Monitoring of Streptomyces peucetius cultivations using FTIR/ATR spectroscopy and quantitative models based on library type data.

Cultivations of Streptomyces peucetius in two types of medium were monitored on-line using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer combined with an attenuated total reflection probe. The quantitative measurements of the glucose, starch and acetate concentrations were implemented using partial least squares calibration models. These were regressed on spectral and concentration information obtained by adding together single constituent spectra of the main constituents in the medium according to a full factorial design.

Control of α-amylase production by Bacillus subtilis.

This study proposes two adaptive control algorithms for the fed-batch production of α-amylase. The first one uses online information from hardware measuring glucose. Online information of both biomass and glucose concentrations measured with different frequency is used in the second algorithm.

Factors affecting the production of L-xylulose by resting cells of recombinant Escherichia coli.

Factors affecting the production of the rare sugar L-xylulose from xylitol using resting cells were investigated. An E. coli BPT228 strain that recombinantly expresses a gene for xylitol dehydrogenase was used in the experiments.

Biotechnological production of L-ribose from L-arabinose.

L-Ribose is a rare and expensive sugar that can be used as a precursor for the production of L-nucleoside analogues, which are used as antiviral drugs. In this work, we describe a novel way of producing L-ribose from the readily available raw material L-arabinose. This was achieved by introducing L-ribose isomerase activity into L-ribulokinase-deficient Escherichia coli UP1110 and Lactobacillus plantarum BPT197 strains.

Contributions of biotechnology to the production of mannitol.

Mannitol is a 6-carbon sugar alcohol that has been produced traditionally by chemical catalysis. Biotechnology has brought advances to the production in terms of substrate purity, process equipment requirements and safety. Enzymatic methods have improved the yields and the use of microbes has brought versatility to the range of substrates that can be used in the processes.