Chapters authored
Plant Pathogens
Plants cover the most area of the earth’s living environment as trees, grasses, flowers, and so on. Plants play different important roles in the environment such as ecosystem balance and food supplement for animals and humans. Moreover, wild or cultivated plants are considered the powerful biofertilizers for the soil, where the plant debris after death and degradation provides the soil with sufficient organic matters. Accordingly, plant care is a great duty and hard mission, which must be constantly improved. The study of plant pathogens belongs to the branch of biology known as plant pathology. The latter is also concerned to overcome the plant diseases arising from the biotic and/or abiotic origin. Biotic (infectious) diseases are developed owing to microbial infection, while abiotic (noninfectious) diseases are developed due to environmental factors. In this chapter, we are concerned with plant pathogens or phytopathogenic microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, mollicutes, and so on.
Part of the book: Plant Growth
Microbial Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease in Caucasians that increases the mortality rate. This disease retards the passage of water and salt through the cells and therefore affects the vital functions of different organs. Pulmonary cystic fibrosis is the most common and responsible for the majority of symptoms, burden of care, and mortality. The gene that causes the disease has now been identified and sequenced. The lung diseases with CF are usually have three pathological elements; mucus obstruction, inflammation, and infection. In the last century, the relationship between CF, respiratory microbiology, and inflammation has been understood with increased longevity and development of new treatments and laboratory techniques. In this chapter, we will illustrate causes of CF lung diseases and modern therapeutic strategies.
Part of the book: Cystic Fibrosis