When the existence of microorganisms was still unknown, processes mediated by them were already used empirically for the welfare of humanity. Microorganisms, also called microbes, are tiny living things that usually require the aid of a microscope to visualize them. These organisms are not only involved in harmful effects such as disease and food spoilage, but also help in maintaining the balance of life in our environment.
In addition, through fermentative processes, that is, biocatalyzed transformations by microorganisms, it is possible to obtain different metabolite products useful to living beings. Microorganisms have several commercial applications and are used in the synthesis of chemicals such as vitamins, organic acids, enzymes, alcohols and many drugs.
After antibiotics, enzymes constitute the most important group of biological products of human need. Enzymes are used in numerous industrial processes, such as, detergents, cosmetics, foods, medicines and many chemicals, organic compounds that catalyze and make many chemical reactions possible. Enzymes of microbial origin, especially hydrolytic ones, are the most commonly used in industrial processes. Generally speaking, they are widely used in the textile (amylase, cellulase, pectinase), detergent (cellulase, lipase, protease), food (cellulase, lactase, lipase, pectinase, protease), paper (lipase and xylanase) industries, and tannery (lipase, protease).
Most of the microbial enzymes used in industry are extracellular. The use of microorganisms is one of the oldest forms of enzyme production, being a cost-effective process responsible for approximately 90% of the world's traded enzymes. Microorganisms belonging to different genera such as Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Bacillus, Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Penicillium, have been the most commonly used for the production of hydrolytic enzymes.
The use of enzymes as catalysts has evolved significantly in recent years. This is a direct consequence of the challenge imposed by modern society based on the combination of economic development and environmental preservation. Thus, microbial enzyme technology can go hand in hand with the bioeconomy, which presents itself as an ecologically and socially sustainable economy. Brazil is one of the countries that can benefit most from the development of national enzyme technology. This is due to the amount of renewable raw materials that can be enzymatically transformed into high value-added products useful for strategic sectors of the economy. At NEFER, we are doing research on the use of enzymatic extract from filamentous fungi, yeast and actinobacteria from soil and fruit of Brazilian savannah, fermenting process and during the composting.
Angélica Cristina de Souza
Disney Robeiro Dias
Juliete Gomes de Lara de Souza
Natalia de Andrade Teixeira Fernandes
The use of microbial enzymes in everyday life
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