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Applications of Microbiology in various industries Health industry

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 Applications of Microbiology in
various industries

Health industry
1. VACCINE: A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a
particular disease. A vaccine contains an agent that resembles a disease-
causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of
the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates
the body's immune system to recognize the agent as foreign, destroy it, and
"remember" it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and
destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.

2. ANTIBIOTICS: Antibiotics are the substance that can destroy or inhibit the
growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms. They are produced
industrially by a process of fermentation, where the source microorganism is
grown in large containers containing a liquid growth medium. Antibiotics are
the secondary metabolites of microorganisms.
Example : Penicillin, TETRACYCLINES

3. VITAMINS: vitamins are naturally synthesized in microorganisms and are

essential for the metabolism of all living organisms. vitamin B12 and vitamin
B2 (riboflavin) is the main that are produced by microbial fermentations.
4. AMINO ACIDS: Amino acids produced by microbial process are generally
L-forms. Corynebacterium glutamicum was found to be a very efficient
producer of L- glutamic acid.
Example: L-aspartic acid and L-alanine are amino acids produced by
Corynebacterium.
• L-CYSTEINE
• L-TRYPTOPHAN

5. STEROIDS: Steroid hormones are secreted by the adrenal cortex and are
responsible for the regulation of carbohydrate and mineral metabolism.
Cortisone is used as an anti-inflammatory agent, the menstrual cycle
regulators incorporated into the 'pill' for contraceptive use, and as a
postoperative immune reaction suppressor in organ transplant patients.

6. PROBIOTICS: Probiotics are live microorganisms promoted with claims that

they provide health benefits when consumed, generally by improving or
restoring the gut flora.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria are the most common types of
microbes used as probiotics, but certain yeasts and bacilli may also be
used.
Probiotics are also delivered in fecal transplants, in which stool from a
healthy donor is delivered like a suppository to an infected patient.

7. ENZYMES: Enzymes are the Proteins that speeds up the rate of a chemical
reaction in a living organism. An enzyme acts as catalyst for specific
chemical reactions, converting a specific set of reactants (called substrates)
into specific products.
 In living beings enzymes play a key role in metabolic reactions. Industries
use microorganisms that produce enzymes in accordance with their
business objectives. The bacterial genera such as Bacillus, Clostridium and
Pseudomonas; the fungi Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Penicillium; and the
actinomycetes Streptomyces and Cellulomonas are genetically modified, by
industries, to produce larger quantities of such enzymes.

8. DEXTRANS: Dextran is a polysaccharide composed of glucose molecules.

Dextran produced from sucrose by certain lactic acid bacteria of the family
lactoba lactobacillus. Dextran use in blood transfusion where it is employed
as a blood volume expander. It is relatively inert, neither causing pyrogenic
(i.e. raised body temperatures) nor allergic reactions and will remain
sufficiently long in the circulation to allow time for protein renewal in the
blood plasma.

9. BACTERIOCINS: Bacteriocins are peptides that can be more readily

engineered than small molecules, and are possible alternatives to
conventional antibacterial compounds. Bacteriocins have different potential
as therapeutic agents. Small-molecule bacteriocins (microcins and
lantibiotics) are similar to the classic antibiotics. they are usually applied
topically or gastrointestinally.

10. MEDICAL DEVICES: Microbiology plays a significant role in medical

devices, such as fluorescent fusion, which are used for fast and precise
detection of pathogens in tissue samples.

FOOD INDUSTRY
1. Fermented Dairy Products: Dairy foods is fermented with lactic acid
bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Leuconostoc. The
 fermentation process increases the shelf life of the product while enhancing
its taste and improving the digestibility of its milk.
• Yoghurt: Yoghurt is a dairy product which is produced by the bacterial
fermentation of milk. It is a fermented milk product in which milk is
inoculated with a starter culture containing two different types of 'lactic acid
bacteria' called Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.
• Cheese: the milk is usually acidified and adding the enzymes of rennet (or
bacterial enzymes with similar activity) causes the milk proteins (casein) to
coagulate. The solids (curd) are separated from the liquid (whey) and
pressed into final form. Cheeses are made with starter bacteria from the
Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, or Streptococcus genera. Starter bacteria
convert milk sugars into lactic acid.

