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Prerequisites
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Duration
LevelApplied Microbial Biotechnology (B-KUL-I0P57A)
Aertsen Abram (coordinator) |
Aertsen Abram |
Lavigne Rob
Aims
Overview of modified micro-organisms/bacteriophages and microbial products derived thereof, and of the gene technology involved.
Insight in the potential offered by microbes for biotechnological applications in food and health, management of the environment, agriculture, industrial production of biomolecules, new therapeutics and diagnostics, ...).
At the end of the course, the students should be able to apply the biotechnological tools to exploit the available knowledge for micro-organisms and bacteriophages (genome, proteome, enzymes, metabolites, specific physiological properties, ...).
Previous knowledge
Basic knowledge of biochemistry and gene technology. Thorough knowledge of microbiology.
Course material
Text book
Articles and literature
Toledo / e-platform
Slides, transparencies, courseware
Is also included in other courses
- Doctoral Programme in Bioscience Engineering
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Biosystems Engineering (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
- Master of Biology (Professional Option) 120 ects.
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Food Science and Technology (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Catalytic Science and Technology (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
- Master of Tropical Natural Resources Management (Gerichte minor industriële microbiologie) 120 ects.
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Agricultural Sciences (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Land and Forest Management (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Biomolecular Engineering (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
- Master of Bioscience Engineering: Environmental Technology (Thematic Minor: Industrial Microbiology) 120 ects.
Activities
4.0 ects. Applied Microbial Biotechnology (B-KUL-I0P57a)
Content
1) Bacteriophages: detection and typing of bactera; phage display and application in antigen detection; bacteriophages as vaccins/DNA-vaccins; bacteriophage therapy; use of phage regulatory mechanisms; identification of new antibacterial targets; bacteriophage enzymes in biotechnological research; bacteriophage enzymes for food and medical applications
2) Recombinant protein expression: general principles; host cell systems (Escherichia coli; Lactococcus lactis; Pichia pastoris); protein purification and (industrial) applications
3) Secondary metabolites: polyketides ( function, diversity, biosynthesis modification; case study: mupirocin); identification and development of other antibiotics; heterologous expression of secondary metabolites
4) Microbial cell factories: increasing the production of metabolites and other chemical compounds (e.g. amino acids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, ...)
5) Microbial energy production: generating biofuels and constructing microbial fuel cells
6) Biocatalysis: taking advantage of extremozymes, directed evolution and rational design to increase enzyme activity and specificity
7) Microbial biosensors: construction of reporter strains to detect chemical compounds (e.g. pollutants, mutagens) or biological agents (e.g. food-borne pathogens, ...)
8) Interactions of bacteria with (human) hosts: bacteriocins (in food, medicine and animal husbandry); probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics; biotherapeutics; lactic acid bacteria as mucosal delivery vehicles; bacteria to combat cancer; recombinant antibodies (nanobodies); recombinant and synthetic vaccines; medical applications of bacterial protein toxins; cell surface engineering (surface display; autodisplay)
9) Omics-based applications: metagenomics; system biology (improvement of industrial fermentations; development of new drugs); synthetic biology (minimal genome; production platform for biofuels, new drugs; measuring instruments (biosensors); biotherapeutics; diagnostics
Aims
The goal of this course is to offer insight in the development of microbial products and modified micro-organisms using biotechnological tools.
