Educational guide
IDENTIFYING DATA 2023_24
Subject INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY Code 00208034
Study programme
0208 - GRADO EN BIOTECNOLOGÍA
Descriptors Credit. Type Year Period
6 Compulsory Fourth First
Language
Castellano
Ingles
Prerequisites
Department BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Coordinador
RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA , ANTONIO
E-mail arodg@unileon.es
jjrubc@unileon.es
Lecturers
RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA , ANTONIO
RUBIO COQUE , JUAN JOSÉ
Web http://microbio.unileon.es/wordpress/
General description This course is focused on the use of microorganisms in industrial processes such as the production of antibiotics, amino acids, alcoholic beverages, organic acids, fermented foods, organic solvents, enzymes, and in applications related to agriculture and sustainable development.
Tribunales de Revisión
Tribunal titular
Cargo Departamento Profesor
Presidente BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR MATEOS DELGADO , LUIS MARIANO
Secretario BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR CASTRO GONZALEZ , JOSE MARIA
Vocal BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR APARICIO FERNANDEZ , JESUS
Tribunal suplente
Cargo Departamento Profesor
Presidente BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR CASQUEIRO BLANCO , FRANCISCO JAVIER
Secretario BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR GUTIERREZ MARTIN , SANTIAGO
Vocal BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR GARCIA GARCIA , PEDRO

Competencias
Code  
A14074
A14089
A14090
A14092
A14097
A14098
B3776
B3819
B3820
B3837
B3840
B3848
B3850
B3851
B3852
B3853
B3854
B3855
C1 CMECES1 That students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and is usually found at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study
C2 CMECES2 That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
C3 CMECES3 That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
C4 CMECES4 That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both a specialised and non-specialised audience
C5 CMECES5 That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy

Learning aims
Competences
C1
C3
C4
A14089
A14092
 C1
C3
C4
C5
A14089
A14092
 B3819
B3840
 C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
A14074
 C1
C2
C3
C5
A14074
A14090
A14097
A14098
 B3776
B3848
B3852
B3854
B3855
 C1
C2
A14074
 B3848
B3850
B3852
B3855
 C1
C2
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C1
C3
C5
A14089
A14090
A14092
A14097
 B3776
B3819
B3820
B3848
B3850
B3853
B3855
 C1
C2
C3
C5
B3851
 C3
C5
B3850
B3851
 C3
C4
A14089
A14092
 B3819
B3837
B3848
B3850
B3851
B3853
B3855
 C5

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Introduction Topic 1. Introduction to industrial microbiology. Historical development. Characteristics of microorganisms of industrial interest. Primary and secondary metabolites.

Topic 2. Overview of the applications of microorganisms. Products of industrial interest. Applications of microorganisms in the food industry. Applications in agriculture and livestock. Applications in the conservation of ecosystems and sustainable development.
Basic Concepts Topic 3. Nutrition and microbial culture. Ingredients of industrial means. Conservation of microorganisms. Cultivation strategies. Optimization of processes.

Topic 4. Microbial metabolism and precursors. Biosynthetic gene clusters. Regulation of primary and secondary metabolism. Molecular bases of regulation by carbon, nitrogen and phosphate sources.

Topic 5.- Obtaining and improving strains. Isolation of microbial strains. Random mutagenesis. Genetic engineering applications. Omics techniques, systems biology and metabolic engineering.
MICROORGANISMS AS CELLULAR FACTORIES Topic 6. Microbial products of interest for the pharmaceutical industry: antibiotics and other bioactive microbial metabolites. Historical development. Types of microbial secondary metabolites. Detection and quantification. Action mode.

Topic 7. Mechanisms of biosynthesis of antibiotics. Beta-lactam antibiotics. Genetics and biosynthesis of penicillins, cephalosporins and cephamycins. Penicillin industrial production process. semi-synthetic penicillins. Ribosomal and non-ribosomal peptide antibiotics. polyketide antibiotics.

Item 8. The global problem of antibiotic resistance. Search for new antibiotics: bioprospecting, genome mining, screening programs. Biosynthesis pools and strain improvement. Combinatorial biosynthesis.

Topic 9.- Applications in the food industry. Alcoholic fermentation. Characteristics of fermentation. Yeasts and bacteria involved. Brewing and winemaking. Malolactic fermentation. Acetic acid bacteria and vinegar manufacture.

Topic 10. Lactic fermentation. Lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid production. Lactic fermentations in the dairy industry. Other fermented foods.

Topic 11. Production of organic acids and amino acids. Citric acid biosynthesis. Production process. Applications. Other acids. Amino acid production. Industrial production of other primary metabolites.

