INTRODUCTION

Biotransformation, also known as, bioconversion, and it is the conversion of

organic materials, such as plant or animal waste, into usable products or
energy sources by biological processes or agents, such as certain
microorganisms (Kaup et al., 2004, 2005; Smitha et al., 2017).
Bioconversion is a biological process that involves the transformation of
organic compounds into reversible products by microorganisms or enzymes.
The process of bioconversion can be used to produce a wide range of
products, including fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Bioconversion
can be carried out using different types of microorganisms, including
bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. The choice of microorganism is dependent on the
nature of the substrate, the desired product, and the conditions under which
the bioconversion is carried out. This paper aims to discuss the concept of
bioconversion, the types of bioconversion, and the microorganisms involved
in each transformation process.

TYPES OF BIOCONVERSION

There are different types of bioconversion processes, including aerobic and

anaerobic processes. The choice of process depends on the nature of the
substrate and the desired product.

AEROBIC BIOCONVERSION

Aerobic bioconversion is a process that involves the use of microorganisms

that require oxygen to carry out the process of bioconversion. The process of
aerobic bioconversion is commonly used in the production of ethanol from
biomass. The process involves the use of microorganisms such as
Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis.

The process of aerobic bioconversion involves the breakdown of complex

organic compounds such as cellulose and hemicellulose into simple sugars
such as glucose and fructose. The simple sugars are then fermented by the
microorganisms to produce ethanol. The process of aerobic bioconversion is
efficient and can be carried out under controlled conditions.

ANAEROBIC BIOCONVERSION
Anaerobic bioconversion is a process that involves the use of
microorganisms that do not require oxygen to carry out the process of
bioconversion. The process of anaerobic bioconversion is commonly used in
the production of biogas from organic waste. The process involves the use of
microorganisms such as methanogens, which are capable of producing
methane in the absence of oxygen.

The process of anaerobic bioconversion involves the breakdown of complex

organic compounds such as cellulose and hemicellulose into simple sugars
such as glucose and fructose. The simple sugars are then fermented by the
microorganisms to produce biogas, which is a mixture of methane and
carbon dioxide. The process of anaerobic bioconversion is efficient and can
be carried out under controlled conditions.

There are different types of bioconversion processes, including anaerobic

digestion, fermentation, and composting.

Anaerobic Digestion:
Anaerobic digestion is a process that involves the breakdown of organic
matter in the absence of oxygen. It is carried out by a group of
microorganisms known as anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria break down
complex organic matter into simpler compounds, such as methane and
carbon dioxide, which are then used as energy sources. Anaerobic digestion
is commonly used in the production of biogas, which is used as a source of
renewable energy.

Fermentation:
Fermentation is a process that involves the conversion of organic matter into
alcohol or organic acids. It is carried out by microorganisms such as yeasts
and bacteria. During fermentation, sugars and other organic compounds are
broken down into alcohol or organic acids. Fermentation is commonly used
in the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits.

Composting:
Composting is a process that involves the breakdown of organic matter into
a nutrient-rich soil amendment. It is carried out by a diverse group of
microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. During
composting, organic matter is broken down into simpler compounds, such as
water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. The end product of composting is a
nutrient-rich soil amendment that is used in agriculture to improve soil
fertility.

MICROORGANISMS INVOLVED IN in BIOCONVERSION:

Different microorganisms are involved in the different types of

bioconversion processes.

Anaerobic Digestion:
Anaerobic digestion is carried out by a group of microorganisms known as
anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria include Methanosarcina,
Methanobacterium, and Methanococcus, among others.

Fermentation:
Fermentation is carried out by different microorganisms, including yeasts
and bacteria. Yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae are commonly used
in the production of alcoholic beverages. Lactic acid bacteria, including
Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc, are commonly used in the production of
dairy products such as yogurt and cheese.

Composting:
Composting is carried out by a diverse group of microorganisms, including
bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. Bacteria such as Bacillus and
Pseudomonas are involved in the breakdown of complex organic matter into
simpler compounds. Fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium are involved
in the breakdown of lignocellulosic materials.

BIOCONVERSION PROCESS:

Bioconversion is a biological process whereby an organic compound is

modified into reversible products. This process can be carried out by
different microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. The process
involves the use of enzymes to break down complex organic compounds
into simple ones, which are then converted into useful products. The
products of bioconversion can be used in various industries, including
pharmaceuticals, food, and agriculture.

