Yeast; fungi; bacilli; actinomycetes. Methods: growth, enrichment, screening and improvement. Technology of industrial processes. Production of metabolites. Vaccines, probiotics, phage therapy. Metagenomics. Synthetic and systems biology. Practical activity: yeast as a model in microbial cell biology and biotechnology.
S. Donadio, G. Marino “Biotecnologie microbiche”, 2008, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.
M. Manzoni “Microbiologia industriale”, 2006, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.
C. Ratlegde, B. Kristiansen “Biotecnologie di base”, 2004, Zanichelli, Bologna. Materiale didattico su www.duccioknights.org
Selected "open access" original scientific articles and reviews posted by the teacher on the website www.duccioknights.org (password protected).
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Most relevant groups of microorganisms involved in industrial biotechnology: biology and taxonomy of fungi, yeasts bacilli and actinomycetes. Strategies for selection and improvement of microorganisms for production of enzymes, metabolites, antibiotics and antifungals. Technology of industrial fermentation processes. Application of microorganisms in bioremediation processes and production of biofuels. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model and as cell factory. Microorganisms as drugs, probiotics, vaccines, bacteriophages and phage therapy. Metagenomics methods for global analysis of microbial communities. Systems and synthetic biology.
Competences acquired
Selection of microorganism of industrial interest from natural environments. Enrichment cultures for microorganisms of interest in bioremediation. Planning strategies for the genetic and functional improvement of microorganisms aiming at the production of molecules useful in the industry, including biofuels, antibiotics and antifungals. Fundamentals of S.cerevisiae genetics and molecular and cellular biology, yeast genetic selection, mating and transformation.
Laboratory Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Handling bacterial cultures for the selection of traits useful in the industry. Fundamentals of S.cerevisiae genetics and molecular and cellular biology, yeast genetic selection, mating and transformation.
Lessons with slides, seminars, reading articles, reviews.
TTotal hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities:
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 36
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 12
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours):
Seminars (hours): 8
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
Recommended for lectures; required for lab
Teaching tools and informations are reported on the web site of the teacher, www.duccioknights.org.
The scientific instrumentation available in the lab of the Department of Biology, “ M Becciolini” is used for practical exercitations.
Type of Assessment
Exam modality: Preparation of a seminar on one of the most recent discoveries in the field. Oral examination including laboratory activity
Course program
Taxonomy structure evolution and biology of the main microbial groups used in industrial biotechnology, fungi, bacilli, and attinions. Growth Methods; Enrichment and selection; Improvement of microbial strains. Select microorganisms of industrial interest from natural environments. Cultures enrichment of microorganisms of interest in bioremediation processes. Principles for the selection and improvement of microorganisms of industrially important molecules (enzymes, metabolites, antibiotics). Industrial fermentation technology, from wine to beer to modern industrial fermentations. Microorganisms for the production of amino acids. Design and improvement of microorganisms involved in the production of industrial use molecules, biofuels, antibiotics and antifungals. Production of antibiotics and antifungals. Production of recombinant insulin from bacteria and yeasts. Applications of microorganisms in bioremediation processes. Microorganisms and immunotherapy, vaccines, adjuvants and reverse vaccinology. Applications of CRISPR-CAS technology in microbial biotechnology. Microorganisms and their vesicles as drug carriers, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast as a model for microbial biotechnologies and cell factory. Synthetic biology and systems biology, how to design a biotechnological microorganism targeted. Microorganisms such as probiotic drugs, vaccines, phage and phage therapy. Methods of metagenomics for global analysis of microbial communities.