Microbes in Industrial Products and Their Industrial Applications

Microbes are also called microorganisms. They are the major components of biological systems on the planet earth, which are present everywhere, around us, in the soil, water, air, and both in and on our bodies. They are also found in other animals and plants. These organisms are so minute and vary in their size and shapes, which cannot be seen by our naked eyes. They can only be seen through the microscope, therefore, they are also referred to as microscopic organisms. 

The different types of microbes are:

• Algae

• Bacteria

• Fungi

• Protozoa

• Virus

Microbiology

The study of various microorganisms and their applications in industrial processes is known as the branch of Biotechnology and Microbiology in Industrial Microbiology. 

In large-scale industrial processes, microbes are widely used to synthesize a number of products valuable to human beings. There are many industrial products that arise from microbes such as:

• Food additives.

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

• Biofuels, metabolites, and biofertilizers.

• Few Chemicals, Enzymes and other Bioactive Molecules.

• Vaccines and other Antibiotics kill or retard the growth of disease-causing microbes.

Role of Microbes in Industrial Products

These microbes play a crucial role in the fermentation process to obtain a number of products. Fruit juices, malted cereals, fermented beverages and some antibiotics are the products that are obtained by fermentation through industrial processes. 

• Beverages

For the production of beverages like beer, brandy, rum, wine, whiskey, etc, yeasts are the widely used microorganisms. Yeasts are single-celled, eukaryotic, microorganisms of the Kingdom Fungi. In this industrial process, the species of yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, generally called Brewer’s Yeasts are used for fermenting fruit juices and malted cereals to produce ethanol. Once after the fermentation, these beverages are distilled to produce both Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including whiskey, brandy, rum, etc.

• Organic Acids

Certain organic acids are also produced by the use of microbes. The first discovered organic acid was Citric Acid that was from the microbial fermentation of lemon. Some examples of organic acids that are produced from glucose are - Aspergillus Niger, Acetobacter acute and Lactobacillus 

• Enzymes

Enzymes are naturally occurring, biological catalysts that are mainly used to control certain biochemical reactions in the living system. Enzymes have a wide range of applications in the production of both medical and non-medical fields. Apart from the plants and animals, enzymes are also obtained from certain microbes and are referred to as microbial enzymes. Microorganisms are mainly used for the production of industrial enzymes by using safe gene transfer methods. The first industrially produced microbial enzymes were obtained from the fungal amylase in the year 1896 and were used to cure indigestion and several other digestive disorders.

• Antibiotic

Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by certain microbes which function either by killing or retarding the growth of harmful microbes without affecting the host cells. Penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 from the fungus Penicilliumnotatum. There are many other antibiotics produced by microorganisms, including Streptomycin, and other antibiotics used to treat a number of bacterial infections.

• Vitamins

Vitamins are organic compounds that are capable of performing many life-sustaining functions inside our bodies. They are essential micronutrients that are required in small quantities for the body’s metabolism. As our body cannot synthesize these vitamins, they need to be supplied through the diet. Apart from plant and animal sources, microbes are also capable of synthesizing vitamins. There are a few groups of microbes living in the digestive tracts of both humans and other animals which are collectively called the gut microbiota. These microbes are involved in synthesizing vitamin K. Other examples of microbial vitamins include ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, biotin, ergosterol, folic acid, vitamin b12, thiamine, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and pyridoxine.

The role of microbes in industrial products was a less talked about topic. Apart from these products, microbes are also used in the production of biofuel, vaccines, protein, and other hormonal supplements to treat malnutrition and other deficiency diseases in both humans and animals.

Primary and Secondary Metabolites 

This topic describes the role of primary and secondary metabolites in industrial microbiology. Students will be able to apply the concepts of obtaining amino acids through Metabolites as well as the development of antibiotics and vaccines along with the process involved in isolating chemicals for obtaining organic synthesis. 

There are three major categories that metabolism of Bacteria can be widely classified - 

• Carbon Source 

• Electron Donors 

• Energy 

Different types of metabolism can be obtained through pathogenic bacteria. Metabolites are characterized by molecules with different functions and features. These metabolites can be again sub-categorized into primary and secondary metabolites. 

Primary Metabolites 

The growth, reproduction, and development of an organism are the functions of primary metabolites. Primary metabolites are usually referred to as central metabolites as the core function is to maintain the physiological process. Primary metabolites are essential properties for growth, especially during the growth phase from the result of the energy metabolism. 

Alcohol is one of the examples of large-scale production in the field of industrial microbiology using primary metabolites. Examples include a few amino acids, ethanol, and lactic acids. 

Alcohol is majorly used in the process of fermentation to produce different beverages like wine and beer. 

Secondary Metabolites

The modification in the primary metabolite synthases results in organic compounds producing secondary metabolites. Unlike primary metabolites, secondary metabolites do not carry any of the functions in reproductions, growth or development. Secondary metabolites are formed during the end of the stationary growth phase. Ecological functions like producing pigments, defense mechanisms, antibiotics, etc are regularized by the secondary metabolites. 

Atropine which is obtained from plants is one of the examples of secondary metabolites and has great importance in the clinic. Also, a few antibiotics are considered secondary metabolites like bacitracin. This antibiotic is used as a topical drug and is synthesized in nature. 

Large Scale Fermentation - Industrial Microbiology

This topic describes the role of large-scale fermentation in industrial microbiology. Students will be able to apply the concepts of food production, beverages with alcohol content, fuel, and recombinant produce such as insulin. Large-scale fermentation plays a vital role in numerous products from food to even pharmaceutical items. 

Fermentation refers to the processes that derive energy from the oxidation of organic molecules. Organic compounds are oxidized by using an endogenous electron acceptor to transport electrons released from nutrients to molecules formed by the breakdown of these same nutrients.

At the industrial level, several forms of fermentation occur, such as ethanol fermentation and fermentation processes used to make food and wine. The capacity to use the fermentation process under anaerobic environments is crucial for organisms that rely on glycolysis for ATP synthesis. Fermentation can also take place in aerobic settings since yeast cells prefer fermentation over oxidative phosphorylation. The following is a quick review of many types of large-scale fermentations used by enterprises in the production of goods.

Ethanol Fermentation 

Ethanol that is used in the food industry, fuel industry, and beverages industry is produced through Ethanol fermentation. Ethanol fermentation is a simple process of converting sugar like sucrose, glucose, and fructose into energy by ensuring carbon dioxide and ethanol both are produced as waste products. 

Yeast is the most commonly used organism in the process of ethanol fermentation for alcoholic beverages. Yeast is used largely by industries to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide. 

For example, the yeast present in bread converts the sugar to energy and at the same time produces carbon dioxide and ethanol in the process. 

Recombinant Products

Fermentation is also used in the large-scale manufacturing of recombinant products. Numerous medications, such as insulin and the hepatitis B vaccination, are examples of recombinant products. Insulin, which is generated by the pancreas, is a fundamental regulator of carbohydrate and fat metabolism and is in charge of regulating blood glucose levels. Insulin is a medication used to treat people who have diabetes mellitus. Individuals with type 1 diabetes are unable to generate insulin, but those with type 2 diabetes frequently develop insulin resistance, in which the hormone is no longer efficient.

Quick Facts on Microbes 

1. The bacterium which is used in curdling milk is called Lactobacillus bacteria.

2. Acetic Acid is produced by the bacterium  Acetobacter acetic and butyric acid is produced by the bacterium Clostridium butylicum.

3. The penicillin antibiotic is obtained from the fungus – Penicillium notatum.

4. Rhizobium is Gram-negative soil bacteria that fix nitrogen and helps plants to observe atmospheric nitrogen.