Microbes in Industries (Class - XII)

Glucose is the most commonly used carbon source for commercial synthesis of vitamin B₁₂.

Production process of riboflavin is carried out for about 5-7 days by submerged aerated fermentation.

Docosahexaenoic acid is produced by marine alga Crypthecodinium cohnii. It is used in baby foods.

This is true. The fermentation technology used for the production of single-cell oils is very expensive.

L-alanine is obtained from pyruvate by the reaction L-glutamate + pyruvate ⇌ α-ketoglutarate + L-alanine.

A protoplast fusion technique between Protaminobacter rubber and Rhodopseudomonas spheroides resulted in a hybrid strain called Rhodopseudomonas protamicus. This is the highest yielding strain of vitamin B₁₂. This new strain can produce as high as 135 mg/l of vitamin B₁₂ utilising a carbon source.

Streptococcus mutans produces dextrans. They are used as blood plasma expanders for the prevention of thrombosis and in wound dressing.

Aspergillus niger produces around 40 different enzymes from fermentation. Thus, it holds a unique position in industrial microbiology.

All these organisms produce carotenoids. Phycomyces blakesleeanus and Choanephora cucurbitarum produce beta carotene and Streptomyces chrestomyceticus produces lycopene.

Cellulase is produced by Aspergillus niger. It is used in the production of alcohol and glucose.

The gene responsible for lipolase was isolated, cloned and inserted into Aspergillus oryzae. It is preferred due to rapid growth and strong secretion of enzymes.

Eritadenine is isolated from fungus Collybia velutipes. It is an edible mushroom.

Maltose is used by Lactobacillus lactis for producing lactic acid.

Oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose is a microbiological process which involves the activity of Acetobacter xylinum.

For improved industrial production of citric acid, mutant strains of Aspergillus niger have been developed. These mutant strains can tolerate high sugar concentration and low pH with reduced synthesis of undesirable byproducts.