Foundation of Biotechnology: Microbial Exo-polysaccharides Essay

This essay delves into the fascinating world of microbial exo-polysaccharides (EPS), exploring their mechanisms, diverse applications, advantages, and disadvantages. It examines their significance in various industries, including food and pharmaceuticals, highlighting their role in enhancing product characteristics and addressing health aspects. The essay also discusses the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, the use of xanthan gum, and the ethical considerations surrounding EPS. Furthermore, it emphasizes the critical role of biotechnology in harnessing the potential of EPS, providing examples of their practical applications and concluding with a comprehensive overview of their importance. The content covers the role of EPS in the food industry for viscosity, stability, and water retention, as well as its use in pharmaceuticals for drug delivery and biofilm disruption. It also explores the role of biotechnology in controlling the drawbacks of EPS and improving oil recovery processes. The essay presents both the advantages, such as high structural reproducibility and thermal insulation, and disadvantages, such as potential health issues and complexities in oil recovery, associated with EPS.

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Microbial Exo-polysaccharides
and biotechnology

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Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Mechanisms of Microbial Exo-polysaccharides.....................................................................................2
Applications of Microbial Exo-polysaccharides......................................................................................3
Food industry.....................................................................................................................................3
Pharmaceutical Industry and Health Aspect......................................................................................3
Biosynthesis of polysaccharides........................................................................................................4
Use of xanthan gum in the food industries........................................................................................5
Advantages and disadvantages of Microbial Exo-polysaccharides........................................................5
Advantages........................................................................................................................................5
Disadvantages....................................................................................................................................6
Ethical issues of EPS...............................................................................................................................6
Role of biotechnology............................................................................................................................6
Examples...............................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................7
References.............................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
The EPS is developed and produced with the help of diverse group of the microbial
process which are rapidly emerging as advanced biomaterial (Freitas, Alves, and Reis,
2011). Due to their complex structure and process, the microbial exo-polysaccharides
identifies the large range of commercial applications in many areas like food, non-food,
packaging, and medicine. It is observed that such kinds of biotechnology systems are
linked with the large value applications and they received considerable research
attention in recent decades. The aim of this essay is to understand the concept of
microbial EPS and their different applications in both food and non-food sectors. This
essay is divided into main four sections such as mechanism and applications of EPS,
pros and cons, ethical issues and importance of biotechnology. However, only a few
microbial EPS systems are used in the field of biotechnology due to their several
advantages such as low cost process, more effective, low production cost and many
more.
The microbial exo- polysaccharides are defined as the renewable biological system
which is one of the most important parts of the polymeric material. Term biotechnology
is the part of biology which includes the living systems and organisms to design and
implement the products. It is also defined as the technology which is used by the
biological system to modify and develop products form particular uses.
Mechanisms of Microbial Exo-polysaccharides
The microbial EPS is used to evaluate polymers developed by the biological systems and
process which are not synthesized chemically. Such kind of biological systems
developed from the biological materials for examples sugars, amino acids, and natural
fats and it can be found as linked to the surface of the cell or extracted from the
fermentation medium (Nwodo, Green, and Okoh, 2012). The microbial EPSs are
categorized into various categories such as capsular polysaccharides, levan, alginate,
intracellular storage EPS, and cellulose. The recent study analyzed that the microbial
polysaccharides are developed with the help of microorganisms and secreted out of the
cells which are known as exopolysaccharides (Suresh Kumar, Mody, and Jha, 2007).
They have the potential to secure and protect the cell, adhesion of bacteria and

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participating in the cell to cell interactions. It is observed that the EPSs are a very
significant part for hydrocolloids which is used in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical
and it is divided into main four parts such as polyester, inorganic, polysaccharides, and
polyamides. The EPS is linked with the prokaryotes and eukaryotes and these biological
polymers constitute a large range of high molecular weight organic such as proteins,
nucleic acids and humic substances (Badel, Bernardi, and Michaud, 2011). Many of the
intracellular polysaccharides are described to have antioxidant and anti-cancer doings
as well as immunomodulatory special effects and thereby communicate medicinal
implication. Such kind of structure provides the structural integrity, firmness to the cell
and imparts shape and it is developed through microbes which are immense.
Applications of Microbial Exo-polysaccharides
In this modern era, there are numerous applications in different sectors or industries
such as the food industry, cosmetic sector, civil sector, and the oil industry.
Food industry
It is observed that EPSs are mainly used in the dairy foods to produce and generate the
viscosity, stability and water function which is contributed positively to the mouth feel.
Yogurt manufacture is one of the best application of microbial ESP in which lactic acid
bacteria are used in the field of dairy foods. The recent survey evaluated that the EPS
improves water absorption, dough stability in the biscuit production and dough
development time (Satpute, et al., 2010). Exo-polysaccharides like pollutant are utilized
as a partial replacement for starch in the pasta and fewer viscosity filters are used in the
sauces and beverages. Mainly, decorative chips are developed for the food uses where
pullulan can be used in the foods as a protective glaze and acetobacter xylinum is
introduced in the field of food industry. It is analyzed that the EPS play a significant part
is the field of texture, test perception and mouth feel of the dairy products and mainly it
is used in the development of fermented dairy products. The bacteria produced by the
EPS technology are widely utilized in the development of fermented milk. The Nordic
ropy milk is a part of fermented milk which provides slime which consists of fermenting
milk with the L. lactis subsp (Rehm, 2010).

