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Vitamins are a group of physiologically very important, chemically quite complex organic compounds, that are essential for humans and animals. Some vitamins and other growth factors behave as antioxidants, while some can be considered as biopigments. As their chemical synthesis is laborious, their biotechnology-based synthesis and production via microbial fermentation has gained substantial interest within the last decades. Recent progress in microbial genetics and in metabolic engineering and implementation of innovative bioprocess technology has led to a biotechnology-based industrial production of many vitamins and related compounds. Divided into three sections, this volume covers:
1. water-soluble vitamins
2. fat-soluble vitamin compounds and
3. other growth factors, biopigments, and antioxidants.
They are all reviewed systematically: from natural occurrence and assays, via biosynthesis, strain development, to industrially-employed biotechnological syntheses and applications.

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Preface
Vitamins, Biopigments, Antioxidants and Related Compounds: A Historical, Physiological and (Bio)technological Perspective
WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Industrial Production of Vitamin B2 by Microbial Fermentation
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Pantothenic Acid
Folate: Relevance of Chemical and Microbial Production
Vitamin B12 - Physiology, Production and Application
Industrial Fermentation of Vitamin C
Direct Microbial Routes to Vitamin C Production
FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Synthesis of Beta-Carotene and Other Important Carotenoids with Bacteria
Beta-Carotene and other Carotenoids and Pigments from Microalgae
Microbial Production of Vitamin F and other Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Vitamin Q10: Property, Production and Application
Pyrroloquinolin Quinone (PQQ)
OTHER GROWTH FACTORS, BIOPIGMENTS, AND ANTIOXIDANTS
L-Carnitine, the Vitamin BT: Uses and Production by the Secondary Metabolism of Bacteria
Application of Carnosine and its Functionalized Derivatives
Metabolism and Biotechnological Production of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
Flavonoids: Functions, Metabolism and Biotechnology
Monascus Pigments
Index

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Erick J. Vandamme is Emeritus Professor at the Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Faculty Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium. He has acted as director of this department for over 25 years. He was Visiting Professor at several universities in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. Following his Ph.D. studies at Ghent University in molecular biology, fermentation science and industrial biotechnology, several postdoctoral positions led him to Oxford University, MIT Cambridge, and Queen Elisabeth College (now King´s College), London. Professor Vandamme is (co)-author of over 400 research papers and review articles , (co-)edited 14 books and holds several patents. He received numerous scientific awards and is an Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (USA) and of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, and received three honorary doctorates. He is a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts . José L. Revuelta is Full Professor of Genetics, Chairman of the Metabolic Engineering Group, and Director of the New Generation Sequencing Laboratory at the University of Salamanca (Spain) since 2002. Upon receipt of his Ph.D. in 1981 at León University in Biological Sciences, he received a grant by the Juan March Foundation to perform postdoctoral training at The Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation (La Jolla, CA). Professor Revuelta is coauthor of more than 50 research papers and review articles in the field of vitamins biotechnology, genomics and chemogenomics of industrial microorganisms. He coauthored eight chapters in books related with the biotechnological production of vitamins and pigments and holds 21 patents related to vitamin B2 production.

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