elucidating the physiology and biochemistry of Helicobacter pylori.