Besides the microbial food industry, there is also a new and thriving form of industrial microbiology which is often called the Biotechnology industry. Most biotechnological uses of microbes involve genetic manipulation to create microbes that produce products of use to humans. Big selling products include antibiotic, insulin, human growth factor, blood proteins and various vaccines. Tables 44.5, 44.8, 44.11 and 44.13 list some of the products that are obtained from microorganisms. 44.7 - 44.9 See Lec.
Biotechnology is a booming bussiness employing thousands of microbiologists.
Now that we understand the physiologies of microbes and their roles in the carbon and N cycles we can apply that knowledge to environmental problems. Waterborne pathogens 2. Because of the public health and environmental problems associated with sewage, municipalities in the U.S. are now required to treat waste water using at least a secondary wastewater treatment system. Figure 41.17 shows a typical secondary wastewater treatment plant. Note the difference between primary and secondary treatment.