Modern Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

The field of industrial microbiology involves a thorough knowledge of the microbial physiology behind the processes in the large-scale, profit-oriented production of microbe-related goods which are the subject of the field. In recent times a paradigm shift has occurred, and a molecular understanding of the various processes by which plants, animals and microorganisms are manipulated is now central to industrial microbiology. Thus the various applications of industrial microbiology are covered broadly, with emphasis on the physiological and genomic principles behind these applications. Relevance of the new elements such as bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, site-directed mutation and metabolic engineering, which have necessitated the paradigm shift in industrial microbiology are discussed.

INTRODUCTION Introduction of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Definition of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Characteristics of Industrial Microbiology Patents and Intellectual Property Rights in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology The Word ‘Fermentation’ in Industrial Microbiology Organizational Set-up in an Industrial Microbiology Establishment BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF PRODUCTIVITY IN INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Microorganisms in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Nature of Cells of Living Systems Classification of Living Organisms into three Domains Taxonomic Grouping of Industrial Microorganism Important Characteristics of Industrial Microbes Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Protein Synthesis The Polymerase Chain Reaction Microarrays Sequencing of DNA Identification of Genes in DNA Fragments Metagenomics Nature of Bioinformatics Nutrient Media for Cultivation of Industrial Microorganisms and Production of Microbial Products The Basic Nutrient Requirements of Industrial Media Criteria for Raw Materials in Industrial Media Raw Materials Used in Compounding Industrial Media Growth Factors Water Sources of Components of Industrial Media Plant Waste Materials in Industrial Microbiology Media: Saccharification of Polysaccharides Biosynthetic Pathways for Metabolic Products of Microorganisms The Nature of Metabolic Pathways Industrial Microbiological Products as Primary and Secondary Metabolites Trophophase-Idiophase Relationships in the Production of Secondary Products Role of Secondary Metabolites in the Physiology of Organisms Producing Them Pathways for the Synthesis of Primary and Secondary Metabolites of Industrial Importance Carbon Pathways for the Formation of Industrial Products Derived from Primary Metabolism Carbon Pathways for the Formation of Products of Microbial Secondary Metabolism of Industrial Importance Processes for Overproduction of Microbial Metabolites for Industrial Applications Mechanisms Enabling Microorganisms to Avoid Overproduction of Primary Metabolic Products Through Enzyme Regulation Derangement or Bypassing of Regulatory Mechanisms for the Overproduction of Primary Metabolites Regulation of Overproduction in Secondary Metabolites Empirical Methods Employed to Disorganize Regulatory Mechanisms in Secondary Metabolite Production Selection and Improvement of Industrial Organisms for Biotechnological Applications Sources of Microorganisms Used in Biotechnology Strain Improvement Methods of Preservation of the Gene Pool in Industrial Organisms and Culture Collections The Importance of Culture Collections in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Types of Culture Collections Handling Culture Collections Methods of Preserving Microorganisms BASIC OPERATIONS IN INDUSTRIAL FERMENTATIONS Fermentors and Operation of Fermentation Equipment Definition of a Fermentor The Aerated Stirred-Tank Batch Fermentor Anaerobic Batch Fermentors Fermentor Configurations Fed-batch Cultivation Design of New Fermentors Based on the Physiology of the Organisms: Air Lift Fermentors Microbial Experimentation in the Fermentation Industry: The Place of the Pilot Plant Inoculum Preparation Surface or Solid State Fermentors Downstream Processing: Extraction of Fermentation Products Solids (Insolubles) Removal Primary Product Isolation Purification Product Isolation Significance and Processes of Sterility in Industrial Microbiology The Basis of Loss by Contaminants Methods of Achieving Sterility Aspects of Sterilization in Industry Viruses (Phages) in Industrial Microbiology PRODUCTION OF METABOLITES AS BULK CHEMICALS OR AS INPUTS IN OTHER PROCESSES Biocatalysts, Immobilized Enzymes and Immobilized Cells Enzymes Produced by Microorganisms Classification of Enzymes Uses of Enzymes in Industry Production of Enzymes Immobilized Biocatalysts: Enzymes and Cells Bioreactor Designs Used in Biocatalysis Practical Application of Immobilized Biological Catalyst Systems Manipulation of Microorganisms for Higher Yield of Enzymes Production of Biofuel and Industrial Alcohol Biofuel Industrial Alcohol Production Production of Organic Acids Organic Acids Production of Amino Acids by Fermentation Uses of Amino Acids Methods for Amino Acid Production Production of Glutamic Acid by Wild Type Bacteria Production of Amino Acids by Mutants Improvements in the Production of Amino Acids Using Metabolically Engineered Organisms Fermenter Production of Amino Acid Mining Microbiology: Bioleaching by Microorganisms Bioleaching Commercial