Topic 12. Protein production. Large-scale enzyme production. High value proteins. Immobilisation and biosensors. Biotransformations.
MICROORGANISMS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Topic 13. Energy and sustainability. The energy use of biomass. First-generation bioethanol. Cellulosic bioethanol. Other biofuels.

Topic 14. Microbes and environment. Biological wastewater treatment. Concepts of biodegradation and bioremediation. Biomining. Biodeterioration.

Topic 15.- Agricultural applications. Mycorrhization. Biofertilisers. Pest biocontrol. Feed manufacturing.

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Class hours Hours outside the classroom Total hours
Laboratory practicals 15 8 23
 
Personal tuition 2 0 2
Assignments 0 22 22
 
Lecture 40 60 100
 
Mixed tests 3 0 3
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies   ::  
  Description
Laboratory practicals Batch fermentations for the production of antibiotics and amino acids, cultures on solid medium for the detection of enzymatic activities with industrial interest. Production of craft beer. Production and quantification of secondary metabolites with bioassays and spectrophotometry. Sampling of time series. Analysis and presentation of the results.
Personal tuition Two group tutorials per academic year, one at the beginning of the course to cover the assignments of the module, and one at the end to answer any questions. Individual tutorials could be requested anytime by email.
Assignments Students will do group assignments on fundamental or applied aspects of microbial biotechnology.
Lecture The in-class lectures will be delivered by means of PowerPoint slides and additional resources.

Personalized attention
 
Personal tuition
Description
There will be two group tutorials per academic year, one at the beginning of the course to cover the assignments of the module, and one at the end to answer any questions. Individual tutorials could be requested anytime by email.

Assessment
  Description Qualification
Lecture Knowledge and understanding of the subject. Attendance to face-to-face theory classes is mandatory for all students enrolled for the first time. Attendance with use will be valued and the grade may be lowered by up to 10%.

There will be two partial exams (middle and end of semester) that will consist of a part with multiple choice questions and a part with short questions or topics.

It is necessary to pass both partial exams (minimum mark of 5 out of 10) to pass the course.

 60 %
Laboratory practicals Attendance at practical classes is mandatory for students taking the course for the first time. An attendance check will be made.

There will be a written practical exam, with multiple choice answers or short questions. The exam can be carried out together with the theoretical one. The practical exam will count 10% of the final grade.

The delivery of a notebook of practices that will be evaluated will be required.
15 %
Assignments Students will prepare a group project that they will present as a written report. The structure, completeness, bibliographic sources used, originality, correct use of terminology, clarity and spelling in the writing, and figures used will be valued. As part of the evaluation, there will be an individual written exam in which each student will be able to consult the report to answer short questions.
 15 %
Others All evaluations will be assessed on the basis of current regulations of Universidad de León (ULE):

- Reglamento de Evaluación y Calificación del Aprendizaje de la ULE” (Aprobado por el Consejo de Gobierno de la ULE el 12-03-2010).

-“Pautas de actuación en los supuestos de plagio, copia o fraude en exámenes o pruebas de evaluación” (Aprobado por la Comisión Permanente del Consejo de Gobierno de la ULE, el 29/01/2015).

In particular, for all written examinations students will only be able to use a blue or black pen.
 
Other comments and second call

Sources of information
Access to Recommended Bibliography in the Catalog ULE

Basic
Industrial Microbiology. David B. Wilson, Hermann Sahm, Klaus-Peter Stahmann, Mattheos Koffas (Eds.). Wiley. 2020

Modern Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (2nd Edition). Nduka Okafor, Benedict C. Okeke. Routledge. 2018

Industrial Biotechnology: Microorganisms. Christoph Wittmann, James C. Liao, Sang Yup Lee, Jens Nielsen, Gregory Stephanopoulos (Eds.). Wiley. 2017

Industrial Microbiology. M.J. Waites, N.L. Morgan, J.S. Rockey & G. Higton. Blackwell Sci. 2006

Molecular Biotechnology. B.R. Glick &  J.J. Pasternak. ASM Press. 1998.

Biotechnology of Antibiotics. W.R. Strohl (Ed.) Marcel Dekker. N.Y. 1997.

Biotecnología. Manual de Microbiología Industrial. W. Crueger & A. Crueger. Ed. Acribia. 1993.

Molecular Industrial Mycology. S. A. Leong (Ed.). Marcel Dekker. 1991.

Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. A.L. Demain and N.A. Solomon (Eds). ASM. Washington DC. 1986.
Complementary


Recommendations


Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
Biochemistry / 00208011
MOLECULAR GENETICS / 00208018
Microbiology / 00208019
BIOREACTORS / 00208022
SEPARATION PROCESSES / 00208026
MOLECULAR GENETIC ENGINEERING / 00208029