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Microbial Degradation of Steroids

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Recent Advances in Microbial Degradation

Part of the book series: Environmental and Microbial Biotechnology ((EMB))

Abstract

Steroids are naturally found in humans, plants, fungi, and arthropods to implement several developmental functions. Steroids are also extensively used in the healthcare systems to design a myriad of therapeutics for the management of bronchial asthma, anaphylaxis, rheumatic fever, meningitis, etc. The widespread applications of steroids and their environmental discharges in soil/aquatic systems have posed serious health concerns such as infertility, premature birth, polycystic ovary syndrome, and reduces hatching rate in fish and birds. Being hydrophobic, these stable chemicals and their conjugate forms do not mix well with the water system and reside in the biosphere for prolonged periods. The situation poses an ecological risk and aquatic hazards for all terrestrial and aquatic fauna until these are decomposed completely. Specific microbial genome, biochemical reactions, the key intermediates, and distinct catabolic enzymes participate in the steroidal degradation. The chapter highlights significant aerobic and anaerobic microbes that efficiently catabolize complex steroids into nonsteroidal organic compounds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Institute of Pharmacy, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, India

    Shashi Kiran Misra

  2. Faculty of Pharmacy, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Kamla Pathak & Devender Pathak

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  1. Shashi Kiran Misra
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  2. Kamla Pathak
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  3. Devender Pathak
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

    . Inamuddin

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

    Mohd Imran Ahamed

  3. Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar, India

    Ram Prasad

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Misra, S.K., Pathak, K., Pathak, D. (2021). Microbial Degradation of Steroids. In: Inamuddin, .., Ahamed, M.I., Prasad, R. (eds) Recent Advances in Microbial Degradation. Environmental and Microbial Biotechnology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0518-5_10

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