Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Customization of Aspergillus niger Morphology Through Addition of Talc Micro Particles
Published on: March 15, 2012
Cultivation of recombinant Aspergillus niger strains on dairy whey as a carbohydrate source
Teagan C Crament1, Kayline Arendsen1, Shaunita H Rose1
1Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
Abstract:
Agricultural waste valorisation provides a sustainable solution to waste management, and combining waste utilisation with commodity production allows for responsible production processes. Recombinant Aspergillus niger D15 strains expressing fungal endoglucanases (Trichoderma reesei eg1 and eg2 and Aspergillus carneus aceg) were evaluated for their ability to utilise lactose as a carbon source to determine whether dairy waste could be used as a feedstock for enzyme production. The recombinant A. niger D15[eg1]PyrG, D15[eg2]PyrG, and D15[aceg]PyrG strains produced maximum endoglucanase activities of 34, 54, and 34 U/mL, respectively, on lactose and 23, 27, and 22 U/mL, respectively, on whey. The A. niger D15[eg2]PyrG strain was used to optimise the whey medium. Maximum endoglucanase activity of 46 U/mL was produced on 10% whey medium containing 0.6% NaNO3. The results obtained indicate that dairy whey can be utilised as a feedstock for recombinant enzyme production. However, variations in enzyme activities were observed and require further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes in Food Production
Microbes in the Production of Fermented Foods
Bioreactor Controls-III
Upstream Processing
Production of Organic Acids
Production of Antibiotics

