Surface Microlayers in Aquatic Environments

: The review is an attempt to introduce the readers in brief about biofilms and their implications as well as some new perceptions in biotechnology. Biofilms are adherent microbial communities, which are developed on submerged surfaces in aquatic environments. Biofilms play a significant role in exopolymer production, material deterioration and also cause harmful infections. Further, the role of corrosion causing biofilm bacteria in deterioration of different materials, microbial biofilms and their enzymatic processes in reducing the toxicity of pollutants in industrial effluents are elaborated, along with clean technologies for wastewater treatment. Biotechnology is defined as any technological application that uses biological systems to synthesize or modify products or processes. The applications include biochemical processes, medical care, cell and tissue culture as well as synthetic biology and others. Synthetic biology details about the design, construction of new biological components and systems for useful purposes. Finally, to overcome the limitations that are inherent to the use of cellular host’s, cell-free systems as critical platforms for synthetic biology applications. This mini-review also mentions about new diagnostic products based on enzymes, monoclonal antibodies and engineered proteins as well as novel prophylactic vaccines.

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Interactions between ecological and socio-economic drivers of Buruli ulcer burden in Sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities for an improved control

10.1093/oso/9780198789833.003.0014 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Andes Garchitorena ◽

Matthew H. Bonds ◽

Jean-Francois Guégan ◽

Benjamin Roche

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Access To Health Care ◽

Buruli Ulcer ◽

Mycobacterium Ulcerans ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Human Populations ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Sub Saharan

This chapter provides an overview of the complex interactions between ecological and socioeconomic factors for the development and control of Buruli ulcer in Sub-Saharan Africa. We review key ecological and evolutionary processes driving the environmental persistence and proliferation of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent, within aquatic environments, as well as transmission processes from these aquatic environments to human populations. We also outline key socioeconomic factors driving the economic and health burden of Buruli ulcer in endemic regions, revealed by reciprocal feedbacks between poverty, disease transmission from exposure aquatic environments and disease progression to severe stages owing to low access to health care. The implications of such insights for disease control, both in terms of limitations of current strategies and directions for the future, are discussed.

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