2. Vinegar: Vinegar is the product made from the conversion of ethyl alcohol
to acetic acid by a genus of bacteria, Acetobacter. Therefore, vinegar can
be produced from any alcoholic material from alcohol-water mixtures to
various fruit wines. Vinegar bacteria, also called acetic acid bacteria (AAB)
Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid produced by a two-step bioprocess. In
the first step, fermentable sugars are transformed into ethanol by the action
of yeast. In the second step, AAB oxidize the ethanol into acetic acid in an
aerobic process.

3. Acid fermentation
• LACTIC ACID: Lactic acid produced by microaerophilic bacteria belonging
to the genus Lactobacillus. This acid is an odourless, colourless liquid
having an acid flavour. It is used in a variety of ways finding applications in
the drinks industry as a flavouring, in the preservation of food as an adjunct
or substitute for vinegar, and in the form of calcium lactate as a convenient
means of getting calcium into the body.
• Citric acid is the most important organic acid produced in tonnage and is
extensively used in food and pharmaceutical industries. It is produced
 mainly by submerged fermentation using Aspergillus Niger or Candida sp.
from different sources of carbohydrates, such as molasses and starch
based media.
• Other organic acid produced by microbial activity are citric acid, succinic
acid, itaconic acid, lactobionic acid, gluconic acid, fumaric acid, propionic
acid, and acetic acid. Organic acids have been used for many years in the
food, chemical, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries.

4. Alcohol beverages
Yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) are the main fermentor and alcohol
producer in the production of wine, beer and other alcohol drinks. It
ferments the sugars, coming from different sources, e.g., grapes for wine,
barley for beer, to alcohol and carbon dioxide.
• Wine: Wine is made from grapes or other fruit. The yeasts used for the
fermentation grow a film on the fruit. Cultivated strains of Saccharomyces
cerevisiae are often added. Malic acid, naturally present in grape juice, can
be converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria naturally found in wineries
or added artificially.
• Beer: Beer is produced by breaking the starch in the grains into a sugary
liquid, called wort, and fermenting the sugars in the wort into alcohol and
carbon dioxide by yeasts. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces
uvarum are the 2 main species of yeast used in fermentation process.

COSMETTIC INDUSTRY
The cosmetic industry describes the industry that manufactures and
distributes cosmetic products. These include colour cosmetics, like
foundation and mascara, skincare such as moisturisers and cleansers,
haircare such as shampoos, conditioners and hair colours, and toiletries
such as bubble bath and soap Microbes are rich in fatty acids, enzymes,
peptides, vitamins, lipopolysaccharides and pigments with beneficial
 properties for cosmetic applications. Unique compound such ceramides,
mycosporine-like amino acids carotenoids, and fatty acids such as omega-
3, 6, and 9, are obtained from microbes having enormous application in
cosmetic industry.

1. Cyclodextrin: Cyclodextrins, are a group of compounds made up of cyclic

oligosaccharides with α-(1,4) linked glucopyranose moiety bound together in
a ring and have noteworthy contribution in cosmetic formulations. It reduce
the volatility of esters in perfumes and room freshener gels. Cyclodextrin
powders, of smaller size, are used as odor control in talcum, diapers,
menstrual discs, pads, napkins, etc.
The production of cyclodex-trinase enzyme has been extensively carried out
by using bacteria strains. Bacillus subtilis Strain 313, Brevibacterium sp.
Strain 9605, Brevibacillus brevis Strain CD 162, Micro-bacterium terrae
KNR 9.

2. Biosurfactants: biosurfactants are used in preparation of various cosmetic

products, owing to the multi-functional property such as detergent, foaming,
emulsifying agent and skin hydrating properties.
Biosurfactants are non-toxic, and are bio-degradable biosurfactants are
widely produced by bacteria followed by fungi and other microbes.

3. Exopolysaccharides: Exopolysaccharides is biocompatible and non-toxic.

hydrophilic EPS have high water retention ability which helps to maintain a
hydrated environment in skin formulations.
• Dextran: Dextran is obtained from Leuconostocaceae family of microbes
such as Leuconostoc mesenteriodes and Streptococcus mutans. It is used
as skin smoothing and brightening agent, as it promotes the firmness of
skin, promotes radiance, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
• Xanthan: Produce by bacterial genus Xanthomonas. Xanthan has
thickening properties and assist in gelling hence used in skin formulation to
help in skin-smoothing and moisturizing. It also reduces the trans-epidermal
water loss in keratinocytes cells.