Biological conversion can occur aerobically or anaerobically. Aerobic

processes are much faster, but energy recovery is not practical, as most organic
carbon is converted to CO and heat. Aerobic conversion is composting, and
2
composting requires biodegradable carbon, nutrients (like nitrogen), oxygen,
and water. As organic matter is accumulated, microorganisms break down the
feedstock by consuming carbon and producing heat. The more easily digestible
carbon sources are sugars and starch, derived from food wastes. Cellulose and
lignin from biomass are more difficult for microbes to decompose and are left
behind as a humus-like, organic, nutrient-rich compost that is used for fertilizer
and soil amendment (FAO STAT, 2008).
As microbial activity increases, more heat is released, and the temperature of
the compost pile increases, thus increasing microbial activity even more.
Therefore, temperature is used to identify the types of microbes with the
highest biological activity. As composting is initiated, mesophilic organisms
begin aerobic decomposition. As the temperature increases, thermophilic
organisms take over, and the rate of decomposition increases. Eventually, the
available biodegradable material is consumed, and the microbial activity
decreases, as does the temperature. Microbial activity stops, and the compost
reaches ambient temperature (FAO STAT, 2008).
Mechanical mixing, or turning, of a compost pile maintains a high enough
oxygen concentration to support microbial activity. If oxygen is not available,
then anaerobic conditions exist, and different biological processes are favored.
Anaerobic processes are the biological equivalent of partialoxidation. Waste is
converted into biogas, a mixture of equal parts methane and CO , and other
2

trace impurities like hydrogensulfide, nitrogen, and ammonia. Biogas can be

combusted in an engine generator to produce electricity or cleaned up and
recovered as renewable natural gas (RNG) that can be compressed and stored
or injected into a natural gas pipeline.
Anaerobic waste conversion is dominant in landfills as impermeable layers of
municipal waste accumulate and are left undisturbed. Also, many landfills are
lined and covered to manage leachate runoff and air emissions, respectively.
Anaerobic digesters are also closed systems used to convert wet wastes, such as
animal manures, food wastes, and biosolids, into biogas. Anaerobic
digestion diverts the large volume of food and other organic waste that would
otherwise go to a landfill. Economic benefits for waste producers, such as
wastewater treatment plants and food processing facilities, are realized as
reduced hauling cost and lower landfill tipping fees. An example of a 10-L
laboratory scale anaerobic digester used for converting residual carbon in
wastewater to biogas is shown below.

Procedure for biotransformation

Vegetative cells, spores, resting cells, enzymes, and immobilized cells/enzymes
are generally used for microbial transformation. In process with growing
cultures, the strain used is cultivated in a suitable medium and a concentrated
substrate solution is added after suitable growth of the culture (6-24h). A
variant of this procedure is to use a very large inoculum and to add the
concentrated substrate immediately without allowing for a growth period.
Emulsifier such as Tween or solvents (water-miscible and low toxic (ethanol,
acetone, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide) may be used to help
solubilise poorly soluble compounds. In some steroid transformations, the
substrate is added and converted in fine crystalline form. These so-called
pseudo-crystalline fermentations can be carried out with relatively high
concentrations of substrate.
For the biotransformation of lipophilic materials it is possible to employ a
polyphase system. The aqueous phase containing the cell material or the
enzyme is overlayed with the water immiscible fluid phase in which the
substrate has been dissolved. The substrate passes slowly into the aqueous
phase and as the transformation reaction proceeds, the product passes back into
the solvent phase. In some cases, the actual transformation occurs at the
interface of the aqueous and solvent phases.
Transformation reactions in large-scale equipment are carried out under sterile
conditions in aerated and stirred fermenters, the conversion process being
monitored chromatographically or spectroscopically. The process is terminated
when a maximum titer is reached. Maintenance of sterile environment is
necessary because contamination can lead to formation of faulty conversion
products and can also engage in total breakdown.
Resting cells can be used in case if enzyme induction by the added substrate is
not necessary. This has the considerable advantage that growth inhibition by
the substrate is eliminated. High cell densities, which promote increased
productivity, may be used; at the same time risk of contamination is reduced.
Since the transformation reaction occurs predominantly in the buffer solution,
the recovery of the product is relatively easy. A number of transformation
processes employ immobilized cells, offering the advantage that the process
can be carried out continuously and the cells can be used over and over
again. Immobilized bacterial cells, which catalyse one-stage or multi-stage
reactions, are presently used commercially in the production of aspartic acid, L-
alanine and malic acid.
The end products of transformation reactions are found extracellularly and may
occur in either dissolved or suspended form. The cell material is then washed
repetitively with water or organic solvents in order to detach the reaction
product which can be adsorbed to the cells. Depending on the solubility of the
product, recovery is performed by adsorption to ion exchangers, by
precipitation as the calcium salt, by extraction with appropriate solvents or for
volatile substances, by direct distillation from the medium.
MICROBIAL SUBSTRATES
The substrates for generation of value added products are mainly organic
wastes and include domestic, agricultural and industrial wastes. Food and
agricultural processing industries produce large amount of wastes annually
worldwide and this has caused serious disposal problems in countries where the
economy is largely based on agriculture (Laufenberg, et al, 2003). Currently,
these agro-wastes are either naturally allowed to decay in the field or are burnt.
They have also been incriminated in serious environmental pollutions. The
bioconversion of these organic wastes is environment-friendly for waste
management since their disposal presents an added cost to processors and
direct disposal to soil or landfill causes serious environmental problems
(Laufenberg, et al, .2003). Substrates such as food remnants, sweet potato
residue, cassava biogases, sugarcane biogases, wheat bran, corncob, spent
brewing grains, apple pomace, grape pomace, rice bran, soya bean hull, coffee
husk, barley straw and bran, sewage, groundnutshell, and animal wastes are
commonly used (Couto, 2008).

IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR BIOCONVERSION

In addition to the selection of the best microorganism and creation of optimum
conditions, the following factors are important in the effective development of
bioconversions. Some of these factors are listed below (Wang Daniel et al., 1979).
Regulation of enzyme synthesis; In order to produce cells of the best quality for a
given bioconversion, the cells must have a maximum amount of the appropriate
enzyme (s). Regulation of enzyme synthesis is very important for cell growth.
Mutation; Generally, the yield of a bioconversion can be mutatively markedly
improved by the removal of enzymes catabolizing the desired product. For
example; conversion of pentaerythritol to tris (hydroxymethyl) acetic acid using
Flavobacterium sp.
Permeability; Some bioconversions are entirely dependent on changing the
permeability of cell. Avoidance of product inhibition; The product can inhibit
bioconversion from time to time. This event is sometime one of the major
problems. The problem of product inhibition in the conversion of p-xylene to p-
toluic and 2,3-dihydroxy-ptoluic acids, was solved by supplementation anion
exchange resin to the broth.
Transformation of insoluble substrates; insolubility of some substrates causes
difficulties in bioconversion processes. Nevertheless, even compounds that are not
as soluble as steroids are sometimes easily converted. A variety of techniques are
available to make insoluble substrates available, such as the use of finely divided
suspensions, soluble complexes and esters (Wang Daniel et al., 1979). For
example, use of the cycloborate complex of 16αhydroxycortexolone, increases
solubility of the steroid 20000 fold and significantly improves its bioconversion
(Lee et al., 1971).
One of the most popular biotechnological applications in recent years is the
production of aroma substances. Flavours and aromas are very important for the
food, feed, cosmetic, chemical and medical industries. For a long time, plants
have been the main source of essential oils and flavours. However, low amounts of
flavour components in plants making isolation difficult and the flavour products
expensive. For this reason, most of the flavour compounds available on the market
are now produced by chemical synthesis. More than 80% of the flavours used in
the market are synthetic flavours today.
The disadvantages of such chemical processes are the formation of undesirable
racemic mixtures and the increasing drawbacks of the added chemicals. This has
forced flavour companies to shift to the flavor components of biological origin,
called natural or biological flavours.
Currently the most promising possible alternatives for the production of flavouring
compounds are biotechnological methods and the use of so-called ‘biocatalysts’
for plant cell and tissue cultures, microorganisms and enzymes their synthesis
(Janssens et al., 1992; Yılmaztekin, 2008). In microbial bioconversion, aroma
substances are produced by reactions such as dehydration, hydrolysis, oxidation,
reduction in the precursor component. An example of aroma production by
microbial bioconversion is the production of 2-phenylethanol (rose aroma) from
Lphenylalanine by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Figure 1) (Tay, 2013).
IMPORTANCE OF PLANT TRANSFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Genetic modification is used in many areas of scientific research and is widely
used to modify: Yeast, bacteria, plants and mammalian cells. One of the most
important uses of genetically modified organisms is for the large-scale
production of medicinally important compounds. For example, genetically
modified bacteria are used for the production of synthetic insulin.
Plants are used to study the effect of certain genes, and to improve plant traits
such as: yield, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and nutrient production.
Engineering plants for the future, by improving stress tolerance (to stresses
such as high salt levels and drought) is an especially important area of research;
with the foreseeable problems farmers are soon to encounter with the changing
climate due to global warming (John, 2006).
VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF MICROBIAL BIOTRANSFORMATION
Transformation of steroids and sterols
Steroids constitute a natural product class of compounds that is widely
distributed throughout nature present in bile salts, adrenal-cortical and sex-
hormones, insect molting hormones, sapogenins, alkaloids and some
antibiotics. In 1937 the first microbial biotransformation of steroids was carried
out. Testosterone was produced from dehydroepiandrosterone by
using Corynebacterium sp. Subsequently cholesterol was produced from 4-
dehydroeticholanic and 7-hydroxycholestrol using Nocardia spp..
All steroids have the same basic structure, a
cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene which consists of four fused
rings. Cortisone is very useful because of its anti-inflammatory action against
rheumatold arthritis and skin diseases. By changing the structure, specifically
by incorporating a 1,2 double bond in ring A of the cortisone molecule to
produce prednisone which have the property of markedly increased anti-
inflammatory effect.
The steroid molecule has several asymmetric centres and it makes the total
synthesis of steroid very difficult. Preliminary research on the 11 alpha-
hydroxylation of progesterone pointed to the possibility of the microbial
introduction of oxygen into the steroid nucleus in a site specific and
stereospecific manner without prior activation. These reactions worked well
and cost-effective production of cortisone became possible. The above
microbial step reactions are of great economic significance. Progesterone
transformation of a C-19 steroid is used industrially in the production of
testosterone and estrogen and the microbial dehydration of ring A is used in
estrogen production.
The breakdown product 3-hydroxy-9,10-secoandrostatriene-9,17-dione is
produced from cholesterol via an opening of the B ring, with the production of
two useful intermediate products, androstendione and androstadiendione with
the help of an enzyme named as Arthrobacter simplex.
MICROBES INVOLVED IN BIOFUEL AND BIOGAS PRODUCTION
Microbes involved in biofuel and biogas production include
• acid forming bacteria
• homoacetogenicbacteria

