Springer Series in Applied Biology – serie

Human Health: The Contribution of Microorganisms is the first major work to concentrate on probiotics in humans. It presents both new and established data on the origins and importance of commensal floras, the history and characteristics of probiotics, the use of probiotics in clinical situations, and preclinical and volunteer studies. It also covers commercial issues such as the difficulties involved in the large scale production and formulation of live microorganisms, and the marketing techniques used to sell products containing bacteria. It contains contributions from internationally recognised experts in both science and industry. Written with both professional and lay audiences in mind, Human Health: The Contribution of Microorganisms will be an indispensable text and reference source for scientists, clinicians, and pharmaceutical/food technologists.

Food Freezing: Today and Tomorrow represents the contributions of the invited speakers to an advanced study seminar held by the Institute for Applied Biology of the University of York during April 1990. The main objective of the seminar was to bring together food scientists and engineers to discuss their mutual problems and to seek new directions for possible solutions.

The 4-quinolone antibacterial agents have been under development and in use for over 25 years, but despite an enormous body of research work there are still many basic questions that remain unanswered. For example, we do not know how these agents kill susceptible cells - or even how the drugs interact with the target mol- ecule(s). However, we do know that the 4-quinolones display many properties which are not shared with any other group of antibacterial agents. This book raises the unanswered questions and assesses the potential significance to future chemotherapy of their unique features. The book also raises matters which are significant for physicians as well as for the pharmaceutical industry and the assessment of these agents by legislative bodies concerned with drug safety.

Two major problems encountered as we approach a new century are the availability of resources for chemicals and energy, and environmental pollution. This book highlights the importance of biotransformation as a solution to these problems and considers traditionally separate areas as one interdependent discipline, in terms of the underlying mechanistic biochemistry and the research techniques employed. The provision of resources has largely centred around non-renewable materials, especially oil. Diminishing reserves of these, together with uncertainties of supply and cost have stimulated great interest in renewable resources. These are largely lignocellulosic materials (e.g. wood and straw) which are available through natural biomass turnover, farming and forestry and from wastes generated by industrial processes. An excellent example is that of kraft lignin, a by-product of pulp and paper production, amounting to 60 million tonnes per annum and which is largely wasted by burning or landfilling. This aromatic polymer has enormous potential as a feedstock to the chemical industry. Environmental pollution is no longer accepted as inevitable for a technological society. Over the past decade there has been a tremendous increase in awareness of the effects of pollution and public pressure has influenced both industry and government. However, to be realistic, it is not possible to replace all processes generating polluting wastes with clean alternatives. Instead, treatments of pollution, both at source and after an incident, are alternatives in many instances and a great deal of emphasis is currently being placed on these.

Immobilized functional biomolecules, particularly enzymes, are important tools in biotechnology, biochemistry, biochemical engineering, biomedicine and biosensor research. This book provides an introduction and overview of selected major areas of the science and technology of immobilized systems. The chapters are intended as an introduction and overview to these interdisciplinary areas, as well as a source of practical details and of new research trends. This book will be useful for scientists, technologists, academics and students in direct and related fields.