1. Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
Chapter 27
Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

2. 27.1 Microorganisms Are Used to Produce Many Industrial Products
Microorganisms produce many useful organic compounds.
Primary metabolites are directly involved in normal growth, development,
and reproduction, ex) pyruvate
Secondary
metabolites have
important
ecological
functions and are
often species specific.
Figure 27.02: The products of fermentation.

3. Figure 27.03: The chemistry of citrate production.
Many secondary metabolites have value as food additives, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, etc.
Figure 27.03: The chemistry of citrate production.

4. Figure 27.01A: The Industrial Fermentation Process.
Microorganisms also produce important enzymes and other products.
Some enzymes are important commercially, such as
amylase
pectinase
several proteases
Figure 27.01A: The Industrial Fermentation Process.

5. Streptokinase breaks down blood clots formed during a heart attack.
Hyaluronidase facilitates absorption of fluids injected under the skin.
Lactones produced by species of fungi are used for flavor and aroma enhancement.
Figure 27.01B: A pharmaceutical technician monitors a series of fermentors.
© Maximilian Stock LTD/Phototake/Alamy Images

6. 27.2 Alcoholic Beverages Are Products of Fermentation
Beer is produced by the fermentation of malted barley by species of the yeast Saccharomyces.
Malting tank
Mashing tank
Hopping tank
Fermentation tank
Aging tank
Pasteurization
Figure 27.04: A generalized process for producing beer.

7. Wine is produced by the fermentation of fruit or plant extracts.
Fruit or plant materials are crushed to produce juice.
Yeasts are added to begin fermentation in anaerobic conditions.
The wine is aged in wooden
casks, where unique flavor
and aromas develop based
on:
yeast
cask wood
organic compounds in the
fruit/plant
Figure 27.05C: Wooden casks.
© LiquidLibrary

8. Distilled spirits contain more alcohol than beer or wine.
Figure 27.05A: Stemmer-crusher.
The mold Botrytis cinerea is used to enhance sugar content in grapes for sweet wines.
Distilled spirits contain more alcohol than beer or wine.
Ethyl alcohol results from distillation of fermented fruits or grains.
Figure 27.05B: Fermentation tanks.
Courtesy of Jeffrey Pommerville

9. Figure 27.06A: Colonies of S. griseus.
27.3 Microorganisms Also Produce Many Other Valuable Commercial Products
Many antibiotics are the result of industrial production.
Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be produced on an industrial scale.
Antibiotic production can involve fermentation, producing natural antibiotics or semisynthetic drugs.
Figure 27.06A: Colonies of S. griseus.
© Christine Case/Visuals Unlimited
Figure 27.06B: A false color SEM of S. griseus, showing the chains of cells.
© Scimat/Photo Researchers, Inc.

10. Some microbial products can be used to control insects.
A microbial toxin insecticide should be quick and specific to an insect pest.
Figure 27.07A: A false color TEM of Bacillus thuringiensis, showing the development of a spore (orange).
© George Chapman/Visuals Unlimited

11. Figure 27.07B: Dead caterpillar on a leaf treated with Bt-toxin.
Bacillus thuringiensis produce a toxin (Bt-toxin) during sporulation that is deposited on leaves.
If ingested by caterpillars, the toxin lyses the gut wall causing paralysis and bacterial invasion.
It seems to be harmless to plants and humans.
Through biotechnology cotton and corn plants
carrying the Bt-toxin
gene have been
developed that kill only insects that eat them.
Figure 27.07B: Dead caterpillar on a leaf treated with Bt-toxin.
© Holt Studios International Ltd/Alamy Images

12. Bacillus sphaericus kills two mosquito species if ingested.
Its genes were spliced into Asticcacaulis excentris to enhance:
production
dissemination
the poison’s efficiency against other species
Photorhabdus luminescens toxin, Pht, has a wider range of activity than Bt.
Other sources of insecticidal activity include:
some viruses
a toxin in scorpion venom
spores of the fungus Lagenidium giganteum, which can kill mosquito larvae

13. Fungal organisms are also being commercially developed.
Yeast cells are grown in fermentors.
They are sold as dry yeast or compressed yeast cakes.
Many species of mushrooms are grown on farms.
High humidity and cool temperatures are required for mushroom growth.
Figure 27.08B:
A mushroom farm.
© Mashkov Yuri, Itar-Tass/Landov

14. Figure 27.09: The Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Bioremediation helps clean up pollution naturally.
Naturally occurring Pseudomonas species can be stimulated to degrade oil in spills.
Species of Arthrobacter degrade oil and allow plant growth in spill regions.
Figure 27.09: The Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Courtesy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trust Council/NOAA

15. Anaerobic and aerobic bacteria can reduce polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to:
carbon dioxide
water
hydrogen chloride
Bacteria can degrade trichloroethylene (TCE) in contaminated ground water.
Deinococcus radiodurans may be used to clean up:
radioactive waste
ionic mercury compounds
Bacteria can reduce levels of TNT in soil surrounding weapons plants.

16. Industrial genetic engineering continues to make advances.
Bacterial plasmids can be used to transfer a foreign gene into a targeted bacterial cell.
Traits like antibiotic resistance and antibiotic production can be transferred.
Figure 27.10: A TEM of
bacterial plasmids.
© Dr. Gopal Murti/Visuals Unlimited

17. Scientists hope to insert genes from Rhizobium into grain plants, removing the need for fertilizer.
Biotechnology may also be used to disrupt pathogen life cycles to prevent disease.
Figure 27.11: Artist's conception of a super plant produced by genetic engineering.