4. Proteins, Enzymes and Peptides: Proteins and peptides, since ancient

time, are used for improving the quality of the skin, hair or nails.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Peroxidase (catalase, glutathione
peroxidases, lactoperoxidases) works synergistically as exfoliate. . These
enzymes serve as scavengers of free radicals and prevent the skin, from
the ultra violet light, when applied on the skin surface.
Proteases are well known enzymes for hydrolyzing the peptide bonds of
keratin, collagen and elastin of the skin. Alkaline aspartic proteases. used to
treat skin disorders such as xerosis (dryness of skin), ichthyoses (scaly
skin), psoriasis (skin flaking and inflammation).

5. Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) consisting

of β-4-glucuronic acid (GlcUA) and β-3-N acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) [50].
HA is extensively used as dermal filler in cosmetic surgery. Furthermore,
many skin lotions, and serums contains sodium hyaluronate as its active
ingredient as it boosts moisture retention, reduces skin wrinkles and
improves skin firmness and elasticity

6. Lactic Acid: Lactic acid is extensively used in cosmetics skin cream to

retain skin moisture, impart smoothness and suppleness of skin. Fungi
species of Rhizopus genera are known to produce lactic from fermentation
of glucose aerobically. Fungi species of Rhizopus genera are known to
produce lactic from fermentation of glucose aerobically
7. Ceramides: Ceramides is used in cosmetics as skin hydrating agents since
the stratum corneum of human epidermal layer contains considerable
amount of ceramides. Ceramides from various fungal species have been
produced and used in cosmetics [75]. Candida albicans, Agaricus bisporus,
Armillaria tabescens have used in production of Glycosly ceramide

8. Chitin‑glucans: Chitin-glucans are copolymers obtained from the cell wall

of fungi and works very well as a good moisturizers
Chitosan are used as antimicrobial agents against dental plaque and readily
used in toothpaste formulations
chitosan nanoparticles loaded with minoxidil is used for sustained release of
minoxidil for effective transdermal transport and hair growth
Chitosan along with hyaluronic acid and collagen is also used in hair setting
lotions and gels to produce a coating which adds thickness, volume,
strength and prevent hair damage

9. Antioxidants: ergothioneine is a powerful anti-oxidant is extracted at

concentrations from mushrooms such as Portabella and Criminis species
• ergothioneine guards the skin from oxidative rand DNA damage and hence
it is used in anti-aging creams and lotions. Gallic acid is a potentially known
to have anti-bacterial and free radical scavenging activities. Gallic acid is
produced by Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani and Trichoderma viridae
• Trehalose is another antioxidant compound found in various mushrooms
such as Lentinula edodes, Grifola fondosa, Pholiota nameko and Auricularia
auricula-judae. It has high water retaining capacity and excellent antioxidant
property. This makes it useful as in moisturizer creams in cosmetics
products
 BIOFUEL INDUSTRY
Biofuel is produced from living organisms and their waste. Microbes are
being used to produce ethanol for biofuels which is produced from
lignocellulose, a mixture of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which make
up the plant cell wall.
1. Ethanol production: Microbial biofuel production is done mainly form of
sugar fermentation by yeast to produce ethanol. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
is primarily used in industry, starch and sugars from plants are main
substrates.

2. Consolidated bioprocessing: Consolidated biological processing refers to

attempts for one step conversion of plant materials to biofuels using
microbial agents, with no need of saccharolytic enzyme treatments. It is
more cost effective for biofuel production.

3. Longer chain alcohols as biofuels: C3–C5 normal and branched alcohols

are used as alternative biofuel molecules. They are less water soluble, with
higher energy contents and are clean burning molecules. Several anaerobic
microorganisms, e.g. Clostridium acetobutylicum have long been known for
their ability to produce butanol, isobutanol, and propanol as products of
sugar metabolism.

