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Published on: December 15, 2017
Over-pressurized bioreactors: application to microbial cell cultures.
Marlene Lopes1, Isabel Belo, Manuel Mota
1Center of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal.
Increased air pressure in bioreactors can impact microbial growth and product formation. This review explores how oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures affect cellular processes and antioxidant defenses in industrial biotechnology.
Area of Science:
- Industrial biotechnology
- Microbial cultivation
- Bioreactor engineering
Background:
- Microbial cultures in bioreactors experience varying local pressures.
- Increased pressure can yield detrimental or beneficial effects on cell growth and product formation.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing bioprocesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of increased air pressure on microbial cultures in bioreactors.
- To present recent data on pressure effects at cellular levels.
- To focus on oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures and antioxidant responses.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on microbial cultures under moderate pressure (up to 15 bar).
- Analysis of data on cellular growth and product formation.
- Examination of effects on oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures.
- Investigation of antioxidant cellular defense mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Diverse effects of increased air pressure on microbial cultivation observed.
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures significantly influence cellular growth and product formation.
- Oxygen pressure impacts antioxidant cellular defense mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Increased air pressure presents a complex variable in microbial bioreactor cultivation.
- Partial pressures of gases, particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide, are key factors.
- Cellular responses, including antioxidant defenses, are modulated by pressure conditions.
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