Advances on Bacterial and Fungal Biofilms for the Production of Added-Value Compounds

Author: mycolabadmin
2022-07-27
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Summary

This research explores how bacterial and fungal biofilms – communities of microorganisms that grow attached to surfaces – can be used to produce valuable compounds more efficiently than traditional methods. The study shows that biofilms offer several advantages for industrial production of chemicals, proteins, and other useful substances. Impacts on everyday life: • More efficient and sustainable production of medicines, food additives, and industrial chemicals • Lower environmental impact through better use of agricultural and industrial waste materials • Potential for cheaper production of valuable compounds, possibly reducing consumer costs • Development of new technologies for producing therapeutic proteins and other medical products • Advancement of green manufacturing processes that use less energy and resources

Background

Biofilms are aggregates of microorganisms protected by a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances that attach to solid surfaces. While often studied for their negative effects in health and industry, biofilms have beneficial applications in producing valuable compounds. The production of bio-based materials is generally done using suspended cells, but studies suggest biofilm platforms offer advantages as a reliable alternative for biocatalysis.

Objective

This review aims to outline the advances in using biofilm platforms for sustainable production of valuable compounds, with particular focus on recent developments in recombinant protein production. It discusses the use of biofilm reactors for producing recombinant proteins and other added-value compounds using bacteria and fungi.

Results

Biofilm reactors demonstrated higher biomass density, operational stability, and potential for long-term operation compared to suspended cell reactors. They improved production rates and product yields for many compounds. Key advantages included better tolerance to toxic compounds, reduced risk of washout, shorter fermentation times, and long-term activity. However, limitations included substrate/oxygen diffusion constraints and scaling challenges.

Conclusion

Biofilm platforms show great potential for industrial applications in producing valuable compounds sustainably. While bulk chemical production has been demonstrated at bench and pilot scale, recombinant protein production in biofilms is still in early stages. Future advances will likely come from optimizing support materials, reactor configurations, monitoring strategies, and scale-up criteria.

Published in:Biology (Basel),
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3390/biology11081126