Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Scale-Up Processes01:14

Scale-Up Processes

The scale-up of microbial fermentation processes is essential in industrial biotechnology, allowing the transition from laboratory-scale experiments to commercial-scale production while aiming to maintain product yield and quality. This process requires meticulous adjustment of equipment design, process parameters, and contamination control strategies to accommodate increasing culture volumes.At the laboratory scale, cultures are typically maintained in 1 to 10-liter glass or autoclavable...
Upstream Processing01:27

Upstream Processing

Upstream processing represents a critical phase in biomanufacturing, wherein biological systems such as microorganisms, mammalian cells, or insect cells are cultivated to produce therapeutic proteins, vaccines, enzymes, or other biologically derived products. This phase encompasses all steps from the selection and genetic manipulation of the production organism to the cultivation of cells in bioreactors under tightly controlled environmental conditions.Host Selection and Genetic OptimizationThe...
Production of Antibiotics01:27

Production of Antibiotics

Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...
Production of Alcohol01:27

Production of Alcohol

Continuous fermentation is a key strategy in industrial ethanol production, particularly when efficiency, scalability, and high yields are essential. This approach allows for uninterrupted operation and optimized resource utilization. The primary feedstock, corn starch, undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis facilitated by α-amylase and glucoamylase. These enzymes break down the starch into fermentable sugars such as glucose, which are readily assimilated by fermentative microorganisms.Fermentation...
Bioreactor Controls-III01:22

Bioreactor Controls-III

Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
Production of Pharmaceuticals01:30

Production of Pharmaceuticals

Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Adjuvant personalized multivalent neoantigen DNA vaccination for MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma: a phase 1 trial.

Nature cancer·2026
Same author

Restrictive versus standard intravenous fluid therapy and NTproBNP in ICU patients with septic shock - a sub-study of the randomised CLASSIC trial.

BMC anesthesiology·2026
Same author

Regional ventilation-perfusion changes after endobronchial valve therapy assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography in adults with severe COPD.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Restrictive Versus Standard Intravenous Fluid Therapy and Endothelial Glycocalyx Shedding in ICU Patients With Septic Shock-A Preplanned Sub-Study of the Randomized CLASSIC Trial.

Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica·2025
Same author

Courtship vocalizations in male ducks: spectral composition and resonance of the syringeal bulla.

The Journal of experimental biology·2025
Same author

Insights into the Biosynthesis of Kibdelomycin and Amycolamicin from Comparative Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Analysis and Precursor Incorporation Studies.

Journal of natural products·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Design of Solid-State Fermentation Systems for Polymer Hydrolytic Extracellular Enzyme Production by Filamentous Fungi
06:08

Design of Solid-State Fermentation Systems for Polymer Hydrolytic Extracellular Enzyme Production by Filamentous Fungi

Published on: June 6, 2025

Pilot-scale process development and scale up for antifungal production.

Beth Junker1, Andre Walker, Michelle Hesse

  • 1Fermentation Development and Operations, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ, USA. beth_junker@merck.com

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering
|October 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study optimized fermentation for an antifungal compound, achieving a tenfold increase in peak titers by adjusting media components and addressing viscosity challenges during scale-up. The process was successfully scaled to 15,000 L, demonstrating improved productivity and robustness.

More Related Videos

Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium pinghaense, for Commercial Application Against Insect Pests
10:10

Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium pinghaense, for Commercial Application Against Insect Pests

Published on: March 31, 2022

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
05:40

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater

Published on: March 6, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Design of Solid-State Fermentation Systems for Polymer Hydrolytic Extracellular Enzyme Production by Filamentous Fungi
06:08

Design of Solid-State Fermentation Systems for Polymer Hydrolytic Extracellular Enzyme Production by Filamentous Fungi

Published on: June 6, 2025

Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium pinghaense, for Commercial Application Against Insect Pests
10:10

Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium pinghaense, for Commercial Application Against Insect Pests

Published on: March 31, 2022

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
05:40

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater

Published on: March 6, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Industrial Microbiology
  • Biochemical Engineering

Background:

  • Filamentous fungi are sources of valuable bioactive compounds.
  • Fermentation processes require optimization for cost-effectiveness and scalability.
  • High broth viscosity can impede scale-up of fungal fermentations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and scale up a pilot fermentation process for an antifungal compound.
  • To improve fermentation productivity and reduce production costs.
  • To overcome scale-up challenges related to broth viscosity.

Main Methods:

  • Replaced galactose with lactose, reduced phosphate concentration, and added supplements (glycine, cobalt chloride, trace elements).
  • Adjusted initial lactose levels and implemented mid-cycle broth dilution to manage viscosity and nutrient limitations.
  • Scaled up the process to 15,000 L working volume using constant aeration rate and peak impeller tip speed.

Main Results:

  • Achieved a tenfold increase in peak titers (45 to 448 mg/L) and a tenfold improvement in productivity (3 to 25 mg/L/day).
  • Reduced antifoam usage tenfold and improved process robustness.
  • Successfully scaled up to 15,000 L by managing broth viscosity through dilution, maintaining target gassed power and mass transfer rates.

Conclusions:

  • Optimized fermentation conditions significantly enhanced antifungal compound production.
  • Broth viscosity management is critical for successful scale-up of filamentous fungal fermentations.
  • The developed process demonstrates a viable strategy for large-scale production of the antifungal compound.