4. Biodiesel as biofuel: Biodiesel is defined as non-petroleum-based diesel

fuel consisting of alkyl esters (mainly methyl, but also ethyl, and propyl) of
long chain fatty acids. Biodiesel could be produced from various animal and
plant sources by esterification of triglycerides with methanol. In addition,
Biodiesel could be produced from various species of microalgae.
5. Biohydrogen as biofuel: Hydrogen is the cleanest of biofuels since it is
oxidized to water, with no emission of carbon dioxide in the process.
Hydrogen has long been known to be produced as a final end product of
fermentation or a side product in photosynthesis in multiple groups of
microorganisms. photosynthetic microorganisms, e.g. Cyanobacteria and
Green algae are used for biohydrogen production.

6. Biogas as biofuels: Biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, is

produced from the methanogenic decomposition of organic waste under
anaerobic conditions. Biogas production could be achieved by a defined
culture of a fermenter and/or syntropy in association with an aceticlastic
(acetate degrading) and hydrogenotrophic (hydrogen-consuming)
methanogen. Microorganisms in cow dung or waste water sludge are used
as an inoculum for biogas production.

7. Microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR): Injection of biosurfactant

and/or biosurfactant producing bacteria into the formation to decrease oil
water interfacial tension and improve oil recovery, as well as injection of
acid- and gas-producing microorganisms to recover oil entrapped in
carbonate formations.

8. Microbially enhanced energy recovery (MEER): Injection of

methanogenic consortia capable of anaerobic biodegradation of various
hydrocarbons into oil or natural gas reservoirs to recover unrecoverable
and/or recalcitrant compounds as methane, and exploring mechanisms of
stimulating microorganisms originally present in petroleum formation to
produce methane from natural gas.
Bioelectronics industry
1. Biosensors: Biosensor is a device that detects, transmits and records
information regarding a physiological or biochemical change. Microbes have
 a number of advantages as biological sensing materials in the fabrication of
biosensors. They are present ubiquitously and are able to metabolize a wide
range of chemical compounds.
Microbial biosensors in food: It is needed for monitoring nutritional
parameters, food additives, food contaminants, microbial counts, shelf-life
assessment and other characteristics like smell and odor.
Environmental microbial biosensors: It is used for determination of
pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals and other chemical contaminants
present in agricultural products or processed foods.
Bioluminescence-based biosensors: It has advantageous properties such
as rapid response, excellent sensitivity, large dynamic range and non-
invasive continuous measurements amenable to automated data collection
with minimal manipulations. It is used for the detection of heavy metals.
Bioluminescence has also been used for the detection of GEM released in
the environment.

Agriculture industry

Microbes of soil and other origins have been widely studied and exploited in
crop production, crop protection, soil health improvement, and compost
preparation.