• cellulolytic bacteria
• carbon dioxide reducing bacteria and
• methanogenic bacteria
These organisms include Bacillus cereus, Serratia marcescens, Arthrobacter
spp, Methanobacterium, Methanobrevibacterium, etc. However, fungi, yeasts
and protozoa are also involved. The microbes produce enzymes such as
laccases, xylanases, glucosidases, and nitrogenases, enzymes for CO 2
reduction and lignocelluloses-based biofuels and acetate production.
According to Bhattacharyya (2008), complex process leading to
generation of methane and carbon dioxide involves Hydrolysis,
Acidification, Acetogenesis and Methanogenesis.
Bioplastics
Bioplastic, also known as biobased plastics are plastics made from agricultural
by-products and also from used plastic bottles and other containers using
microorganisms. Common plastics known as fossil-fuel plastics (also called
Petro based polymers), are derived from petroleum or natural gas. Petro based
plastics require more fossil fuels and generate more greenhouse gases than the
production of biobased polymers. Some, but not all, bioplastics are designed to
biodegrade. Biodegradable bioplastics can break down in either anaerobic or
aerobic environment, depending on how they are made. They are usually
produced from substrates containing starch, cellulose, biopolymers, and a
variety of other materials (Couto, 2008).

Transformation of non-steroid compounds

Dihydroxyacetone from glycerol
Dihydroxyacetone has lots of significance. It is used in lotions and cosmetics.
Various acetic acid bacteria such as Gluconobactermelanogenus used in this
microbial transformation.
Prostaglandins
These are unsaturated fatty C-20 fatty acids hormones. These contains various
medical significance such as PGE-2 used as contraceptive, PEG-2 used for the
alleviation of pain of child-birth, PEG-1 for the treatment of congenital heart
failure and also for the treatment of digestive diseases. These prostaglandins
can be produced from unsaturated fatty acids by microbial transformation with
pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans.
L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
The process for the production of L-ascorbic acid is called Reichstein-Grussner
synthesis. This process of microbial conversion consists of several steps and
this L-ascorbic acid is used in vitamin preparation or as an antioxidant in food
manufacture. The oxidation stage from D-sorbitol to L-sorbose is carried out
by Acetobacter suboxydans in a submerged process at 30-35˚C with vigorous
stirring and aeration. This process is carried out continuously in two stages; the
first step involves the oxidation of glucose by Erwinia species to 2,5-diketo-D-
gluconic acid via D-gluconic acid and 2-keto-D-gluconic acid. The second
step involves a reduction of 2,5-DKG to 2-keto-1-gulonic acid which is
catalysed by a Corynebacterium species.
Transformation of antibiotics
The microbial transformation of existing antibiotics has been done with the
objective of developing new, modified and improved antibiotics which contain
many qualities like reduced toxicity, broad antimicrobial spectrum, enhanced
oral adsorption, less resistant/ allergic effects. In most cases, any
transformation step causes a partial or complete inactivation of antibiotic.
Several typical examples of the many possible reactions are given here:-
Indirect transformation: - In controlled biosynthesis, altered antibiotics
are produced in the presence of inhibitors or modified precursors in the
medium. For example, Streptomyces parvulus produces two new
actinomycins in which proline is replaced by cis-4-methylproline. New
24

compounds have been found when mutants blocked in the synthesis of a

particular antibiotic were used. Mutational synthesis can lead to the
generation of only few improved antibiotics such as 5-epi-sisomicin
which has proved its sufficient efficacy to undergo clinical trials.
Direct transformation: Hydrolysis of the functional groups led to
inactivation of the antibiotics. But in the case of lankacidin-C-14-
