BTLW100059 Applications of biotechnological production systems

Type
course with continuous assessment
Semester hours
3
Lecturer (assistant)
Klausberger, Miriam , Buyel, Johannes , Ludwig, Roland , Strasser, Richard , Atanasoff-Kardjalieff, Anna Katharina , Üzülmez, Öykü , Csarman, Florian , Gasser, Brigitte , Göritzer, Kathrin
Organisation
Biotechnology and Food Science
Offered in
Wintersemester 2025/26
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

The laboratory course in 'Applications of biotechnological productions systems' BTLW100059 is offered in combination with the lecture 'Host systems for food science and biotechnology' BTLW 100058.
Both, the lecture and the laboratory exercise are a course of one thematic module in the bachelor study programme 'Food- and Biotechnology'. Although you can participate in each course individually, we suggest to 'book the full package' to obtain a deeper insight in the topic of migroorganisms and cells used in biotechnology.

There are up to four laboratory exercises available in this semester. The number of participants for each lab course is limited to twelve. Considering that laboratory courses are expensive and teaching intensive, we will fill up the first offered courses, before opening further ones. To organize your participation we also have a mandatory kick-off meeting.

The available topics are:
1. Plant molecular farming
2. Insect cell technology for recombinant protein production
3. Microbial chemical production: lactic acid production in yeast
4. Microbial chemical production: ethanol production in yeast and bacteria

The courses to be filled in first will rotate each year.

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Laboratory course 1: Plant molecular farming (06.11.-11.11.2025)

A laboratory course to deepen the application of various expression systems:
1. Plants and plant cells: students practice and improve the use of plants for the rapid production of active ingredients using transient expression; The following steps in particular are carried out by the students
1.1 Cultivation and preparation of the necessary bacteria
1.2 Cultivation and preparation of plants and plant cells (as a demonstration)
1.3 Infiltration of plant material
1.4 Product extraction
1.5 Product proof

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Laboratory course 2: Microbial chemical production: lactic acid production in yeast (24.11.-28.11.2025)
Aim: Microbial production of lactic acid, an important precursor of bioplastic

Contents of the experimental part:
2.1 Cultivation of lactic acid producing yeast and lactic acid bacteria
2.2 Monitoring of growth and product formation
2.3 Enzymatic assays for determining concentrations of glucose and lactic acid

Contents of the preparatory seminar:
2.1 Identifying the right microorganisms, and conditions to produce lactic acid by literature research
2.2 Planning of experimental details e.g. which assays to use
2.3 Comparative data evaluation and presentation of results
2.4 Discussion about the pros and cons of bacteria and yeast for the production: product yields, environmental and sustainability aspects

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Laboratory course 3: Microbial chemical production: ethanol production in yeast and bacteria (01.12.-05.12.2025, only if the first two courses are fully booked)
A laboratory course to compare bacterial and yeast production systems.
Students explore the production of ethanol, an important industrial precursor molecule.

Contents of the experimental part:
Cultivation of ethanol producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis
Monitoring of biomass growth and product formation
Enzymatic assays for determining glucose concentration and ethanolconcentration
Calculation of biomass yield and product yield

Contents of the preparatory seminar:
Isolation and cultivation techniques for yeasts and bacteria
Sterile inoculation and sampling techniques
Biomass determination methods
Enzymatic assays to measure glucose and ethanol
Statistical treatment and calculation of results
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

1. Plant molecular farming
- Understanding the steps necessary to prepare Agrobacterium tumefaciens for infiltration into plants and plant cells
- Overview of the small-scale product extraction process
- Methods for quick product detection

2. Yeast and bacterial production systems
- Understanding how different metabolic pathways of yeast and bactria can be used to produce small chemicals
- Cultivating and sampling of microorganisms
- Evaluation of microorganism growth and microbial production
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.