Biology 3 - 13.6 Medicine made from microbes

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF MICRO-ORGANISMS

Micro-organisms can be grown in large vessels to produce useful substances such as medicine, e.g. antibiotics. Industrial fermenters tend to have:

• an air supply, to provide oxygen for the micro-organisms so that they can respire aerobically
• a stirrer to keep the micro-organisms constantly in suspension and make sure that they maintain an even temperature
• a water-cooled jacket to remove heat produced by the respiring micro-organisms
• instruments to monitor factors such as pH and temperature

Penicillin

Penicillin is an antibiotic that is made by growing the mould Penicillium. This is grown in a fermenter. The medium it is grown in contains sugar and other nutrients e.g a source of nitrogen. The Penicillium only stars to make penicillin…