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Pharmaceutical Industry and Health Aspect
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the common applications of microbial EPS that
completely depended on the polymers, environmental factors change that include pH
and types of biological systems. It is analyzed that most of the polymers swell at the
high value of pH and collapse at very fewer pH levels which are ideal for the process for
example oral delivery. Natural polysaccharides are utilized for the development and
implementation of solid dosage forms and such kinds of polymers are more expensive
and available in the variety of structures with the numbers of properties. There are
many benefits of these polymers such as more stable, very secure and safe, hydrophilic
and non-toxic rather than other. A recent study evaluated that bacterial biofilms are
accounting for over 77% of the microbial in the human body system and the best
technique to reduce biofilm formation is the vivo is private administration of the
biocides (Donot, et al., 2012). Escherichia coli capsular were branded to external biofilm
inhibition process and a bacterial exopolysaccharide also disrupts developed biofilm of
the few strains. Chitosan is defined as the group of polymers which are the derivatives
of the polysaccharide, and chitin with numerous degrees of the molecular weights.
There are several techniques by using the scope of the polymer can be increased such as
combining various polymers by using physical process and modification in their
chemical structure.
The EPS system also provides health related advantages such as cholesterol lowering,
antioxidant, antitumor, immune-modulatory and antiviral activities. The radical
scavenging property of microbial EPS can be utilized to inhibit oxidation of oils and
recent investigation indicated that the anti-ulcer can affect the lactobacilli and
sgtreptococci. Apart from their applications, the microbial EPSs are associated with
numbers of extra functions in the microbial cell and the physiological importance of the
EPS is the bacteria are not clearly established. As per the feedback of recent
investigation, the microbial polysaccharides also play a significant role in the field of the
oil industry and only 54% of the oil can be extracted by using this approach (Laurienzo,
2010). In this modern era, it is now possible to recover such kind of oils with the help of
microbially enhanced oil recovery model which can be performed with the help of
injecting surfactants and viscosity reducing biological agents.

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Biosynthesis of polysaccharides
It is observed that the microorganisms are able for developing and producing the huge
amount of polysaccharides and the process for their biosynthesis are more comparable
to the techniques which occur for the generation of the bacteria cells. It is investigated
that there are well over 100 enzymatic combinations which are included in the
synthesis of polysaccharides by using either directly or indirectly process (Poli,
Anzelmo, and Nicolaus, 2010). It is very common application of this model that can be
used for generating a high level of polysaccharides.
Use of xanthan gum in the food industries
Xanthan is defined as the gum that was the first polysaccharide which is mainly used for
hex polysaccharide. Recent investigation observed that the xanthan gum is utilized in
the food industry as a food additive for the generation and development of soft foods
such as ice cream and cheese. It is also used in the oil sectors for increasing the recovery
process of oil (Poli, et al., 2011). Tooth pastes and water based paints both are very
important applications of the xanthan gum where microbial polysaccharides are used in
the large quantity.
Advantages and disadvantages of Microbial Exo-polysaccharides
Advantages
There are many advantages of the microbial Exo-polysaccharides which are described
below:
 The EPSs have the potential to provide high level structure reproducibility due to
the few monitored situations of microorganism growth
 Mainly the polymeric substance shows the several organic factors such as
proteins, lipids, nucleic acids in the human cells
 They involve the capsular polysaccharides if the polymers materials are linked to
the cell membrane (Patel, Majumder, and Goyal, 2012).
 Very simple to implement and understand
 EPSs have very less thermal conductivity due to their closed cell structure
 It is mainly non-hygroscopic and cannot absorb moisture from the environment

