12. Microbiology For Industry

Question 1

Name six key areas where industrial microbiology and biotechnology can be applied

Answer 1

• Food
• Pharmaceutical
• Medical
• Agricultural
• Environmental
• Industrial

Question 2

Describe the production of sauerkraut and the organisms involved

Answer 2

To put it simple cabbage + salt (2.25%) + time = sauerkraut

• cabbage is finely shredded, layered with salt and the starter is usually the normal mixed flora of cabbage
• the raw material is likely to have a large number of unwanted microbes and a small population of lactic acid bacteria
• the salt mixes with the vegetable juices and creates brine
  
  • brine inhibits the growth of the unwanted or putrefying bacteria and allows lactic acid to build up
• temperature is 18-20C
• Leuconostoc mesenteroides start fermentation and are the smallest
• Lactobacillus plantarum continues fermenting until acidity level of 1.5-2%
• Lactobacillus pentoaceticus continues fermenting until acidity 2.5-3% and no more sugar

Question 3

Describe how DNA based vaccines are made, using the hepatitis B vaccine as an example

Answer 3

• Recombinant DNA technology is used where genes from multiple sources cloned into a DNA molecule and creates gene sequences that don’t exist normally.
• They aim to produce molecules (enzymes and proteins) for various applications
  
  • chymosin for cheesed production
  • recombinant insulin and blood clotting factor VIII
  • antibody test for HIV infection detection

Question 4

Detail the Bt insecticide - include where it came from, the toxin involved, how the toxin works and how it is applied

Answer 4

• B. Thuringiensis based bioinsecticides
• in 2014, 2% of the insecticide market
• produces 9 toxins
• o endotoxin = cry protein (pore forming toxin)
  
  • kills larvae by forming pores in mid gut cell membrane followed by cell lysis
• different strains produce different toxins that have specific insecticide activities

Question 5

Describe the three stages of process design and what is included in each design stage

Answer 5

1. Lab
   - initial laboratory scale tests, screening for specialised microbes and functions, the manipulation and enhancement of microbes and functions as well as the characterisation of growth and metabolites
2. Pilot
   - small scale preliminary study (easy to modify configurations and process flows), aim to replicate tests from lab scale experiments, first stages of evaluation and can provide enough data to justify moving to demonstrate and commercial scale plants
3. Large
   - someone needs to buy the technology or at lest invest in the development of a demonstration or large scale process

Question 6

Why is alumina waste so harmful to the environment

Answer 6

AI production results in the generation of alkaline organic carbon waste that is store in big deposits.

Toxic to the environment, takes up a lot of space, potential for environmental release, must be removed because quality and yield of alumina can be compromised.

Organic C biodegration from alumina wastes

Question 7

Why is it necessary to undertake pilot scale testing of bioprocesses

Answer 7

Pilot scale testing is necessary because it is easy to modify configurations and process flows and aim to replicate tests from lab scale experiments. Can provide enough data to justify moving to demonstrate and commercial scale plants.

Question 8

Describe the two methods used to assess the feasibility of a bio process prior to its implementation. What factors do each of the methods account for?

Answer 8

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