Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
11:30
Quantitative Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans Growth Rate using Live Microscopy and Open-Source Software
Published on: July 24, 2021
Aspergillus as a multi-purpose cell factory: current status and perspectives.
Vera Meyer1, Bo Wu, Arthur F J Ram
1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Institute of Biology Leiden, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands. v.meyer@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Biotechnology Letters
|November 20, 2010
Summary
Recent breakthroughs are revolutionizing Aspergillus biotechnology, establishing it as a leading microbial cell factory. This review covers new tools, genomics, and systems biology for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbial biotechnology
- Molecular biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Aspergilli have a long history as expression platforms for producing food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and enzymes.
- Recent advancements show potential to revolutionize Aspergillus biotechnology, positioning it as a premier microbial cell factory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight recent breakthroughs in fundamental and applied Aspergillus research.
- To focus on novel molecular tools, techniques, and products.
- To discuss new trends in Aspergillus genomics and systems biology.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on Aspergillus research.
- Focus on molecular tools and techniques.
- Discussion of genomics and systems biology approaches.
Main Results:
- Identification of new molecular tools and techniques enhancing Aspergillus as an expression platform.
- Emerging trends in Aspergillus genomics and systems biology.
- Progress in developing novel products using Aspergillus.
Conclusions:
- Recent advancements are poised to revolutionize Aspergillus biotechnology.
- Integration of omics data with metabolic engineering presents future challenges and opportunities.
- Aspergillus is set to maintain a dominant role among microbial cell factories.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bioreactor 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...
01:27Production 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...
01:27Upstream 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...
01:28Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
01:30Production 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...
01:14Scale-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...