butyrate, a bioconversion product formed from lankacidin C and methyl-
butyrate by Bacillus megaterium IFO 12108, improved antimicrobial
activity with lower toxicity was obtained.
Transformation of pesticides
Agents for plant disease and pest control are necessary for the survival of the
world’s population. High stability of the compounds used is vital for the vector
control programs, but this stability has a negative effect on the environment.
In this aspect, microbial transformation is of interest not for the production of
new active agents, but for the greatest possible detoxification of the
environment. This involves enzymatic conversions of xenobiotics. Removal of
xenobiotics from ecosystem can be accomplished through various mechanisms.
Metabolism: Xenobiotics can serve as substrates for microbial growth and
energy production. Complete breakdown of some substrates to carbondioxide
and water. For example:- herbicide dalapon (a chlorinated fatty acid) is
converted by Arthrobacter species into pyruvate.
Cometabolism: Cometabolism normally causes mere modification of
molecules, which may result in either a decrease or an increase in toxicity.
Microorganisms involved in it do not obtain energy from the transformation
reaction and require another substrate for the growth. Complete breakdown of a
compound can be achieved through the combined action of different organisms.
For example:- Dehalogenation reactions are important cometabolism reactions
which may make pesticide molecules accessible for further breakdown. Some
compounds such as chlordecone, a hexachlorocyclopentadiene derivative with
excellent insecticide effects, are not easily attacked by microorganisms because
of their complicated structure and high degree of halogenation.

Importance of Bioconversion
Bioconversion is the process by which microorganisms convert a compound into a
different structurally similar compound (Tay, 2013). Bioconversion is the process
by which microorganisms convert a compound into structurally another product
(Wang Daniel et al., 1979). In other words, bioconversion; chemical
transformations catalyzed by microorganisms (Ayhan, 2015). Such
transformations are often called microbial transformations (Wang Daniel et al.,
1979). Instead of using conventional chemical transformations, bioconversion
(also called biotransformations) has been developed as an alternative (Ayhan,
2009). The earliest known example of bioconversion is the production of vinegar
from ethanol by acetic acid bacteria (Wang Daniel et al., 1979; Walsh, 2001).
Bioconversion processes generally occur in batch, continuous, or semi-continuous
mode bioreactors. Furthermore, depending on the particular application, different
types of bioreactors may be suitable. Generally a certain amount of moisture is
needed for optimal microbial activity. To achieve maximum efficiency, it is
necessary to optimize the biocatalyst and bioreactor configuration and operating
conditions, such as residence time in continuous operation, pH or media
composition (Kennes, 2018).
Biotransformation is of two types: Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic. Enzymatic are
further divided into Microsomal and Non-microsomal.5 Enzymatic Elimination is
the biotransformation occurring due to various enzymes present in the body.
Microsomal biotransformation is caused by enzymes present within the lipophilic
membranes of smooth endoplasmic reticulum.6 Non-Microsomal
Biotransformation involves the enzymes which are present within the
mitochondria. Examples include: Alcohol dehydrogenase responsible for
metabolism of ethanol into acetaldehyde and Tyrosine hydrolases enzymes,
Xanthine oxidase converting hypoxanthine into xanthine etc. Spontaneous, non-
catalyzed and non-enzymatic types of biotransformation are for highly active,
unstable compounds taking place at physiological pH. Some of these include
Chlorazepate converted into Desmethyl diazepam, Mustin HCl converted into
Ethyleneimonium, Atracurium converted into Laudanosine and Quartenary acid,
Hexamine converted into Formaldehyde.

