Microbiology for Engineers: Analyzing the Economic Impact of Fungi

This essay delves into the economic importance of fungi, highlighting their diverse applications across various industries. Fungi are crucial in producing alkaloids, enzymes, and antibiotics like penicillin. They play a vital role in recycling activities by decomposing organic material and restoring essential substrates to the biosphere. Industrial processes such as coal solubilization, biobleaching, and bioremediation benefit significantly from fungal activities. Furthermore, fungi are essential in wastewater treatment and possess healing properties that can be applied to concrete, offering a sustainable solution in the construction industry. The essay concludes that fungi have significant direct and indirect economic impacts across multiple sectors.

Microbiology for engineers
Economic importance of Fungi

Fungi are known to be one of the most important groups of organisms on the planet Earth.
The economic importance of Fungi is the reflection of the diverse life forms and their
metabolic abilities1. The work is aimed at providing a glimpse of the key areas where the
fungi yield economic benefits.
Most of the fungi are utilised in the production of alkaloids, enzymes, and a range of organic
compounds2. One of the most essential products that are yielded by fungi is the antibiotics.
One of the most wonderful drugs that are produced with the aid of fungi is the 'penicillin3.'
the commercial cultivation if fungi result in the production of various alkaloids and organic
acids, which are of vital importance in the production of drugs.
Another key area where fungi play an essential role in terms of economic yields is the
recycling activities. The filamentous fungi are said to play a significant role in the biosphere.
When the fungi act on the organic material, it leads to decomposition. The process further
enables the restoration of substrates like phosphorus, carbon, minerals, and nitrogen to the
biosphere. Some of the industrial processes, where the fungi are said to be useful are Coal
solubilisation, Biobleaching, Microencapsulation, Bioremediation of soils, and others4. In
addition, it is widely known that the fungi play a significant role in the wastewater treatment5.
Besides above, according to recent reports, the fungi are stated to be possessing healing
properties to help promote the same in concrete6. Thus, the inclusion of the fungal spores
1 J Bennett & L Lasure, Gene Manipulations in Fungi, in , Florida, Academic Press Inc., 2012.
2 K Scherlach, K Graupner & C Hertweck, "Molecular Bacteria-Fungi Interactions: Effects on Environment,
Food, and Medicine", in Annual Review of Microbiology, vol. 67, 2013, 375-397.
3 T Bladt et al., "Anticancer and Antifungal Compounds from Aspergillus, Penicillium and Other Filamentous
Fungi", in Molecules, vol. 18, 2013, 11338-11376.
4 A Posch, C Herwig & O Spadiut, "Science-based bioprocess design for filamentous fungi", in Trends in
Biotechnology, vol. 31, 2013, 37-44.
5 S Sankaran et al., "Use of Filamentous Fungi for Wastewater Treatment and Production of High-Value Fungal
Byproducts: A Review", in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 40, 2010, 400-449.
6 C Jin, "Fungi Can Help Concrete Heal Its Own Cracks", in Scientific American, , 2018,
<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fungi-can-help-concrete-heal-its-own-cracks/> [accessed 7
February 2019].

during the initial mixing process while constructing a new concrete structure is stated to be a
revolutionary as well sustainable proposal in the construction industry7.
Hence, from the discussions conducted it can be stated that fungi possess economic
significance directly or indirectly in various industries.
7 T Sandle, "Self-healing fungal concrete developed", in Digitaljournal.com, , 2019,
<http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/science/self-healing-fungal-concrete-developed/article/
512815> [accessed 7 February 2019].

Bibliography
Bennett, J, & L Lasure, Gene Manipulations in Fungi. in , Florida, Academic Press Inc.,
2012.
Jin, C, "Fungi Can Help Concrete Heal Its Own Cracks.". in Scientific American, , 2018,
<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fungi-can-help-concrete-heal-its-own-cracks/>
[accessed 7 February 2019].
Bladt, T, J Frisvad, P Knudsen, & T Larsen, "Anticancer and Antifungal Compounds from
Aspergillus, Penicillium and Other Filamentous Fungi.". in Molecules, 18, 2013, 11338-
11376.
Posch, A, C Herwig, & O Spadiut, "Science-based bioprocess design for filamentous fungi.".
in Trends in Biotechnology, 31, 2013, 37-44.
Sandle, T, "Self-healing fungal concrete developed.". in Digitaljournal.com, , 2019,
<http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/science/self-healing-fungal-concrete-
developed/article/512815> [accessed 7 February 2019].
Sankaran, S, S Khanal, N Jasti, B Jin, A Pometto, & J Van Leeuwen, "Use of Filamentous
Fungi for Wastewater Treatment and Production of High Value Fungal Byproducts: A
Review.". in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 2010, 400-449.
Scherlach, K, K Graupner, & C Hertweck, "Molecular Bacteria-Fungi Interactions: Effects on
Environment, Food, and Medicine.". in Annual Review of Microbiology, 67, 2013, 375-397.