Books published by Humana Press Inc.

Filamentous fungi have long been known for their ability to produce an enormous range of unusual chemical compounds known as secondary metabolites, many of which have potentially useful antibiotic or pharmacological properties. Recent focus on fungal genomics coupled with advances in detection and molecular manipulation techniques has galvanized a revitalization of this field.  Fungal Secondary Metabolism: Methods and Protocols is aimed at providing the key methodologies currently in use and necessary for accessing and exploiting the natural product information provided by the genomes of this large and varied kingdom. Written by active researchers in the field, the chapters deal with all the steps necessary, from optimization of fungal culture conditions for metabolite production, through rapid genome sequencing and bioinformatics, and genetic manipulations for functional analysis, to detection and testing of metabolites. In addition, chapters on basic science address approaches to the genetic regulation, protein biochemistry, and cellular localization of the biosynthetic pathways. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and hands-on, Fungal Secondary Metabolism: Methods and Protocols encourages new investigators to enter the field and expands upon the expertise and range of skills of those already researching fungal natural products.

Phytoplasmas are a group of bacteria that are capable of multiplying and causing severe diseases in a wide range of plant species and are transported between plants by insect vectors in which the bacteria can also multiply.

While chest radiography continues to serve as the primary tool for imaging the chest, advances in computed tomography (CT) have led to a variety of applications such as high-resolution CT (HRCT), advanced 3-D airway imaging, and image-guided procedures.The aim of this book is to deliver a clinically-oriented approach to pulmonary imaging.

Antigen processing is a biological process that prepares antigens for the presentation to special cells in the immune system called T lymphocytes.

In Diabetes & C-Peptide: Scientific and Clinical Aspects, a renowned group of leading researchers and physicians offers a comprehensive overview of the role of C-Peptide in type 1 diabetes.

Current knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate DNA repair has grown significantly over the past years with technology advances such as RNA interference, advanced proteomics and microscopy as well as high throughput screens.

Biotargets of Cancer in Current Clinical Practice presents an updated and reasoned review of the current status of knowledge concerning the major cancer types with a special focus on the current biomarkers, genes involved and the potential future targets of innovative therapies.

These include methods and techniques to identify regulatory RNAs, characterizing the function and expression of regulatory RNAs in bacterial cells, RNA structure prediction, and interactions between regulatory RNAs and proteins.

Plant Salt Tolerance: Methods and Protocols describes recent advances and techniques employed by researchers to understand the molecular and ionic basis of salinity tolerance and to investigate the mechanisms of salt stress perception and signalling in plants.

The second edition of p53 Protocols expands upon the first edition with progress in p53 research since the publication of the first edition.

A broad definition of a receptor is a specialized protein on or in a cell that recognizes and binds a specific ligand to undergo a conformational change, leading to a physiological response or change in cell function.

The second edition of Bioinformatics and Drug Discovery has been completely updated to include topics that range from new technologies in target identification, genomic analysis, cheminformatics, protein analysis, and network or pathway analysis.

The detailed volume is focused on basic protocols for isolating antibodies and, at the same time, it selects a range of specific areas with the aim of providing guides for the overall process of antibody isolation and characterization as well as protocols for enhancing classical antibodies and antibody fragments.

Organogenesis entails the regulation of cell division, cell expansion, cell and tissue type differentiation, and patterning of the organ as a whole. It is essential to gain insight into how organs are initiated and how they develop. However, this very often is subject to technical difficulties as these processes take place embedded deep in tissues or are difficult to access or visualize. To achieve this, we need specialized techniques such as those concisely illustrated in Plant Organogenesis: Methods and Protocols. Chapters address topics such as how to study and image the structure of ovules and embryos of Arabidopsis thaliana, tools to establish cell lineages in order to visualize the contribution of each cell and cell division to the building of a mature organ, approaches to study the totipotency of several plant cells, techniques such as the use of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to analyse transcriptomes and hormone levels in Arabidopsis, methods to investigate organogenesis in economically important crops, and computer-based approaches to bring everything together. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology¿ series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Plant Organogenesis: Methods and Protocols serves both professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies in an effort to further our knowledge of this fascinating researchfield.

Cardiac tumors were once a nosographic entity of scarce clinical interest because of the rarity and of the intrinsic diagnostic and therapeutic impossibilities, and were considered a fatal morbid entity.

Zebrafish Models in Neurobehavioral Research emphasizes the growing importance of zebrafish in neurobehavioral research and portrays an extensive, thorough perspective on the emergence of zebrafish as robust and translational models.