Leaching Methods Microbiology of the Leaching Process Leaching of Some Metal Sulfides Environmental Conditions Affecting Bacterial Leaching USE OF WHOLE CELLS FOR FOOD RELATED PURPOSES Single Cell Protein Production Substrates for Single Cell Protein Production Microorganisms Used in SCP Production Use of Autotrophic Microorganisms in SCP Production Safety of Single Cell Protein Nutritional Value of Single Cell Protein Yeast Production Production of Baker’s Yeast Food Yeasts Alcohol Yeasts Feed Yeasts Yeast Products Production of Microbial Insecticides Alternatives to Chemical Insecticides Biological Control of Insects Production of Biological Insecticides Bioassay of Biological Insecticides Formulation and Use of Bioinsecticides Safety Testing of Bioinsecticides Search and Development of New Bioinsecticides Production of Rhizobium Biofertilizer Biology of Rhizobium Fermentation of Rhizobia Inoculant Packaging for Use Quality Control Production of Fermented Foods Introduction Fermented Food from Wheat: Bread Fermented Foods Made from Milk Fermented Foods from Corn Fermented Foods from Cassava: Garri, Foo-Foo, Chikwuange, Kokonte, Bikedi, and Cinguada Fermented Vegetables Fermentations for the Production of the Stimulant Beverages: Coffee, and Cocoa Fermented Foods Derived from Legumes and Oil Seeds ALCOHOL-BASED FERMENTATION INDUSTRIES Production of Beer: Raw Materials and Brewing Processes Barley Beers Sorghum Beers Production of Wines and Spirits Grape Wines Palm Wine The Distilled Alcoholic (or Spirit) Beverages Production of Vinegar Uses Measurement of Acetic Acid in Vinegar Types of Vinegar Organisms Involved Manufacture of Vinegar Processing of Vinegar PRODUCTION OF COMMODITIES OF MEDICAL IMPORTANCE Production of Antibiotics and Anti-Tumor Agents Classification and Nomenclature of Antibiotics Beta-Lactam Antibiotics The Search for New Antibiotics Combating Resistance and Expanding the Effectiveness of Existing Antibiotics Antitumor Antibiotics Newer Methods for the Search for Antibiotic and Antitumor Drugs Production of Ergot Alkaloids Nature of Ergot Alkaloids Uses of Ergot Alkaloids and their Derivatives Production of Ergot Alkaloids Physiology of Alkaloid Production Microbial Transformation of Steroids and Sterols Nature and Use of Steroids and Sterols Uses of Steroids and Sterols Manufacture of Steroids Screening for Microorganisms Vaccines Nature and Importance of Vaccines Body Defenses against Communicable Diseases Traditional and Modern Methods of Vaccine Production Production of Vaccines Control of Vaccines Vaccine Production versus Other Aspects of Industrial Microbiology Drug Discovery in Microbial Metabolites: The Search for Microbial Products with Bioactive Properties Conventional Processes of Drug Discovery Newer Methods of Drug Discovery Approval of New Antibiotic and other Drugs by the Regulating Agency WASTE DISPOSAL Treatment of Wastes in Industry Methods for the Determination of Organic Matter Content in Waste Waters Wastes from Major Industries Systems for the Treatment of Wastes Treatment of the Sludge: Anaerobic Breakdown of Sludge Wastewater Disposal in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Nduka Okafor holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of London, England and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, England. He has taught and/or researched in Australia, Austria, the Netherlands, England and the USA. In the USA he has been at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Furman University, Greenville, SC; the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA and Clemson University, SC. He has acted as external examiner (graduate and undergraduate) at the University of Zimbabwe, the University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the University of Poona, India and the University of New South Wales, Australia. His books include Modern Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (Science Publishers, Enfield, NH, USA), and Environmental Microbiology of Waste and Aquatic Systems (Springer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands). Benedict C. Okeke is a Professor in the Department of Biology, Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM); where he is also a Distinguished Research Professor, Ida Belle Young Endowed Professor, Alumni Professor and the founding Director of the Bioprocessing and Biofuel Research Lab (BBRL). At AUM he received superior performance evaluations in all areas: research, teaching and service. Prof. Okeke received MS and PhD degrees from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. He currently teaches industrial microbiology, environmental microbiology, special topics in biotechnology, general microbiology, and directed research. He has been an external examiner for numerous PhD students internationally. Professor Okeke did postdoctoral work at the University of California, Riverside; Gifu University, Japan; and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy. He has 60 technical research papers in peer reviewed journals, three US patents, numerous conference abstracts and research grants from different organizations. He served as an Associate Editor for Journal of Environmental Quality and in the editorial board of Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Prof. Okeke is a member of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, American Society for Microbiology, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi and the Alabama Academy of Science.