Modified microorganism

ChE will be challenged to develop creative process for recycling of waste materials, rather than burning or discarding them. One potential process is bioremediation, using genetically modified microorganisms to decompose the waste. This approach has already been applied to the treatment of oil spills. 

MERCENIER A, wiEDERMANN u, BREITENEDER H (2001) Edible genetically modified microorganisms and plants for improved health. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 12 510-5. 

The importance of including soil-based parameters in rhizosphere simulations has been emphasized (56). Scott et al. u.sed a time-dependent exudation boundary condition and a layer model to predict how introduced bacteria would colonize the root environment from a seed-based inoculum. They explicitly included pore size distribution and matric potential as determinants of microbial growth rate and diffusion potential. Their simulations showed that the total number of bacteria in the rhizosphere and their vertical colonization were sensitive to the matric potential of the soil. Soil structure and pore size distribution was also predicted to be a key determinant of the competitive success of a genetically modified microorganism introduced into soil (57). The Scott (56) model also demonstrated that the diffusive movement of root exudates was an important factor in determining microbial abundance. Results from models that ignore the spatial nature of the rhizosphere and treat exudate concentration as a spatially averaged parameter (14) should therefore be treated with some caution. 

Premusic, E. T., and Lin, M. S., Process for producing modified microorganisms for oil treatment at high temperatures, pressures and salinity. Patent No. US5492828. 1996, Feb. 20. 

Process for producing modified microorganisms for oil treatment at high temperatures, pressures and salinity [12],... 

Chemicals not on the TSCA Inventory are considered new chemicals and must go through a review process before they can be marketed. Certain genetically modified microorganisms also come under the definition of new chemicals. 

Table 3.4 Food enzymes produced by genetically modified microorganisms (Source ...

Klier, A. (1992). Release of genetically modified microorganisms in natural environments scientific and ethical problems. In Gene Transfers and Environment, ed. M. J. Gauthier, pp. 183-90. Berlin Springer-Verlag. 

Estimate the number of generations of growth needed for genetically modified microorganisms from 1 mL culture to a 33,000L production-scale fermenter. Assume that the inoculum size in each stage of the... 

A problem in the biotechnological synthesis of indigo is the disposal of the large amounts of biomass produced. Application as a fertilizer is not yet a ready option, because of the possible liberation of genetically modified microorganisms. Alternative disposal methods, such as an efficient clarification plant or incineration, are associated with additional costs. 

Many preparations are available for the treatment of diabetics with insulin. Rittel et al.128) described total synthesis of human insulin in 1974. Since that time new ways of obtaining insulin have been developed, namely the E. Lilly Co. biotechnological synthesis by genetically modified microorganisms l29) (DNA recombination)... 

In the digestive tract, genetically modified microorganisms can either carry out a reaction of bioconversion or produce compounds of interest. The bioconversion reaction can lead either to the production of an active product or to the removal of undesirable compounds. The active compound produced in situ can be secreted in the digestive medium [5], be bound to the cells [6,7], or accumulate inside the cells and be released in the digestive environment by cell lysis [8]. 

Second, modified microorganisms could correct errors of metabolism resulting from either gastric or intestinal enzyme deficiencies (e.g., lipase or lactase) [11] or organ failure (by removing urea in the case of kidney failure or ammonia in the case of liver failure) [12,13]. This could constitute an alternative to current therapy such as renal dialysis, which is time consuming and uncomfortable for the patient. 

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