Microbial Transformation and Bioremediation

Husnain Riaz

International Islamic University Islamabad

Introduction to Microbial Transformation

Microbial transformation is defined as the biological process of modifying an organic compound into a reversible product.

It involves the use of enzyme catalyzed reactions in the living cells.

Chemical reactions involved in microbial transformations include oxidation, reduction, methylation, hydrolysis etc.

One of the major applications of microbial transformation is in the production of secondary metabolites.

How is it useful for us?

The bacteria responsible for most cases of food poisoning in the U.S. has been turned into an efficient biological factory to make chemicals, medicines.

Chemical engineer Jay Keasling of the University of California, manuplated the genetic code of E.coli to produce medicines.

Bioremediation

Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms, fungi, green plants or their enzymes to return the natural environment altered by contaminants to its original condition.

Bioremediation technology using microorganisms was reportedly invented by George M. Robinson.

Bioremediation relies largely on the enzymatic activities of living organisms, usually microbes, to catalyze the destruction of pollutants or their transformation to less harmful forms.

Phytoremediation

Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are not readily absorbed or captured by organisms. The assimilation of metals such as mercury into the food chain may worsen matters.