While numerous books have been published in the area of probiotics but no book has been reported exclusively on methods adopted in probiotics research. This book is aimed at researchers who are involved in conducting research on wide applications of probiotics. To establish any organism as probiotics, it needs to pass through number of tests. The isolation and identification techniques need to be chosen carefully. The assessment of probiotics attributes is to be done by a series of in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. Clinical trials are also conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety. The use of latest genome based tools have enhanced the spectrum of understanding for probiotics.
About the Author: Dr. Vijendra Mishra obtained his doctorate in Dairy Microbiology from National dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India. During his Ph.D. he worked on studying probiotics properties of Lactobacillus casei. Before joining his current assignment as Associate Professor (Microbiology) at National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundli, Haryana in 2011, he worked for a decade in various institutions, notably being Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), India. Dr. Mishra is involved in teaching, research and administration at NIFTEM. He is currently teaching UG, PG and Ph.D. students with special focus development of probiotics products with enhanced shelf life and safety aspects of probiotics. Dr. Mishra has published more than 30 papers, 10 book chapters and general articles and 25 presentations in national and international conferences. He has received Young Scientist award from Association of Microbiologists of India, Award for researchers mobility for Slovak Republic besides receiving Senior Research Fellowships from Indian Council for Agricultural Research, India. He is invited reviewer of more than 10 International scientific journals.
Prof. Dicks devotes his research on lactic acid bacteria (LAB), with a special interest in antimicrobial peptides and probiotic properties. He has published 194 research papers in ISI-rated journals, contributed to 25 book chapters and filed nine patents. He described a number of new species and was the first South African to participate in the writing of chapters (eight in total) for the bacterial taxonomy guide Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. His group was the first to incorporate antimicrobial peptides of LAB in nanofibers and have developed a nanofiber wound dressing with antimicrobial properties (patent PCT/IB2010/054653). Prof Dicks received the Rector's award for outstanding research in 2000 and 2010, the silver medal for research from the SA Society for Microbiology in 2004, and the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-BHP Billiton award in 2012 for research over the last 5-10 years.
Dr. Tejpal Dhewa obtained Ph.D. in Microbiology from Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India. He joined as Assistant Professor (Microbiology), Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences (BCAS), University of Delhi, New Delhi, India in 2011. Before moving to BCAS, he was at Dolphin (PG) Institute of Biomedical & Natural Sciences (DIBNS), Dehradun, UK, India from 2005 to 2011. Dr. Dhewa has published more than 25 papers, 10 presentations in National and International Seminars and Conferences, 1 book, 3 monographs, 3 popular articles, and several book chapters to his credit.
Dr. Jayesh J. Ahire obtained his Ph.D in Microbiology (Probiotics and its biogenic metabolites) from North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, India. He is presently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Leon Dicks, Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. His current research involves incorporation of antibacterial peptides, drugs and iron chelators in nanofibers, particularly in relation to develop topical and surgical dressings. He has also published several peer-reviewed articles in the field of probiotics and bio-nanotechnology. His main research interests are probiotics, antimicrobial peptides and nanotechnology for the prevention and treatment of infections.
