Microbial Biotechnology Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which microorganisms are primarily associated with microbial biotechnology?

Fungi, protozoa, and bacteria

Algae, bacteria, and viruses

Viruses, protozoa, and fungi

Bacteria, yeast, and molds (correct)

What is the primary role of fermentation in microbial biotechnology?

Isolation of pure bacterial strains

Conversion of sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol (correct)

Energy generation through oxygen consumption

Production of genetic materials

How does genetic engineering relate to microbial biotechnology?

It involves the study of genetic mutations in microbes

It focuses solely on plant genes

It applies only to animal biotechnology

It uses microorganisms to produce genetically modified organisms (correct)

Which aspect is crucial when considering safety in microbial biotechnology?

Assessing potential hazards of microbial strains Signup and view all the answers

What factor does not influence microbial activity in the industry?

Aesthetic preferences of consumers Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant application of nanotechnology in microbial biotechnology?

Improving the efficiency of drug delivery systems Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fermentation is not typically utilized in microbial biotechnology?

Phototropic fermentation Signup and view all the answers

What is a common ethical concern associated with the use of microorganisms in biotechnology?

The potential for genetic contamination Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a fermenter in bioprocessing?

To provide a controlled environment for fermentation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of secondary metabolism?

Produces compounds that are not directly involved in growth Signup and view all the answers

What conditions must be controlled within a fermenter for optimal penicillin production?

pH and temperature Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the economic requirements for a fermenter?

Robust and well understood for scale-up Signup and view all the answers

Which source of media consideration is essential for fermentation processes?

It should provide favorable conditions for culture. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes primary metabolites from secondary metabolites in fermentation?

Primary metabolites are crucial for normal growth and development. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following penicillin-related compounds is NOT classified as a primary metabolite?

Glucose Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Microbial Biotechnology Overview

Microbial biotechnology utilizes microorganisms for industrial and medical applications.
Dr. Eman Owis is a lecturer in Microbial Biotechnology at Mansoura University and has a PhD from Göttingen University.
Key processes in microbial biotechnology include fermentation, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology.

Fermentation

Fermentation is used to produce various products, including pharmaceuticals, enzymes, and industrial chemicals.
Fermenters provide a contained, controlled, and homogeneous environment for optimized fermentation processes.
Important factors for fermenter design include cost, reliability, and safety.
The specific design parameters depend on the purpose of the fermenter.

Penicillin Production

Penicillin is a group of antibiotics produced by the Penicillium fungi.
It is not a single compound, but a group of closely related compounds (e.g. Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin).
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Later, Howard Florey and Ernst Chain purified and produced penicillin on a large scale in 1941 and 1943, respectively.
This was instrumental in treating WWII casualties.

Penicillin Production Process

Medium: The medium for Penicillin production commonly contains Corn Steep Liquor, Glucose, MgSO₄, K₃PO₄, and sodium nitrates to provide essential ions for the fungus's metabolic activity.
Heat Sterilization: The medium is sterilized at high heat and pressure (121°C at 30 psi, or twice atmospheric pressure). This is usually done in a holding tube or together with the fermenter.
Fermentation: Fermentation is typically carried out in a fed-batch manner, slowly adding nutrients over time. This process is conducted at temperatures in the range of 20-24°C and pH of 6.5. The pressure in the bioreactor is significantly higher than atmospheric pressure (1.02 atm) to minimize contamination. Stirring is crucial for homogeneous distribution of the culture medium and is typically maintained at 200 rpm.
Seed Culture: Penicillium chrysogenum spores are first grown in a liquid medium until sufficient for inoculation into the fermenter. During this stage, the medium is constantly aerated and agitated. Parameters such as pH, temperature, stirring speed, and dissolved oxygen are regularly monitored. Penicillin secretion begins typically after 40 hours of seed culture. The growth process typically concludes after 7 days, with consequent rise in pH to 8.0 or above. At this time, penicillin production stops.
Biomass Removal: The biomass is separated from the penicillin-containing medium using a rotary vacuum filter.
Solvent Addition: Organic solvents (e.g., amyl acetate or butyl acetate) are added to dissolve the penicillin from the filtrate.
Centrifugation: The penicillin, now in solution, is separated from the other solids by centrifugation.
Extraction: The penicillin solution undergoes further extraction stages including mixing with phosphate buffers and chloroform solution, and finally, with an ether solution to obtain high penicillin concentration and purity. The final product (Penicillin G) is obtained in a stable powder form as Sodium salt, after being combined with sodium bicarbonate.
Drying: The penicillin is dried, removing the remaining moisture, in a fluidized bed dryer.
Storage: Penicillin is stored in containers in a dry environment.

Media Formulation

Media should provide all necessary elements for cell synthesis, and desired product formation
Should be cost-effective, and foster a favorable culture environment
The composition for penicillin fermentation includes various nutrients and chemicals like glucose, various salts, and other components.

Primary and Secondary Metabolism

Primary metabolism involves essential metabolic processes like energy production and cell biosynthesis.
Secondary metabolism is the production of special metabolites (like penicillin) not directly involved in energy production but often in defense mechanisms or acting as signaling molecules to compete with other microorganisms. Penicillin production in Penicillium chrysogenum is an example.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of microbial biotechnology, including key processes such as fermentation and genetic engineering. Learn about the role of microorganisms in producing essential products like antibiotics and enzymes. Ideal for students interested in the intersection of microbiology and technology.