Note: Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of contributors -- Preface -- About the editors -- Acknowledgements -- About the book -- Introduction -- About the companion website -- Part I Biology and Classification of Cyanobacteria -- Chapter 1 Cyanobacteria: biology, ecology and evolution -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Cyanobacteria are ancient microorganisms -- 1.3 Cyanobacteria are morphologically diverse -- 1.4 Cyanobacteria as model organisms for microbial biogeography studies -- 1.5 Cyanobacteria are major contributors to the primary production in the oceans -- 1.6 Cyanobacterial nitrogen fixation-different strategies -- 1.7 Cyanobacteria use different strategies to move to areas where conditions are most favorable -- 1.8 Some cyanobacteria change color as a function of light quality -- 1.9 A facultative anaerobic lifestyle is common in many cyanobacteria -- 1.10 Cyanobacteria have adapted to life in extreme environments -- 1.11 Cyanobacteria can survive adverse conditions for prolonged periods -- 1.12 Many cyanobacteria readily adapt to cultivation in the laboratory -- 1.13 Final comments -- References -- Chapter 2 Modern classification of cyanobacteria -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Diversification and diversity -- 2.3 The polyphasic approach -- 2.4 Selected changes in the modern system -- 2.5 Main prospects, importance for biotechnology -- References -- Part II Ecological services rendered by cyanobacteria -- Chapter 3 Ecological importance of cyanobacteria -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Variation in cyanobacterial light-harvest pigments -- 3.3 Metabolic diversity in cyanobacteria -- 3.4 Intra- and extracellular products facilitating cyanobacterial survival -- 3.5 Ecophysiology of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria -- 3.6 Concluding remarks -- References -- Chapter 4 Cyanobacteria and carbon sequestration -- 4.1 Introduction. , 4.2 Carbon dioxide emission sources -- 4.3 Importance of cyanobacteria in carbon sequestration -- 4.4 Photosynthetic metabolism -- 4.5 Photobioreactors -- 4.6 Biotransformations of carbon dioxide in photobioreactors -- 4.7 Applicability of the process: the economics of cyanobacterial carbon sequestration -- References -- Chapter 5 Ecology of cyanobacteria on stone monuments, biodeterioration, and the conservation of cultural heritage -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Ecology of cyanobacteria growing on stone monuments -- 5.3 Factors affecting the occurrence of cyanobacterial biofilms on stone monuments and their biodeterioration activity -- 5.4 Geographical distribution of cyanobacteria on rock and stone monuments -- 5.5 Taxonomy and biodiversity of cyanobacteria on stone monuments -- 5.6 Stress-tolerance mechanisms in terrestrial cyanobacteria -- 5.7 Control methods of cyanobacteria on stone monuments -- 5.8 Concluding remarks and future perspectives -- References -- Part III Cyanobacterial products -- Chapter 6 Therapeutic applications of cyanobacteria with emphasis on their economics -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Bioactive compounds from cyanobacteria -- 6.3 Therapeutic role of whole-cell cyanobacteria (unspecified products) -- 6.4 Economics of cyanobacterial therapeutic products -- 6.5 Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 7 Spirulina: an example of cyanobacteria as nutraceuticals -- 7.1 What is a nutraceutical? -- 7.2 Cyanobacteria as food -- 7.3 What is Spirulina? -- 7.4 Ecology of Spirulina -- 7.5 Nutritional values of Spirulina -- 7.6 Medicinal properties of Spirulina -- 7.7 Hypolipidemic effects -- 7.8 Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects -- 7.9 Mechanism of medicinal function -- 7.10 Regulations and safety profile -- 7.11 Molecular studies of Spirulina -- 7.12 Structural features of the A. platensis genome. , 7.13 Restriction modification system -- 7.14 CRISPR system -- 7.15 Mobile DNA elements -- 7.16 Transcription factors -- 7.17 Membrane transporters -- 7.18 Photosynthesis-related genes -- 7.19 Genes for biosynthesis of carotenoid and lipid -- 7.20 Reactive oxygen species protection -- 7.21 Signal transduction proteins -- 7.22 Two-component signal transduction systems -- 7.23 Future aspects -- References -- Chapter 8 Ultraviolet photoprotective compounds from cyanobacteria in biomedical applications -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Ultraviolet effects and photoprotection in cyanobacteria -- 8.3 Commercial sunscreens -- 8.4 Cyanobacterial secondary metabolites as alternative photoprotectants -- 8.5 Non-photoprotective medicinal applications of scytonemin -- 8.6 Applications of cyanobacterial sunscreens beyond biomedicine -- 8.7 Translational development: regulatory and commercial aspects -- References -- Chapter 9 Cyanobacteria as a "green" option for sustainable agriculture -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Diversity of soil cyanobacteria -- 9.3 Role of free-living cyanobacteria in crop growth promotion and productivity -- 9.4 Technology development and innovations -- 9.5 Cyanobacterial formulations-traditional to modern approaches -- 9.6 Cyanobacteria in the rhizosphere -- 9.7 Azolla-cyanobacteria symbiosis as a biofertilizer -- 9.8 Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 10 The economics of cyanobacteria-based biofuel production: challenges and opportunities -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Cyanobacteria as a biofuel source -- 10.3 Factors affecting the economics of liquid cyanobacterial biofuel production -- 10.4 Cyanobacteria as hydrogen energy source -- 10.5 Concluding remarks -- 10.6 Declaration -- References -- Chapter 11 Cyanobacterial cellulose synthesis in the light of the photanol concept -- 11.1 Introduction. , 11.2 Maximizing photosynthetic efficiency -- 11.3 Downstream processing of solar biofuel products -- 11.4 Cellulose synthesis -- 11.5 Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 12 Exopolysaccharides from cyanobacteria and their possible industrial applications -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Potential applications of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides -- References -- Chapter 13 Phycocyanins -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Phycocyanins -- 13.3 Spectroscopic properties -- 13.4 Isolation and purification procedures for phycocyanins -- 13.5 Applications -- References -- Chapter 14 Cyanobacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates: an alternative source for plastics -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Polyhydroxyalkanoates and their types -- 14.3 Applications of PHA polymers -- 14.4 Production of PHA polymers -- 14.5 Cyanobacterial PHA production utilizing wastes -- 14.6 Surface study of PHA films -- 14.7 Concluding remarks -- References -- Part IV Harmful aspects -- Chapter 15 Costs of harmful blooms of freshwater cyanobacteria -- 15.1 Introduction -- 15.2 Categories of economic costs -- 15.3 Conclusions and future perspectives -- References -- Chapter 16 Cyanotoxins -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 Toxic cyanobacterial blooms -- 16.3 Cyanotoxins -- 16.4 Economic perspective -- 16.5 Concluding remarks -- References -- Part V Tools, techniques, and patents -- Chapter 17 Photobioreactors for cyanobacterial culturing -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 Type of metabolism in cyanobacteria -- 17.3 Reactor design for biomass production -- 17.4 Operation mode -- 17.5 Processing parameters -- 17.6 Harvesting techniques -- 17.7 Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 18 Commercial-scale culturing of cyanobacteria: an industrial experience -- 18.1 Introduction -- 18.2 Open-pond systems -- 18.3 Closed photobioreactors. , 18.4 Comparison of open raceways and closed photobioreactors -- 18.5 Spirulina -- 18.6 Nostoc -- References -- Chapter 19 Engineering cyanobacteria for industrial products -- 19.1 Introduction -- 19.2 Genetic manipulation of cyanobacteria -- 19.3 Engineering cyanobacteria to express genes of interest -- 19.4 Cyanobacteria as cell factories for product syntheses -- 19.5 Concluding remarks and outlook -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 20 Cryopreservation of cyanobacteria -- 20.1 Introduction -- 20.2 Cryopreservation: theory and practical application -- 20.3 Cryopreservation methodology -- 20.4 Cryopreserving biological resources -- 20.5 Management of cryopreserved resources: biological resource centres -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 21 Patents on cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial products and uses -- 21.1 Introduction -- 21.2 Cyanobacteria and the environment -- 21.3 Cyanobacteria products and applications -- 21.4 Cyanobacteria and biofuels -- 21.5 Culture systems, processes, harvesting and processing -- 21.6 Cyanobacterial genes in action -- 21.7 Concluding remarks -- References -- Index -- Supplemental Images.