Microbial biotransformation is widely used in the transformation of various

pollutants or a large variety of compounds including hydrocarbons,
pharmaceutical substances and metals.7 These transformations can be congregated
under the categories: oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, isomerisation, condensation,
formation of new carbon bonds, and introduction of functional groups..[ Parkinson
etc all 2001]. For centuries microbial biotransformation has proved to be an
imperative tool in alleviating the production of various chemicals used in food,
pharmaceutical, agrochemical and other industries.

In the field of pharmaceutical research and development, biotransformation studies

have been extensively applied to investigate the metabolism of compounds using
animal models. [Kebamo et al 2015] The microbial biotransformation
phenomenon is then commonly employed in comparing metabolic pathways of
drugs and scaling up the metabolites of interest discovered in these animal models
for further pharmacological and toxicological evaluation.
[Huttel et.al 2010 ]The White biotechnology involves the use of microbial
biotransformation for generating products of interest. [Coelho MA, et al 2015]
Living cells such as bacteria, filamentous fungi, animals, plants, algae, yeast and
actinomycetes are used.

Microbial Bioconversion Techniques

There are different microbial bioconversion techniques used in biotechnology
(Ayhan, 2015). Bioconversion with proliferating cells: After the cells are produced
in an ideal medium and determined by tests, the substrate to be bioconverted is
added to the medium. Bioconversion with cells in static phase: Microorganism is
produced in ideal medium and purified by filtration or centrifugation methods and
then added to bioconversion medium. Bioconversion with spores: Molds are
produced under ideal conditions for spore formation and spores are separated from
micelles and stored in the cold. These spores are utilized in the bioconversion
process. Bioconversion with fixed cells: Microorganisms are fixed in a polymer
matrix (starch, polyacrylamide, cellulose, etc.) that allows the passage of product
and substrate, or bound to a polymer. Immobilized cells can be removed and
reused if necessary. This method is suitable for batch and continuous fermentation.

RECENT ADVANCEMENTS:

In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the field of

bioconversion. One of the major advancements is the use of genetic
engineering to enhance the performance of microorganisms involved in
bioconversion. Researchers have successfully engineered microorganisms to
produce high-value products such as biofuels, bioplastics, and
pharmaceuticals.

Another advancement is the use of omics technologies such as genomics,

proteomics, and metabolomics to understand the complex interactions
between microorganisms and their environment. These technologies have
provided insights into the metabolic pathways involved in bioconversion and
have led to the discovery of novel enzymes and metabolic pathways.

RECENT APPLICATION'S:

Bioconversion has several applications in various industries. One recent

application is the use of bioconversion for the production of biofuels.
Researchers have successfully engineered microorganisms to produce
biofuels such as ethanol, butanol, and biodiesel. These biofuels have the
potential to replace fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and mitigating climate change.

Another application of bioconversion is in the production of bioplastics.

Bioplastics are made from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, and
potato starch. Researchers have successfully used microorganisms to convert
these renewable resources into bioplastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates
(PHA). Bioplastics have the potential to replace traditional petroleum-based
plastics, which are non-biodegradable and contribute to environmental
pollution.

Bioconversion also has applications in the production of high-value

pharmaceuticals. Researchers have successfully used microorganisms to
produce pharmaceuticals such as insulin, antibiotics, and anticancer agents.
These pharmaceuticals have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare
industry by providing affordable and effective treatments for various
diseases.

CONCLUSION:

Bioconversion is a sustainable and renewable process that involves the use

of microorganisms to convert organic matter into useful products. There are
different types of bioconversion processes, including anaerobic digestion,
fermentation, and composting. The microorganisms involved in these
processes include anaerobic bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and actinomycetes.
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