The course aims to illustrate the role of biochemistry and the use of biotechnological tools in the different supply chains of the industrial world. The student will therefore acquire knowledge of the various biochemical processes involved in different production realities such as the pharmaceutical industry, the agro-food chain, the production of biofuels and the chemical industry. Furthermore, the various strategies used at industrial level for the production of recombinant and bioengineered enzymes and their utilisation will be illustrated.
Course Prerequisites
To better attend the course, adequate knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology is required.
Teaching Methods
The teaching is organised in frontal lectures, using Power Point presentations. The presentations will subsequently be made available to students in the teaching section on the KIRO platform. The presentations and any supplementary materials will later be made available to students in the teaching section on the KIRO platform. In addition, for students who fall into specific categories identified by the university (e.g., students with disabilities, caregivers, working students) integrative teaching modes will be provided.
Assessment Methods
Oral exam aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the objectives of the course.
Texts
Material provided by the teacher. Suggested textbooks: Enzymes in Industry: Production and Applications. 2007. Wolfgang Aehle (Ed). John Wiley & Sons Biochimica industriale: Enzimi e loro applicazioni nella bioindustria. 2001. R. Verga, M.S. Pilone. Springer Science & Business Media.
Contents
Engineering, large scale production and purification of enzyme with industrial application. Host organisms, strain improvement and physiological optimization. Process design and yield optimization. Screening techniques, protein and metabolic engineering. Main families of industrial enzymes: biochemical features and commercial relevance. Industrial strategies of production, purification and formulation of commercial enzymes. Fermentation processes in pharmaceutical industry: production of vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids, therapeutic proteins. Practical applications of fermentation processes and enzymes in the agro-food industries: production of bread, wine and beer, diary, sweeteners. Fermentations and enzymes in biofuels production. Enzymes in the textile industry, in detergency and tannery. Utilization of enzymes and microorganism in production, recycling and disposal of plastics and bio-plastics. Biotechnologie for the optimization of garbage and wastewater management
