Fermentation Biotechnology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide the theoretical and practical bases to set-up, manage and improve microbial biotechnological processes, for the industrial production of compounds. Focus is on bioreactor technology, scale-up strategies, understanding the importance of metabolic pathways on process development and on metabolic engineering strategies utilized to engineer microorganisms in the context of biotechnological applications. Several industrial examples will be showed and critically discussed.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will develop the capabilities for setting-up and manage an industrial fermentation process using microbial cells. More in detail they will acquire specific tools (bioreactor set-up and fermentation control, strain improvement, metabolic flux analysis and engineering, statistical analyses) in order to meet the demand of high productive and efficient industrial bioprocesses.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is organised in two units: 1 -Industrial Bioprocess Development (3.5 CFU of frontal lessons + 0.5 CFU of lab practice, Diego Romano); 2 - Improvement of bioprocesses in yeast (3 CFU, Concetta Compagno). The detailed program:
Teaching Unit 1: Industrial Bioprocesses Development, - D. Romano (3.5 CFU + 0.5 CFU lab)
Introduction to bioprocesses: bioreactor design, fermentation techniques (batch, fed batch, continuous), scale-up and scale down approaches, downstream processing, experimental design applied to industrial fermentations. Industrial examples: production of aminoacids (glutamic acid, lysine), organic acids (citric, lactic), solvents, biofuels (ethanol, butanol), flavours (vanilline), antibiotics; production of recombinant proteins in prokaryotes. New generation of bioprocesses: biomaterials (polyamide, polylactic-acid, bacterial cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoates), fermentation of gaseous substrates (CO2, CH4). Laboratory practice (0.5 CFU) is focused on the set-up and analysis of a fermentation process.
Teaching Unit 2: Improvement of bioprocesses in yeast, - C. Compagno (3 CFU)
Strategies to improve the metabolic performance of yeast cells and production process:
metabolic flux balance analysis;
recombinant technology in yeast,
regulation of carbon source metabolism in yeasts.
Strategies to redirect existent metabolic pathways improving industrial processes.
Strategies to utilize alternative carbon sources for biofuels production.
Strategies to increase stress tolerance for industrial processes.
Strategies to introduce new pathways for production of new compounds.
Teaching Unit 1: Industrial Bioprocesses Development, - D. Romano (3.5 CFU + 0.5 CFU lab)
Introduction to bioprocesses: bioreactor design, fermentation techniques (batch, fed batch, continuous), scale-up and scale down approaches, downstream processing, experimental design applied to industrial fermentations. Industrial examples: production of aminoacids (glutamic acid, lysine), organic acids (citric, lactic), solvents, biofuels (ethanol, butanol), flavours (vanilline), antibiotics; production of recombinant proteins in prokaryotes. New generation of bioprocesses: biomaterials (polyamide, polylactic-acid, bacterial cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoates), fermentation of gaseous substrates (CO2, CH4). Laboratory practice (0.5 CFU) is focused on the set-up and analysis of a fermentation process.
Teaching Unit 2: Improvement of bioprocesses in yeast, - C. Compagno (3 CFU)
Strategies to improve the metabolic performance of yeast cells and production process:
metabolic flux balance analysis;
recombinant technology in yeast,
regulation of carbon source metabolism in yeasts.
Strategies to redirect existent metabolic pathways improving industrial processes.
Strategies to utilize alternative carbon sources for biofuels production.
Strategies to increase stress tolerance for industrial processes.
Strategies to introduce new pathways for production of new compounds.
Prerequisites for admission
Students must know fundamentals of microbial physiology (biosynthetic pathways of primary metabolism, microbial life cycles), enzymatic catalysis, molecular biology and organic chemistry (main reactions of carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, amines).
Teaching methods
Teaching Unit 1 -Industrial Bioprocess Development - Frontal lessons - 3.5 CFU
- Laboratory practice - 0.5 CFU
Teaching Unit 2 - Improvement of bioprocesses in yeast - Frontal lessons - 3 CFU
- Laboratory practice - 0.5 CFU
Teaching Unit 2 - Improvement of bioprocesses in yeast - Frontal lessons - 3 CFU
Teaching Resources
Slides of the lessons and additional material will be available for students on the "Ariel" platform.
Books: Industrial Biotechnology-Products and Processes. 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. Print ISBN: 978-3-527-34181-8
Books: Industrial Biotechnology-Products and Processes. 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. Print ISBN: 978-3-527-34181-8
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists in two interviews about the "industrial bioprocesses development" and "improvement of bioprocesses in yeast" teaching units respectively; both are based on open questions on specific topics described during the course, evaluating the correctness of the answers, the proper use the language, the ability to connect different topics. The score will be a weighted mean based on the credits of the two teaching units of the course. Course prerequisites and exam arrangements are the same for students attending and not attending the course lessons. Lesson attendance is nevertheless strongly encouraged.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
In case you need specific procedures, please inform the teacher by mail at least 15 days before the exam, including in the addresses [email protected] or [email protected].
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
In case you need specific procedures, please inform the teacher by mail at least 15 days before the exam, including in the addresses [email protected] or [email protected].
CHIM/11 - CHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF FERMENTATION - University credits: 7
Practicals: 8 hours
Lessons: 52 hours
Lessons: 52 hours
Professors:
Compagno Concetta Maria, Romano Diego
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
upon appointment after email contact