This is an insiders account of 50 years of genetic studies of the soil-inhabiting microbes that produce most of the antibiotics used to treat infections, as well as anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and immunosuppressant drugs. The book begins by describing how these microbes the actinomycetes were discovered in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but remained a Cinderella group until, in the 1940s, they shot to prominence with the discovery of streptomycin, the first effective treatment for tuberculosis and only the ...
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This is an insiders account of 50 years of genetic studies of the soil-inhabiting microbes that produce most of the antibiotics used to treat infections, as well as anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and immunosuppressant drugs. The book begins by describing how these microbes the actinomycetes were discovered in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but remained a Cinderella group until, in the 1940s, they shot to prominence with the discovery of streptomycin, the first effective treatment for tuberculosis and only the second antibiotic, after penicillin, to become a medical marvel. There followed a massive effort over several decades to find further treatments for infectious diseases and cancer, tempered by the rise of antibiotic resistance consequent on antibiotic misuse and over-use. The book goes on to describe the discovery of gene exchange in the actinomycetes in the context of the rise of microbial genetics in the mid-20th century, leading to determination of the complete DNA sequence of a model member of the group at the turn of the millennium. There follow chapters in which the intricate molecular machinery that adapts the organisms metabolism and development to life in the soil, including antibiotic production, is illuminated by the DNA blueprint. Then come an up-to-the minute account of the use of genetic engineering to make novel, hybrid, antibiotics, and a topical description of techniques to learn the roles of the thousands of genes in a genome sequence, throwing a powerful light on the biology of the organisms and their harnessing for increasing antibiotic productivity. In the final chapter we return to the mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy, the first actinomycetes to be discovered, and how methodology, in part derived from the study of the streptomycetes, is being applied to understand and control these still deadly pathogens.
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Add this copy of Streptomyces in Nature and Medicine: the Antibiotic to cart. $136.54, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Streptomyces in Nature and Medicine: the Antibiotic to cart. $238.18, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Oxford University Press.
This book deals with the bacterial group Streptomyces, whose ability to make a wide range of useful antibiotics and other compounds has made them the subject of intense research for decades. This field of research has been a shining example of how great science can be accomplished in a spirit of co-operation and openness, largely due to the influence of major players such as the author himself. The book is a mix of memoir and scientific overview that makes it easy to read, and gives the reader a personal reference point in the way that a textbook doesn't. The writing is not overly technical and should be fine for any intelligent reader with an interest in science. It begins by describing the origins of our interest in these bacteria, goes on to tell of the "golden age" of antibiotic discovery and takes us through the DNA revolution of the nineties and the amazing steps forward during that time. The author gives us a look at current research and what might happen in the future, addressing the complex problem of antibiotic resistance. There are two reasons why David Hopwood is the only person who could have written this book: 1) he has been pre-eminent in the field of Streptomyces research for about fifty years, and 2) he has an ability to communicate both scientific facts and his own great enthusiasm for his subject that is rare indeed. We are lucky that he has found the time to give us a glimpse of this fascinating and important subject from his unique perspective.
