Natural Products (Confluence of Research in Biotechnology for Human Welfare)

Microbial biofilm plays an important role in the life cycle of microorganisms surviving in diverse and harsh environments such as extremes of temperatures, pH, salinity, nutrient scarcity etc. Biofilm formation is a survival strategy adopted by microorganisms allowing colonization in new niches by dispersal of microbes from the microbial clusters embedded within an outer polymer layer produced by the microorganism itself. This layer comprises of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that helps the indwelling microbes to grow and divide in a protected environment against invaders like antimicrobial agents, surfactant, biocides and phagocytic cells of host organisms. Thus, EPS matrix prevents the penetration of antimicrobials thereby allowing the indwelling microbes to survive and give rise to antimicrobial resistance posing threat to human health.

The present book highlights a detailed analysis of the mechanism of biofilm formation in both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the role of quorum sensing signaling mechanism in the genetic regulation pathway.

The book titled "Natural Products: Alternative therapeutics as Quorum Sensing (QS) inhibitors" provides a detailed and systematic review of mechanism of quorum sensing in both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria and alternative pharmacological developments as a potent solution to the rise of antimicrobial resistance during biofilm formation.

Features:

• A systematic overview of the mechanism of quorum sensing in the development of microbial biofilms
• Biofilm formation and its role in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance
• Recent pharmacological development of antibiofilm remedies involving biogenic compounds

This book serves as a reference book for researchers investigating the progression of events during microbial biofilm formation starting from the genetic cascade regulating quorum sensing to secretion of autoinducers and design of safer methodologies for the successful eradication of microbial biofilm. It may also be used as a textbook for a undergraduate level course in microbiology or microbial biotechnology.

Dr. Moupriya Nag

Moupriya Nag is presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata. Her research interests includes single molecule Biophysics of protein unfolding/refolding and protein aggregation kinetics and its mechanism of action especially the amyloid proteins in neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, her research focuses on functional amyloids in bacteria and their relation in forming biofilms. Her work deals with developing novel antimicrobial and anti-biofilm compounds from natural sources including plants, microbes and green synthesized nanoparticles. She has about six years of teaching experience in Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Bioprocess and Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology, Computing, Molecular Modeling and Drug Design. She has also published many research articles in the peer-reviewed international journal and authored or co-authored numerous book chapters. She is also a member of many scientific societies like Indian Biophysical Society and Indian Science Congress Association.

Dr. Dibyajit Lahiri

Dibyajit Lahiri is at present is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata. His research interest is precisely on biofilm isolated from human prosthesis and its inhibition by various novel phyto and nano compounds. He is keen to explore the molecular mechanism behind the removal of biofilm by natural compounds. His research arena also encompasses computational drug development by using of bioinformatic. His work is regularly being presented and appreciated before a number of experts of National and International repute. He is a life Member of Indian Science Congress Association and Institution of Engineers (India). He has edited two book of international publishing house.

Dr. Jaideep Banerjeee

Jaideep Banerjee received his PhD in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his post-doctoral training at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research in San Antonio, Texas and at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Banerjee has been involved with various aspects of wound healing research and is an editor for the journal Advances in Wound Care and Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy. He has worked as a consultant with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and with Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center. Currently, he leads clinical strategy for Biologics and Regenerative Medicine along with the team of Medical Science Liaisons in the Dept. of Clinical Affairs (Research and Development) at Smith and Nephew.

Dr. Taniya Roy Chowdhury

Tania Roy Chowdhury is working in Agricultural Research Service at US Department of Agriculture. Her research area is to study soil systems at two scales: the broadly ecological and the complexly microbial trying to understand the vital locus of biodiversity at the critical interfaces of soil, microbes, water and trace gas emissions, microbial underpinnings of biogeochemical changes with a focus on nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen, and iron), and specifically on anaerobic microbial processes, including methanogenesis. Ecosystems of interest include wetlands, permafrost, and converted agricultural lands. She is interested in studying connected urban waterways and tackling issues pertaining to environmental health. By applying a range of skills from microbiology, soil science, metabolomics, and high-throughput sequencing technologies, Her studies on the complex interactions between microorganisms and biotic/abiotic factors. The ultimate goal is to detect ecological patterns within a spatial-temporal framework to address management/sustainability challenges. Her extended research interests encompass around.