Microbes in industrial products
Production of beverages and antibiotics on an industrial scale, is done by growing microbes in very large vessels called fermentors.
(a) Fermentors Beverages
(i) Yeast species used in alcoholic fermentation are:-
Saccharomyces cerevisiae commonly called Brewer’s yeast.
Ellipsoidens- Wine yeast.
S. pireformis- Ginger beer/ Ale yeast
(ii) depending on the type of the raw material used for fermentation and the type of processing (with or without distillation) different types of alcoholic drinks are obtained.
(iii) Wine and beer are produced without distillation (Low alcohol concentration).
(iv) Whisky, brandy and rum are produced by distillation of fermented broth (high alcohol concentration).
Table:- Alcoholic beverages with substrates and their concentration
Alcohol | Substrate used | Concentration of alcohol |
1. Beer | Barley malt | 3-6% |
2. Wine | Fruit juices | 9-12% |
3. Whisky | Fermented cereals | 50% |
4. Brandy | Fruit juices | 60-70% |
5. Rum | Molasses | 40% |
6. Gin | Rye malt | 40% |
7. Vodka | Potato | 60-80% |
(b) Antibiotics;- Antibiotics are chemical substances, which are produced by some microbes and kill or retard the growth of other (disease-causing) microbes.
(i) Antibiotic means against life, in the context of disease causing organisms; whereas with reference to human beings, they are ‘pro life’ and not against.
(ii) Antibiotics are regarded as one of the most significant discoveries of the twentieth century and have greatly contributed towards the welfare of the human society.
(iii) the first antibiotic Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. While working on Staphylococci bacteria, he observed a mould growing in one of his unwashed culture plates around which Satphylococci could not grow. He found that the chemical was produced by fungi and named it Penicillin after the mould Penicillium notatum
(iv) Antibiotics have greatly improved our capacity to treat deadly diseases such as plague, whooping cough (kali khansi), diphtheria (gal ghotu) and leprosy (kusth rog) which used to kill millions all over the world.
(c) Chemicals, Enzymes and Other bioactive molecules
Bioactive molecules are those molecules which are functional in living system or can interact with their components. E.g. organic acids, alcohols, enzymes, cyclosporine A and statins.
(i) Organic acids:- certain microbes have ability to convert carbohydrate into organic acids.
Tables: Microbes, their products and usage
Sl No | Microbes | Product | Usage |
1. | Aspergillus niger (fungus) | Citric acid | Employed in dyeing, inks, medicines, flavouring and preservation of food. |
2. | Acetobacter aceti (bacterium) | Acetic | Used in preparation of vinegar |
3. | Clostridium butylicum (bacterium) | Butyric acid | Used for making rancid butter |
4. | Lactobacillus (bacterium) | Lactic acid | Curd |
5. | Aspergillus niger, Penicillium (fungi) | Gluconic acid | Gluconate source of calcium to infants, cow and lactating mothers. |
(ii) Enzymes:-
Lipases:- These are used in detergent formulations and are helpful in removing oily stains from laundry. Lipases are obtained from Candida lipolytica and Geotrichum candidum.
Pectinases and proteases:– They help in clarifying fruit juices making them clearer as compared to those made at home. Microbes used for production of pectinases are Aspergillus niger, Byssochlamys fulvo. Proteases are obtained from Mortierella renispora, Aspergillus and Bacillus species.
Streptokinase:– it is produced by the bacterium streptococcus and is modified by genetic engineering is used as ‘Clot buster’ for removing clots from the blood vessels of patients who have undergone myocardial infarction leading to heart attack.
Amylase:– The degrade starch and are obtained from Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Baccillus species
(iii) Cyclosporin A:– It is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients, is produced by the fungus, Trichoderma polysporum.
(iv) Statins:- These are produced by the yeast –Monascus. Statins have been commercialized as blood-cholesterol lowering agents. It acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cholesterol. Statins resemble mevalonate and is competitive inhibitor of Betta-hydroxy-Betta-methylglutaryl CoA reductase or HMG CoA reductase.
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