Bioprospecting of Microbial Resources for Agriculture, Environment and Bio-Chemical Industry

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in novel resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Bioprospecting, or the systematic identification, evaluation and exploitation of the diversity of life in a certain place, is a means of mining microorganisms for what is known as exploitable biology, or valuable genetic information. This information can then be used in the development of novel antibiotics, enzymes, food sources, and energy sources, all of which are of pressing industrial interest across agricultural, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, biomedical and bioenergetic fields. Microbe-derived bioactive compounds are currently of significant use to the development of sustainable approaches in environmental protection efforts. However, production challenges currently pose a barrier to the large-scale commercialization of microbe-derived products.

Bioprospecting of Microbial Resources for Agriculture, Environment and Bio-Chemical Industry is a much-needed review of the current achievements and emerging challenges facing the field of microbe-derived compound production. It covers established knowledge while also proposing solutions to various limitations, and introducing the application of microbe-based products in pollution control and the development of greener technologies. As the preservation of global biodiversity and the production of novel antibiotics are both of significant importance to researchers and the general public alike, this text offers a timely and comprehensive look into the many uses of microbial products across industries. Specific uses covered in the text include the microbial-based recovery of metals for e-waste, the use of microbial nanowires in bioenergy applications, and omics-based technologies in bioprospecting.

Through a comprehensive investigation into the current and emerging research on microbial bioprospecting, this text will expand possibilities for the application of microbial resources nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, biomedical and bioenergetic fields. It offers valuable insights for administrators, policy makers, and consultants. It is also a helpful guide for researchers and students in the areas of microbiology, microbial prospecting, food and plant biotechnology, industrial microbiology, biochemical engineering and environmental science.