Academic management

Bacterial biotechnology could be defined as the use of microorganisms (bacteria in this case) to obtain useful products to be used by human beings or to remove contaminant products from the environment. The main objective of the subject Bacterial Biotechnology is to provide a view as wide as possible about the industrial processes involving the use of different bacterial types for the production of consumer goods used in human diet, pharmacy, agriculture and farming. In addition, the use of bacteria for bioremediation, biodegradation and bioleaching will be discussed. Special care will be taken to introduce the use of genetic engineering technologies to improve the different bacterial processes mentioned above.

To make better use of the issues discussed in the subject Bacterial Biotechnology it is necessary to have a basic knowledge about molecular biology and microbiology. For this reason the requirements to participate in this class are to possess a degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, pharmacy, Genetics, Microbiology and/or veterinary. 

 The objectives of the subject are the following:

1. Understand the useful roles of microorganisms and its utilization in industrial processes.

2. Know the different uses of bacteria in biotechnological matters. 

3. Know the most widely use strategies to clone and study genes involved in biotechnological processes.

4. Know different genetic engineering strategies to improve the microorganisms used to generate useful biological products.

 5. Search for and process literature related with the subject.  

6. Elaborate, present and discuss bibliography reviews related with the subject.

7. Acquire the capability for organize scientific information and design strategies to resolve problems related with the subject.  

Theory classes intend to show the different bacterial uses in industrial processes, focusing in some of them that will discussed in more detail. Different approaches to the use of genetic engineering to improve industrial application of bacteria will be raised.

In addition, each student might elaborate, present and defend a bibliography review that will be choosing among those subjects proposed. With this activity we intend the students might be capable to search and elaborate their own information using recent literature. Furthermore, our aim is the students acquire skills for present and defend their conclusions in an organized and understandable way. Finally, we intend to stimulate their participation in discussing the different reviews presented and defended by their mates.

Theory classes program  

1. Use of bacteria in biotechnology and industrial processes for the generation of useful and valuable products.   

2. Production of proteins.

3. Production of amino acids, microorganisms used and regulation of amino acid production.

4. Production of amino acids using regulatory mutants, immobilized bacteria or enzymes.

5. Production of insecticides by Bacillus sp.

6. Production of insecticides by Streptomyces sp.

7. Bioactive molecules produced by actinomycetes. Structural diversity: natural and “à la carte” menu.

8. Approaches to improve bioactive compounds production by microorganisms.

Seminars

In the seminar sessions each student might present during 20 minutes his/her bibliography review previously selected. Afterwards the review will be discussed for all the class mates during 10.In addition, discussions about recent literature related to the subject could be programmed. The assignation of bibliography reviews or relevant literature to be discussed in the seminars will be done in the tutorship sessions.   

Proposed bibliography reviews

1- Tag systems for the sobreexpression and purification of proteins.  

2- Production of therapeutic proteins to be use in clinic.

3- Production of biofuels using genetic engineered bacteria.

4- Use of microorganisms in bioremediation, biodegradation and bioleaching.

5- Transglutaminase in the food industry and other uses.

6- Direct use of microorganisms as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.

7- Amino acid production from methanol by Bacillus methanolicus.

8- L-threonine production by Corynebacterium glutamicum and Escherichia coli.

9- Metionine production by fermentation.

10- Branched amino acid production (valine, leucine and isoleucine).

11- Production of tryptophan and other aromatic amino acids.

12- Bialaphos production by Streptomyces sp. and its use as herbicide..

13- Use of combinatorial biosynthesis to obtain derivatives of avermectin and improve its production.

14- Use of combinatorial biosynthesis to obtain derivatives of spinosyn and improve its production.

15- Use of Bacillus sphaericus as insecticide.

16- Use of Bacillus popilliae as insecticide.

17- Pseudomonas sp. as biocontrol agents.

18- Isolation of marine actinomycetes as source of bioactive compounds.

19- Actinomycetes genome sequencing. Diversity of previously unidentified biosynthesis gene clusters.  

20- Approaches to activate and use cryptic or silenced biosynthesis gene clusters to identify novel bioactive compounds.

21- Use of CRISPR technology in biotechnological processes.

22- Use of bacteria in restoration of art works.

23- Bacteriophages as alternative in the fight against multiresistant bacteria.

Exceptionally, if sanitary conditions require it, on-line teaching activities could be performed. In that case, students will be informed about the changes implemented.

The evaluation of students learning will be performed by a writing test related to the subject. The score of this test will be 60% of the final score. The elaboration, presentation and defense of bibliography reviews will represent 30% of the final score. The participation in seminar discussions will represent 10% of the final score. The elaboration, presentation and defense of bibliography reviews will be mandatory.

The evaluation in the extraordinary exam will be performed by a writing test related to the subject. The score of this test will be 100% of the final score.

Exceptionally, if sanitary conditions require it, methodology changes in form of on-line evaluation could be implemented. In that case, students will be informed about the modifications implemented.  

In cases with the right to a duly accredited "differentiated evaluation" that entail the impossibility of participating in face-to-face activities, the continuous evaluation may be partially or totally replaced by the performance of non-face-to-face tasks, or by an additional specific test.

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9. Olano, C; Méndez, C; Salas, J.A. 2011. Gene clusters for bioactive natural products in actinomycetes and their use in combinatorial biosynthesis. Streptomyces Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 195-232. Ed.  Caister Academic Press, Norwich, UK.  ISBN 978-904455-77-6.
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11. Olano, C., Méndez, C., and Salas, J.A. 2014. Strategies for the design and discovery of novel antibiotics using genetic engineering and genome mining. Antimicrobial Compounds: Actual strategies and New Alternatives. Villa, Tomas G.; Veiga-Crespo, Patricia (Eds.), Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg. ISBN 978-3-642-40443-6.
12. Olano, C., Méndez, C., and Salas, J.A. 2014. Harnessing sugar biosynthesis and glycosylation to redesign natural products and to increase structural diversity.  Natural Products: Discourse, Diversity and Design. Osbourn, Anne; Goss, Rebecca (Eds.), Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Hoboken, NJ, USA. ISBN 978-1-118-29806-0.