Course Description
Understanding principles of selecting and using microbes to produce desired products. Kinetics and instruction on microbial growth, metabolism, and biochemistry. Understanding product variety; metabolic products, secondary metabolites, biomass, proteins, DNA, RNA, etc. Topics include microbial diversity and metabolism, strain selection, engineering, and optimization. Diverse applications of microorganisms in industrial settings.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Students will be allowed to enroll in the graduate level by
permission of department only. Students will complete all
assignments and activities required of undergraduate students.
In addition, students will be assigned additional projects
above and beyond what is required for undergraduate students.
Graduate students will be challenged to read more extensively
and to integrate the materials more thoroughly, and will be
graded with higher standards and expectations than
undergraduate students. Students will integrate a review of
primary research that is extended and applied towards a topic
of the student's choosing within the broad category of
Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. Students will also
be evaluated for their ability to critique material, interpret
data, and synthesize ideas through more extensive essay exams.
Graduate students will also demonstrate mastery of a topic
through an applied small group project.
Athena Title
Industrial Micro and Biotech
Prerequisite
[(MIBO 3500 or MIBO 3500E) and MIBO 3510L] and [BCMB(BIOL)(CHEM) 3100 or BCMB 4020/6020]
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course covers topics related to Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology with emphasis on the use of microorganisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, for production of products useful for humans. Production of renewable fuels, synthesis of chemical precursors for plastics, and specific generation of pharmaceutical agents are all topics covered in detail. The course focuses on understanding principles of selection and use of microbes to produce numerous desired products. Examination of enzyme kinetics, control of microbial growth and product synthesis, understanding metabolism and biochemistry of specific groups of industrially relevant microorganisms and how companies can manipulate all of these processes comprise the bulk of the course. Topics include microbial diversity and metabolism; strain selection, engineering, optimization; and diverse applications of microorganisms in industrial settings including site visits.
Topical Outline
1. Isolation of Cultures 2. Screening for Activities 3. Culture Preservation and Inoculum Development 4. Small-Scale Liquid Fermentations 5. Small-Scale Solid Fermentations 6. Strain Improvement by Non-Recombinant and Recombinant Methods 7. Extremophiles 8. Anaerobic Fermentations 9. Biocatalysis and Biotransformations 10. Scale-up of Microbial Processes 11. Data Analysis 12. Downstream Processes, Bioprocess Simulation 13. Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Biosafety 14. Genetics of Specific Microorganisms: Streptomyces, Filamentous fungi, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Non-Saccharomyces yeasts, Escherichia coli and other gram-type negative bacteria, Bacillus, and other gram-type positive bacteria Additional assignments for graduate students (6680) include the following: 1. Group project. Students will be divided into groups and will be charged with researching a topic of importance to Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. Students will prepare a presentation and report describing a significant break-through product or technology involving Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2. Laboratory exercises. Students will be divided into small groups for limited laboratory exercises designed to reinforce principles discussed during the lecture portion of the class. Students will help with the hypothesis driven experimental design, actually perform the experiment (including media preparation, strain cultivation, etc.), help to trouble shoot any problems arising during the process, perform analytical techniques related to the production of a specific product, interpret data generated from the investigation, and present both a written and oral report of the results obtained. An estimated three major laboratory projects will be undertaken during the semester. 3. Examination of resources available for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology investigations. Students will travel to various on campus sites for presentations by laboratory Directors or project managers. Sites to be visited via campus transit include (but are not limited to): 1) Complex Carbohydrate Research Center; 2) Center for Advanced Ultrastructural Research; 3) Bioexpress Fermentation Facility and support laboratories; 4) Bioconversion Research and Education Center; and 5) sequencing facilities.