1. Plant Growth-Promoting Fungi: The role of various plant-associated

microbes is widely known, for instance, legume–rhizobium interaction, role
of mycorrhiza in plant growth promotion, etc. Free-living fungi have also
been involved in the promotion of plant growth by one or another
mechanism.
2. Microorganisms in Nitrogen cycle: Nitrogen the most important element
that have been found allover in soil, water and air.
• Microorganisms involved in Nitrogen Fixation: Nitrogen fixation is a
process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into ammonium.
Nitrogen fixation is essential for agriculture and the manufacture of fertilizer.
Certain organisms convert inert Dinitrogen gas of the atmosphere to
nitrogen containing organic compounds that become available to all forms of
life through the nitrogen cycle.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) occurs when atmospheric nitrogen is
converted to ammonia by an enzyme called nitrogenase. Nitrogen fixation is
carried out naturally in soil by microorganisms termed diazotrophs that
include bacteria such as Azotobacter and archaea. Eg: Bacteria Rhizobia
and Brady rhizobia, Frankia, Clostridium spp.
• Microorganisms involved in Ammonification: Ammonification refers to
the conversion of organic Nitrogen to available mineral forms (NH4+, NO3-)
occurs through biochemical transformations mediated by microorganisms
and is influenced by those factors that affect microbial activity (temperature,
moisture, pH etc). The bacteria that accomplish it (Bacillus, Clostridium,
Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces) are called ammonifying
bacteria.
• Microorganisms involved in Nitrification: Nitrification is the biological
oxidation of ammonia to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to
nitrate. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil. Eg:
Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrosovibrio tenuis, Nitrosococcus sp.,
Nitrosococcus oceanus. These bacteria get their energy by the oxidation of
inorganic nitrogen compounds.
• Microorganisms involved in Denitrification: Denitrification is the
microbial process of reducing nitrate and nitrite to gaseous forms of
nitrogen, principally nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen (N2). A large range of
microorganism can denitrify. Denitrification is a response to changes in the
oxygen (O2) concentration of their immediate environment.
 Eg: Facultative anaerobic bacteria in genera, such as Pseudomonas,
Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Achromobacter Carry out this process.
3. Biochemical Transformations of Carbon: the biogeochemical cycle by
which carbon is exchanged among thebiosphere, pedosphere, geosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.
• Fungi: The prominent role of fungi in the environment is in the carbon cycle,
during the process of decomposition, especially in the soil.
• Algae: The algae are also an important part of the carbon cycle. They are
the predominant photosynthetic organisms in many aquatic environments.
The algae are autotrophs, which mean they use carbon dioxide (CO2) as a
source of carbon for growth. Hence, they convert atmosphericCO2 into
organic material (i.e., algal cells).
• Prokaryotic bacteria and Archaea: As a result of their diversity and unique
types of metabolism, are involved in the cycles of virtually all essential
elements. Methanogenesis (conversion of carbon dioxide into methane) are
unique to prokaryotes and earns them their "essential role" in the carbon
cycle.
• Bacterial heterotrophs: They are important in the carbon chain for the
processes of biodegradation and decomposition under aerobic and
anaerobic conditions.
Cyanobacteria fix CO2 and produce O2 during photosynthesis, and they
make a very large contribution to the carbon and oxygen cycles.
4. Biochemical transformation of Sulfur:
The sulfur cycle is the collection of processes by which sulfur moves to and
from minerals (including the waterways) and living systems. Such
biogeochemical cycles are important in geology because they affect many
minerals. Certain bacteria, are capable of oxidizing sulfur to sulphates
example is Thiobacillus thiooxidans an autotroph Desulfotomaculu.
5. Biochemical transformation of Phosphorus: The phosphorus cycle is the
biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through
 the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Soil microorganisms act as
both sinks and sources of available P in the biogeochemical cycle
6. Mineralization of organic phosphorus: Utilization of organic P by plants
and microorganisms requires mineralization(hydrolysis) of substrates by
phosphatase enzymes that may be of either plant or microbial origin.
7. Microorganisms involved in Bio-fertilizer: A biofertilizer (also bio-
fertilizer) is a substance which contains living microorganisms which, when
applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the
interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or
availability of primary nutrients to the host plan.
Microbes involve in biofertilizer are azolla anabaena, Rhizobium,
Mycorrhiza, Legume rhizobium, and Blue green algae.

WATER INDUSTRY
1. Waste water treatment: Biological wastewater treatment uses different
types of bacteria and other microorganisms for the treatment and
purification of polluted water. Wastewater treatment is as essential to
human health as it is to the protection of the environment.
Wastewater is treated in 3 phases: primary (solid removal), secondary
(bacterial decomposition), and tertiary (extra filtration).
In primary treatment, sewage is stored in a basin where solids (sludge)
can settle to the bottom and oil and lighter substances can rise to the top
In secondary treatment liquid phase is treated with aeration to allow
aerobic degradation of the nutrients. Microbial processes at this stage are
nitrification and phosphorous removal. Nitrification occurs in two discrete
steps. First of all, ammonium is oxidized to nitrite by Nitrosomonas.spp, and
nitrite is further oxidized to nitrate by Nitrobacter species. Phosphorous
removal can occur biologically by the process of “enhanced biological
phosphorous removal.” The process is demonstrated by the cell taking up
phosphorous within their cell, and the biomass is filtered.
Tertiary treatment is used to further clean water when it is being
discharged into a sensitive ecosystem

2. Purification of Drinking Water: Water is purified with filters to remove

larger protozoans, and by chemical or UV disinfection to kill bacteria and
other small pathogens. process utilizes the water self-purification principle,
in which the micro-organisms (bacteria, protozoa and metazoa) use the
organic substances contained in the water, transform them and remove
them from the water.

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