This book brings together and updates the latest information on the diversity of yeasts, their molecular features and their applications in the welfare of mankind. Yeasts are eukaryotic microfungi widely found in natural environments, including those with extreme conditions such as low temperatures, low oxygen levels and low water availability. To date, approximately 2,000 of the estimated 30,000 to 45,000 species of yeast on Earth, belonging to around 200 genera have been described. Although there are a few that are opportunistic human and animal pathogens, the vast majority of yeasts are beneficial, playing an important role in the food chain and in the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. In addition, yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula polymorpha and Pichia pastoris are used in expressing foreign genes to produce proteins of pharmaceutical interest. A landmark in biotechnology was reached in 1996 with the completion of sequencing of the entire S. cerevisiae genome, and it has now become a central player in the development of an entirely new approach to biological research and synthetic biology. The sequencing of genomes of several yeasts including Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neofromans has also recently been completed. candida albicans="" and="" p/pp

本書は、目に見えないミクロの生命体「酵母」が織りなす壮大な生存戦略と、人類の福祉に捧げられた無私なる貢献を克明に描き出した、知の叙事詩です。極限環境にすら適応する彼らの多様性は、生命のたくましさと神秘を象徴しており、単なる学術書の枠を超え、未踏の種を追い求める知的探求のドラマとして読み手を圧倒します。 特にゲノム解読という科学的転換点を軸に、酵母がバイオテクノロジーの主役へと躍り出る過程は、自然界と文明が交差するスリリングな物語のようです。私たちの生存を根底で支える炭素や窒素の循環、そして医薬品開発の最前線。そこに息づく微小な巨人たちの息遣いを感じさせる本書は、読者の世界観を根底から揺さぶる情熱に満ちています。