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 The most EPSs are very rot-proof and durable which will remain an effective
insulant for the life of the building
 The mechanical strength of the EPS is very flexible that can be used to suit the
particular application
 The EPSs can be easily developed and produced in a wide range of shapes and
size as compared to the other materials.
 It is very light in the weight by which it can easily transport and saves fuel at the
time of the transportation process
 The thermal insulating properties of the microbial polysaccharides help to keep
food fresh and protect from the other bacteria
Disadvantages
There are few disadvantages or cons of the microbial polysaccharides which are
described below:
 It increases the few human body issues and diseases
 Very complex to recover the oil by using the polysaccharides
 It is harmful to human cells and body system
 It can reduce the efficiency of foods and beverages (Patel, and Prajapat, 2013).
Ethical issues of EPS
It is observed that the bacterial exo-polysaccharides can reduce the stabilization agent
at the time of synthesis of metal nanoparticles with biotechnology application which is a
very common ethical issue of EPS (Rendueles, Kaplan, J.B. and Ghigo, 2013). If any
business industry uses a large number of polysaccharides in their products which can
negatively impact on the human body system?
Role of biotechnology
Biotechnology plays a significant role in the field of microbial exo-polyesaccharide to
control and monitor the drawbacks of this system. With the help of this technology
industries can analysis the importance of the polysaccharide and food sectors can easily
enhance the efficiency of their products (Shih, 2010). The biotechnology resources also
help EPS for development and generation of the better product and it also helps in the
oil sectors during oil recovery process (Ullrich, M. 2009). It is observed that most food

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industries use the biotechnology along with the EPS for food prevention by which
individuals can reducing the biochemical, physical and nutritional damage of food. The
recent survey evaluated that with the help of biotechnology process the individuals and
industries can maintain the access of the microbial polysaccharides by which they can
easily reduce the rate of bacteria from the human body system (Chen, et al., 2013).
Examples
There are many examples of the microbial exo- polysaccharide which are following
 Generation of ice cream and cheese
 To produce the milk in the food industry
 Production of oil and oil recovery through polysaccharides
 Use of xanthan gum for generation of soft foods in the industry
 Generation of solid dosage forms by using the microbial polysaccharides
Conclusion
This essay is completely based on the microbial exo- polysaccharides and biotechnology
and readers can enhance their skills in the sector of biotechnology. Polysaccharides are
defined as the biological systems which are used in many industries such as food
industries, oil sectors, health aspects and many more. This essay discussed the functions
and applications of microbial polysaccharides with their advantages and disadvantages.
The biotechnology approach plays a major role in the field of microbial polysaccharides
which is described in this essay. People and industries should use the advanced
biotechnologies for reducing the drawbacks of the polysaccharides and improve the
health of humans. They can use microbial exo- polysaccharides in an only limited
amount because it can impact on the body structure and cells and they can use in the oil
sectors for recovering oil from different sources.

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References
Badel, S., Bernardi, T. and Michaud, P., (2011) New perspectives for Lactobacilli
exopolysaccharides. Biotechnology advances, 29(1), pp.54-66.
Chen, Y.T., Yuan, Q., Shan, L.T., Lin, M.A., Cheng, D.Q. and Li, C.Y., (2013) Antitumor
activity of bacterial exopolysaccharides from the endophyte Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
sp. isolated from Ophiopogon japonicus. Oncology letters, 5(6), pp.1787-1792.
Donot, F., Fontana, A., Baccou, J.C. and Schorr-Galindo, S., (2012) Microbial
exopolysaccharides: main examples of synthesis, excretion, genetics, and
extraction. Carbohydrate Polymers, 87(2), pp.951-962.
Freitas, F., Alves, V.D., and Reis, M.A., (2011) Advances in bacterial exopolysaccharides:
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pp.388-398.
Laurienzo, P., (2010) Marine polysaccharides in pharmaceutical applications: an
overview. Marine drugs, 8(9), pp.2435-2465.
Nwodo, U.U., Green, E. and Okoh, A.I., (2012) Bacterial exopolysaccharides: functionality
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Patel, A. and Prajapat, J.B., (2013) Food and health applications of exopolysaccharides
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Patel, S., Majumder, A. and Goyal, A., (2012) Potentials of exopolysaccharides from lactic
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Poli, A., Anzelmo, G. and Nicolaus, B., (2010) Bacterial exopolysaccharides from extreme
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Rehm, B.H., (2010) Bacterial polymers: biosynthesis, modifications, and applications.
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