Lecture 1

Question 1

True synonym for Biotechnology

Answer 1

Ergonomics: a process that is designed to generate products that are more efficient.

Question 2

use microorganisms in order to produce some compound the first things we have to know are:

Answer 2

-Where do we find them?
-How many are there?
-How can I identify and use them?

Question 3

Characteristics of microorganisms

Answer 3

Only identify microorganisms that can be cultured. 80% of microorganisms are not culturable, so their identification depends on metagenomic analysis based on 16S rRNA. There are not only non-culturable genera, but even phyla.

Question 4

Types of culture medium

Answer 4

Defined culture medium: in which the exact amount of nutrients they contain is known.
Minimum culture medium: in which a minimum amount of nutrient is applied.
Complex and undefined media: that make use of industrial waste

Question 5

Characteristics of undefined complex media

Answer 5

Source of carbon / nitrogen: agricultural or animal waste (slaughterhouses).
Source of vitamins: raw preparations of animal or vegetable products.
Source of iron: inorganic compounds.
Buffer: chalk or carbonates.
Antifoam: vegetable shortening or oils.

Question 6

Conditions for monitoring during cultivation

Answer 6

-temperature (psychrophilic < mesophilic < thermophilic <
hyperthermophiles)
-pH
-salinity (halotolerant < halophilic < halophilic)
-O2: conditions the efficiency of the fermentation process in bioreactors.

Question 7

how to preserve strains:

Answer 7

Periodic transfer
Mineral of slant
Minimal medium distilled water or water agar freezing in growth media
Drying
Freeze drying
Ultrafreezing

Question 8

Fermentation

Answer 8

Any process that involves the mass cultivation of microorganisms, either aerobic or anaerobic

Question 9

characteristics in the production of microbial products

Answer 9

To obtain the desired metabolite, it is crucial to understand the development stage and production conditions. The point of highest production may not always be the most cost-effective; sometimes the focus is on ease of purification. In addition, in biotransformation, the interest lies in the reactions carried out by micro-organisms. Microbial enzymes can also be purified for industrial applications.

Question 10

types of microbial metabolism

Answer 10

• primary metabolism: designed to allow cell growth and cell division
• secondary metabolism: this is where the bioproducts of interest are normally generated.

Question 11

concepts related to growth of microorganisms

Answer 11

• Growth: increase in cell number or microbial mass.
• Growth rate: change in cell number or mass per unit time.
• Generation: interval to originate two cells from one.
• Generation time: time taken for one generation.

Question 12

types of fermenters

Answer 12

1) Lift-Tube: Density difference of gas bubbles entrained in medium results in fluid circulation
2) Solid-state fermentation: growth of culture without presence of added free water
3) Fixed- bed reactor: microorganisms on surfaces of support material; flow can be up or down
4) Fluidized-bed reactor: microorganism in surfaces of particles suspended in liquid or gas stream-upward flow
5) Dialysis culture unit: waste products diffuse away from the culture. Substrate may diffuse through from membrane to the culture
6) Continuos culture (chemostat): medium in and exceses medium to waste withwastedcells

Question 13

Why genetic engineering?

Answer 13

Narural strains are often not very protective, so optimisation of fermentations is required for the micro-organisms to produce as much of the metabolite as possible. For this optimisation, culture variables such as the amount of nutrients, pH, temperature and oxygenation are often controlled. However, strain improvement by generation of mutants (“strain improvement” → mutate and screen) is more common.

Question 14

Types of genetic engeeniring

Answer 14

1) Chemycal mutations: base analogs (5-bromouracilo and 2-aminopurina), alquilant, hidroxilant and intercalant agents
2) Physical agents: las radiaciones no ionizantes (UV → dímeros de pirimidina) o las radiaciones ionizates (rayos X → deleción de bases / roturas / entrecruzamientos )
3) Protoplastfusion

Question 15

Genetic manipulations types

Answer 15

When production cannot be improved by mutagenesis, DNA transfer between organisms can be performed, which involves the use of different genetic tools.
- Protein engineering: site-directed mutagenesis by insertion of short DNA sequences.
- Combinatorial biology: transfer of genetic information between different organisms.
- Gene expression can also be modified to obtain strains of industrial interest.

Question 16

Microorganism growth (Complex environments)

Answer 16

-Biodegradation: process by which living organisms, such as bacteria, break down complex organic substances into simpler compounds.
-Bioremediation: Involves using living organisms, such as bacteria, to remove, neutralize, or reduce contaminants in the environment.
-Bioleaching: process in which bacteria or other microorganisms are used to extract valuable metals from minerals
-Improvement of crop production: Bacteria also play a significant role in enhancing agricultural production.

Question 17

example of penicillin

Answer 17

Penicillin is a primary metabolite produced during the growth of Penicillium sp. just when the lactose and/or ammonium levels decrease, while the biomass level increases; it is possible to stop fermentation at the moment necessary for maximum production.