Fermentation biotechnology
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
This course aims to provide the theoretical and practical bases to set-up, manage and improve microbial biotechnological processes, for the industrial production of compounds. Focus is on bioreactor technology, scale-up strategies, understanding the importance of metabolic pathways on process development and on metabolic engineering strategies utilized to engineer microorganisms in the context of biotechnological applications. Several industrial examples will be showed and critically discussed.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Students will develop the capabilities for setting-up and manage an industrial fermentation process using microbial cells. More in detail they will acquire specific tools (bioreactor set-up and fermentation control, strain improvement, metabolic flux analysis and engineering, statistical analyses) in order to meet the demand of high productive and efficient industrial bioprocesses.
Periodo: Primo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Primo semestre
Programma
Lessons (6.5 CFU)
Introduction to bioprocesses: bioreactor design, fermentation techniques (batch, fed batch, continuous), scale-up and scale down approaches, downstream processing, experimental design applied to industrial fermentations.
Strategies to improve the metabolic performance of yeast cells and production process:
metabolic flux balance analysis;
recombinant technology in yeast,
regulation of carbon source metabolism in yeasts.
Strategies to redirect existent metabolic pathways improving industrial processes.
Strategies to utilize alternative carbon sources for biofuels production.
Strategies to increase stress tolerance for industrial processes.
Strategies to introduce new pathways for production of new compounds.
Industrial examples: production of aminoacids (glutamic acid, lysine), organic acids (citric, lactic), solvents, biofuels (ethanol, butanol), flavours (vanilline), antibiotics; production of recombinant proteins in prokaryotes. New generation of bioprocesses: biomaterials (polyamide, polylactic-acid, bacterial cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoates), fermentation of gaseous substrates (CO2, CH4).
Laboratory practice (0.5 CFU) is focused on the set-up and analysis of a fermentation process.
Introduction to bioprocesses: bioreactor design, fermentation techniques (batch, fed batch, continuous), scale-up and scale down approaches, downstream processing, experimental design applied to industrial fermentations.
Strategies to improve the metabolic performance of yeast cells and production process:
metabolic flux balance analysis;
recombinant technology in yeast,
regulation of carbon source metabolism in yeasts.
Strategies to redirect existent metabolic pathways improving industrial processes.
Strategies to utilize alternative carbon sources for biofuels production.
Strategies to increase stress tolerance for industrial processes.
Strategies to introduce new pathways for production of new compounds.
Industrial examples: production of aminoacids (glutamic acid, lysine), organic acids (citric, lactic), solvents, biofuels (ethanol, butanol), flavours (vanilline), antibiotics; production of recombinant proteins in prokaryotes. New generation of bioprocesses: biomaterials (polyamide, polylactic-acid, bacterial cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoates), fermentation of gaseous substrates (CO2, CH4).
Laboratory practice (0.5 CFU) is focused on the set-up and analysis of a fermentation process.
Prerequisiti
Students must know fundamentals of microbial physiology (biosynthetic pathways of primary metabolism, microbial life cycles), enzymatic catalysis, molecular biology and organic chemistry (main reactions of carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, amines).
Metodi didattici
Frontal lessons - 6.5 CFU; Laboratory practice - 0.5 CFU
Materiale di riferimento
Slides of the lessons and additional material will be available for students on Myariel platform.
Books: Industrial Biotechnology-Products and Processes. 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. Print ISBN: 978-3-527-34181-8
Metabolic Engineering Concepts and Applications. WILEY-VCH GmbH, Boschstr. 12, 69469 ePDF ISBN: 978-3-527-82344-4
Essentials in Fermentation Technology, Springer Nature Switzerland AG ISBN 978-3-030-16230-6 (eBook)
Books: Industrial Biotechnology-Products and Processes. 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. Print ISBN: 978-3-527-34181-8
Metabolic Engineering Concepts and Applications. WILEY-VCH GmbH, Boschstr. 12, 69469 ePDF ISBN: 978-3-527-82344-4
Essentials in Fermentation Technology, Springer Nature Switzerland AG ISBN 978-3-030-16230-6 (eBook)
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
The exam is written and students may take it in two forms:
1. After the end of the course: the exam consists of 4 open questions concerning all the topics of the course.
2. Intermediate written exams: one (mid way program) during the didactic pause, and one at the end of the course (in this order) The second option is offered only to the students (also non attending) of the current academic year. You need to pass the first one to access the second one. You need to pass both to pass it. Each exam of option 2 consists of 2 open questions.
In all the cases students are evaluated based on the following criteria: completeness and relevance of the content, accuracy and coherence of the provided information, clarity in the formulation of the response; grammatical and lexical accuracy in English usage; ability to establish connections between different topics covered during the course.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
In case you need specific procedures, please inform the teacher by mail at least 15 days before the exam, including in the addresses [email protected] or [email protected].
1. After the end of the course: the exam consists of 4 open questions concerning all the topics of the course.
2. Intermediate written exams: one (mid way program) during the didactic pause, and one at the end of the course (in this order) The second option is offered only to the students (also non attending) of the current academic year. You need to pass the first one to access the second one. You need to pass both to pass it. Each exam of option 2 consists of 2 open questions.
In all the cases students are evaluated based on the following criteria: completeness and relevance of the content, accuracy and coherence of the provided information, clarity in the formulation of the response; grammatical and lexical accuracy in English usage; ability to establish connections between different topics covered during the course.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
In case you need specific procedures, please inform the teacher by mail at least 15 days before the exam, including in the addresses [email protected] or [email protected].
CHIM/11 - CHIMICA E BIOTECNOLOGIA DELLE FERMENTAZIONI - CFU: 7
Laboratori: 8 ore
Lezioni: 52 ore
Lezioni: 52 ore
Docenti:
Donzella Silvia, Romano Diego
Turni:
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Appuntamento via mail
via Mangiagalli 25 - Studio 3056
Ricevimento:
su appuntamento dopo contatto via mail