C8790 - BIOTECNOLOGIA DELLE FERMENTAZIONI

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of microorganisms of industrial interest and microbial diversity. They will also have gained an understanding of the growth, cellular metabolism, and genetic improvement of microbial strains used in industrial applications. Finally, they will possess knowledge of the main biotechnological aspects of industrial processes aimed at the production of recombinant proteins, enzymes, antibiotics, and other molecules of industrial interest.

Course contents

Prerequisites: no specific prerequisites are required; however, a basic knowledge of general microbiology may be beneficial.

Course Contents: the course aims to provide students with the fundamental principles of applied microbiology, with the goal of illustrating the numerous industrial applications of microorganisms. In particular, the essential characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms will be described, together with the main methods used for their isolation, cultivation, and genetic manipulation. The course will also examine the different stages of a fermentation process, from inoculum preparation to the recovery of final products, analyzing the various parameters that can influence process performance and efficiency. Finally, the main types of bioreactors used in industrial settings will be described, and selected examples of microbial production processes in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries will be discussed.

Detailed Course Contents

• The cell and its components: prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• Microbial phylogeny and taxonomy
• Microbial diversity and growth parameters
• Microbial growth kinetics
• Methods for the assessment of microbial growth
• Liquid and solid culture media
• Control of microbial growth: disinfection and sterilization
• Microscopic analysis and microbial staining techniques
• Bacterial endospores
• Biofilms
• Primary and secondary metabolites
• Genetic improvement of microorganisms
• Recombinant DNA technology
• PCR and gene sequencing
• Types of bioreactors (stirred-tank reactors, air-lift reactors, bubble column reactors, fluidized-bed reactors, fixed-bed reactors, and membrane bioreactors)
• Batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentation processes
• Production of recombinant proteins
• Product recovery and purification (downstream processing)
• Examples of industrial bioprocesses (production of organic acids, vitamins, biomass, and antibiotics)

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials presented during lectures will be made available to students in electronic format through the lecturer–student distribution lists.

Recommended Textbooks

• Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Volume 1 by Madigan and Martinko, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
• Microbial Biotechnology (Biotecnologie microbiche) by Donadio and Marino, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Teaching methods

The course consists of classroom lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations.

During the course, the Kahoot! platform will be used to administer self-assessment quizzes and mock final examinations.

Assessment methods

The assessment is designed to evaluate the student's level of learning and the knowledge acquired in the field of industrial microbiology.

The final examination consists of a written test comprising 30 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-ended questions covering various topics addressed during the course.

The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale and gives greater weight to the open-ended questions than to the multiple-choice questions. Specifically, each correct answer to an open-ended question is awarded 1.5 points, while each correct multiple-choice answer is awarded 0.9 points. Unanswered questions receive 0 points.

During the examination, the use of textbooks, notes, or any other teaching materials is not permitted. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is strictly prohibited.

The duration of the examination is 2 hours. Registration through AlmaEsami is required in order to sit the examination.

A passing examination result remains valid for one academic year.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible, so they can propose acceptable adjustments.
The request for adaptation must be submitted to the lecturer at least 15 days before the exam date. The lecturer will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Lecture slides will be made available by the instructor before each class session.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Stefan