GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY - T.P. Pyrog - 2004

22. MICROORGANISMS AS OBJECTS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE global biotechnology market. According to the definition by the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB), biotechnology is the integration of natural and engineering sciences that utilizes Cells, cellular structures, and individual Biomolecules to obtain higher quality and more affordable products for medical and industrial purposes, or to carry out other beneficial manipulations. At its core, biotechnology is a synthesis of such sciences as microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, organic, analytical, and inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering, and others.

In the 1970s, when the possibility of introducing changes into the Gene pool of organisms was demonstrated, biotechnology emerged as one of the most economically profitable industries. The EFB set the following objectives:

to deepen cooperation between biotechnology and related fields;

to establish governmental organizations in all countries to study the potential of biotechnology;

to widely promote The Study of biotechnology (in secondary and specialized schools, and universities), and to systematically propagate the Prospects and achievements of the field.

Biotechnology began to develop intensively from the mid-20th century. Due to the growth of the medical industry, processes for the industrial production of Amino Acids, Vitamins, Enzymes, and other substances emerged. Biotechnological processes significantly expanded The Scope of production in the food industry. Enzymatic Catalysis replaced certain reactions in the synthesis of Organic compounds. Numerous environmental protection technologies based on the USE OF MICROORGANISMS and plants represent classic Examples of ecobiotechnology. Without a doubt, in the 21st century, biotechnology is one of the dominant areas in both science and industry.

According to most experts, the global market for biotechnological products (as of 2003) can be characterized as follows:

preparations for the food industry and agriculture with annual sales of about $45 billion;

seed material of genetically modified plants — $30 billion;

Pharmaceuticals — $26 billion; enzymes for detergent production — $21 billion; therapeutic and cosmetic products derived from PLANT AND ANIMAL raw Materials — about $40 billion, totaling over $160 billion.

It is projected that by 2010, the volume of this market will exceed $2 trillion. Over the next 10 years, a significant expansion of biotechnology Applications is predicted in such vital areas as fine chemicals (biocatalysts, organic synthesis products), the mining industry (biohydrometallurgy, soil bioremediation), semiconductor production (new materials), and information technologies (microelectronic systems, bioinformatics tools, biocomputers). In certain sectors, the Structure/175.html">Implementation of biotechnological Methods will lead to qualitative Changes in the production base. Products manufactured using biotechnological processes will account for about 30% of the chemicals market (estimated at $1.5 trillion) by 2010, while among agrochemicals ($16 billion), plant biotechnology will account for at least $20 billion.

Among the highly developed countries, the USA was one of the first to appreciate the development prospects of biotechnology. For instance, in 1997, about 1,000 large and medium-sized biotechnology companies were registered in the USA. $7 billion was spent on The production of biopharmaceuticals, generating a profit of $16 billion. By 2000, the number of biotech companies increased to 1,300, and their profits grew to $19.6 billion.

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Japan ranks second after the USA in the level of biotechnological development. While Japan's position is quite strong in traditional areas of biotechnology (the production of enzymes, Antibiotics, and amino acids), it has lagged significantly behind the USA in applying cutting-edge biotechnology methods. To overcome this gap, Japan committed to the revolutionary development of biotechnology. $517.2 million was allocated for the implementation of a 10-year biotechnology development program (1981–1990), and over $2 billion was allocated for the period from 1991 to 2000. For biotechnological research from 2000 to 2004, the Japanese government allocated (converted) about €20 billion. According to expert estimates, the volume of the Japanese biotech market in 2010 will reach $230 billion. The Republic of Korea proclaimed 2002 as the "Year of Biotechnology," with its government allocating $259 million for training young scientists in this field.

In 2002, the Russian market for biological preparations amounted to $1.2–1.4 billion, of which Russian biotech enterprises accounted for $300–360 million (about 30%), with the rest being imports.

According to expert forecasts, by 2005 the European biotechnology market will reach €100 billion. Seeking to close the gap with the USA, Western European countries are continuously increasing state support for companies engaged in biotechnology development. Thus, from 1994 to 1998, €10 billion was allocated to these companies, 75% of which went to three countries: Germany (€3 billion), the United Kingdom (€2.6 billion), and France (€2 billion). In 1999, state support for the biotech sector in Western European countries amounted to €2 billion.

Comparative data on The Development of the biotechnology industry in the USA and Western Europe are presented in Table 22.1.

Table 22.1.

Key indicators of the biotechnology industry in 1999

Data for the USA in 1999, mln EUR

Ways of utilizing microorganisms in biotechnology. Despite the great diversity of agents performing biotechnological manipulations, microorganisms remain the primary objects of biotechnology today.

The ways microorganisms are utilized in biotechnology are presented in Table 22.2. Microorganisms are used for The Biosynthesis of practically important metabolites (amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, exopolysaccharides, Pectins, Surfactants, vitamins, growth stimulants, Hormones); the production of protein products, Probiotics, and fertilizers (preparations based on biomass); energy generation (biogas); bioleaching of metals from ores; and substance transformation (synthesis of Steroids, ephedrine, production of semi-synthetic Penicillins). Table 22.2 also provides CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROORGANISMS as objects of biotechnology.

Table 22.2.

Microorganisms as Biotechnology Objects

As can be seen from the presented data, biotechnology utilizes a rather large and diverse group of microorganisms, including micromycetes, yeasts, and bacteria representing various physiological and taxonomic groups that differ in both their metabolic and Nutritional types.