Chapter 41: Biotechnology and Microbial Products

What are the primary producers of antibiotics?

Most antibiotics are produced by Streptomyces spp. and filamentous fungi.

What are biopolymers used for?

Biopolymers are used to modify flow characteristics of liquids and to serve as gelling agents.

What role do biosurfactants play in the environment?

Biosurfactants are important in bioremediation, oil spill dispersion, and enhancing oil recovery.

What is reverse vaccinology?

Reverse vaccinology mines the pathogen genome sequence to identify potential vaccine targets.

What characteristics make a good antigen target for vaccines?

A good antigen target is expressed during infection, secreted on the surface, found in all strains, elicits a host immune response, and is essential for survival.

What is the U.S. Department of Energy's biofuel goal for 2030?

The goal is to substitute 30% of gasoline with biofuels by 2030.

How is ethanol produced for biofuel?

Ethanol is produced from the degradation of plant starches in corn by amylases and amyloglucosidases followed by microbial fermentation.

What is a direct product of fermentation in biofuel production?

Hydrogen gas is a direct product of fermentation.

What factors are crucial for growing microbes in industrial settings?

Precise control of agitation, temperature, pH changes, and oxygenation is crucial.

What are primary metabolites?

Primary metabolites include amino acids, nucleotides, fermentation end products, and enzymes.

What are secondary metabolites?

Secondary metabolites accumulate following active growth and are part of a stress response, including antibiotics.

What is Bacillus thuringiensis used for?

Bacillus thuringiensis is used as a microbial insecticide.

What is a parasporal body?

A parasporal body is produced during sporulation as an intracellular protein toxin crystal.

How long has Bt insecticide been used?

Bt insecticide has been used for over 40 years.

What is a common example of microbes as products?

Inoculation of legume seeds with rhizobia is a common example.

What is the role of nanotechnology in biotechnology?

Nanotechnology uses diatom 3-D structures as templates and magnetosomes from magnetotactic bacteria in MRI applications and cancer detection.

What is a significant contributor to environmental pollution according to the EPA?

Poor waste management is a significant contributor, with about 20% of global methane emissions coming from landfills.

How can microalgae be used in waste management?

Microalgae can absorb and assimilate excess nitrogen and phosphorus, and their biomass can be used to make feedstock or biofuel.

What is the take-home message regarding recombinant DNA molecules?

The tools available today make the production of recombinant DNA molecules commonplace, enabling experimental design for testing hypotheses and producing useful molecules.