Microbial biotechnology: the manipulation of microorganisms at the genetic and molecular level to generate useful products.

1. WELCOME

2. MICROBIAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY
•Microbial biotechnology is the manipulation
of microorganisms at the genetic and
molecular level to generate useful
products, OR
the manipulation of microorganisms at the
genetic and molecular level to generate
useful products. the use of microorganisms to
obtain an economically valuable product or
activity at a commercial or large scale.
•These include :
1. food production,
2. drug development, disease prevention, and
diagnostics, 3.
nutritional supplements,
4. energy and alternative fuels,
5. environmental monitoring and waste
management,
6. forensic sciences

3. MICROBIAL BIOMASS
•Single Cell Protein (SCP).
•Concept developed during World
War I.
•Mycoprotein(Quorn) from
Fusarium venenatum.
•PRECISION FERMENTATION
•A form of synthetic biology.
•Use of genetically engineered
microorganisms
•CRISPR, gene editing or cloning.
•Bacteriotherapy (FECAL
TRANSPLANT PILLS)
•Adults who are highly allergic to
peanuts can safely eat the nuts in
small amounts.
•Single species Subdoligranulum
variabile and a set of Clostridia
species —
•Prevented allergic responses.
FOOD PRODUCTION

4. YEAST CELLS AS DEMENTIA
DRUGS
•Engineered common baker's
yeast
•Produces D-lysergic acid (DLA).
•An alkaloid used to treat
Dementia and Parkinson’s
disease.
•CORDYCEPIN
•Produces potent anticancer
agent.
•𝑶𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒚𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒏𝒔is
•𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐲𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧 (3'-deoxyadenosine
or 3'-dA).
•Magic mushrooms' can relieve
severe depression AKA
Psilocybin mushrooms
•Psilocin, which is responsible for
the psychedelic effects.
1.Wong G et al., 2022
DRUG DEVELOPMENT

5. Compound produced by
bacteria protects the skin
S. epidermidis produces an
enzyme called
sphingomyelinase
breakdown sphingomyelin into
into ceramides and
phosphocholine
prevents dry skin aging and
various skin disorders.
PROBIOTICS
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and
Bifidobacteria are the most
common types
New Zealand’s unique fungi are
a source of promising antibiotic
compounds
It is mainly found in Aotearoa
The fungal compunds have the
ability to kill Mycobacterium
tuberculosis Aotearoa, New Zealand Morphology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DISEASE PREVENTION

6. Bioremediation
Stimulating the growth of certain microbes
that use contaminants like oil, solvents, and
pesticides as a source of food and energy.
The bacteria that can degrade major
pollutants
include Pseudomonas, Aeromonas,
Moraxella, Beijerinckia, Flavoba cteria,
chrobacteria, Nocardia, Corynebacteria,
etc.
Plastic pollution controlled by Antarctic fuel
eating microbes.
Microbial Bioremediation To Clean Up Oil
Spills
Pseudomonas putida (Super bug) is commonly
employed.
Developed by Dr. Anand Mohan Chakrabarty in
1979.
Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)
Micobes produce gases (hydrogen, methane,
Co2,) organic acids, surface active compounds
and polysaccharides that help in gas oil
extraction.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

7. Bacillus thuringiensis, the first
biopesticide
A Gram-positive bacterium which synthesizes
insecticidal proteins with specificity against a
wide range of insects.
Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera.
Bt is also the source of the genes used to
genetically modify a number of food crops so
that they produce the toxin on their own to
destroy various insect pests. AKA Bt. Crops
(genetically engineered from the DNA of
Bacillus thuringiensis) example Bt-cotton,
Bt-Brinjal,and Bt-corn.
CROP PROTECTION

8. Microbial Forensics: A Tool Used in
Forensic Investigation
A scientific method used for analyzing
evidence from a Bioterrorism Act.
Study of a person’s specific microbiome for
means of identification, the location of a
crime and the time of death of an individual
based on the progress of the microbiome
during decomposition.
Genetically Engineered Bioweapons: A New
Breed of Weapons for Modern Warfare.
Genetic engineering can be used to
manipulate genes to create new pathogenic
characteristics aimed at enhancing the
efficacy of the weapon through increased
survivability, infectivity, virulence, and drug
resistance .
Eg, Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) , Ebola
virus , Nipah virus, Coronavirus (SARS-CoV
2)
Coronavirus (SARS-CoV 2)
Ebola virus
Hanta virus
Anthrax
•The 2001 anthrax
attacks, also known
as Amerithrax
•5 people were killed
and 17 sickned.

9. Microbial Biotechnology Impacts
• Microbial biotechnology has both positive and
negative effects on the environment.
• Carries more risk than other scientific fields
• The use of biotechnical methods—including
genetically-engineered microorganisms—is
indispensable for the manufacture of many products
essential to mankind.
• For better or for worse, it is the mankind's task to
tackle the problems that are associated with the use
of this technology, and which to a high degree are
located in the field of unwanted environmental
impacts.
• Should be restricted to enhancing the quality of life
for plants, animals and human beings only. Anything
beyond that is unnatural and highly disastrous to us.