Ecological Engineering of Acidogenic and Photoorganoheterotrophic Microbial Metabolisms to Valorise Cheese Whey

Green phototrophs such as microalgae and cyanobacteria have been proven to be able to perform photoorganoheterotrophic metabolism. The use of organic carbon can result in higher biomass production and increased concentrations of valuable compounds. Organic waste streams can serve for this purpose and lower the biomass production costs. Cheese...

Functional characterization of a Penicillium chrysogenum mutanase gene induced upon co-cultivation with Bacillus subtilis

Background Microbial gene expression is strongly influenced by environmental growth conditions. Comparison of gene expression under different conditions is frequently used for functional analysis and to unravel regulatory networks, however, gene expression responses to co-cultivation with other microorganisms, a common occurrence in nature, is...

Polyhydroxyalkanoates production by bacterial enrichments

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is a natural bacterial storage compound, which can be used as carbon and electron source. Their remarkable similarities in physical properties to conventional plastics, such as polypropylene, attract great commercial interest. This thesis focuses on PHAs production by bacterial enrichments. As compared to the current...

PHA Production in Aerobic Mixed Microbial Cultures

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a common intracellular energy and carbon storage material in bacteria, which is considered as a bioplastic due to its plastic like properties. PHAs are versatile materials which are biodegradable and made from renewable resources. Commercial production of PHAs is currently based on pure culture processes employing...

Directing product formation by mixed culture fermentation

Our society is dealing with the shortage of fossil fuels and chemical feedstocks and, on the other hand, with the increase of wastes generated by municipalities, agriculture and industries. Biobased industry, the conversion of renewable resources or wastes to chemicals and fuels, by microbial fermentations or enzymes has been receiving...