Industrial Microbiology - Health-care and Medicine

Health-care and Medicine

Microorganisms are used to produce human or animal biologicals such as insulin, growth hormone, and antibodies. Diagnostic assays that use monoclonal antibody, DNA probe technology or real-time PCR are used as rapid tests for pathogenic organisms in the clinical laborarory.

Microorganisms may also help in the treatment of diseases such as cancer. Research shows that Clostridium can selectively target cancer cells. Various strains of non-pathogenic Clostridium have been shown to infiltrate and replicate within solid tumous. Clostridium therefore have the potential to deliver therapeutic proteins to tumors. Lactobacillus spp. and other lactic acid bacteria possess numerous potential therapeutic properties including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities.

Vaccines are used to combat infectious disease, however the last decade has witnessed a revolution in the approach to vaccine design and development. Sophisticated technologies such as genomics, proteomics, functional genomics, and synthetic chemistry can be used for the rational identification of antigens, the synthesis of complex glycans, and the generation of engineered carrier proteins.

Members of the Streptomyces genus are among the most prolific microorganisms producing secondary metabolites with wide uses in medicine and in agriculture. These organisms have a complex secondary metabolism producing antibiotic compounds and other metabolites with medicinal properties. Genomic studies, genomic mining and biotechnological approaches are being employed in the search for new antibiotics and other drugs in Streptomyces.