Microbes in Antibiotics

Genetically Engineered microbes are the microbes that are introduced into a particular product to enhance its efficacy with the help of recombinant DNA technology. They play an important role in the production of pharmaceutical products and antibiotics which only limit their varied utilisation in the biological processes. Microbes are derivatives of microorganisms. Small and cannot be seen without the help of a microscope and can be grown aseptically for the formation of microbial colonies. 

Whenever they get a suitable environment they grow their number inside the host body as well as outside in the environment. The reproduction mode is binary fission by which they multiply every 20-25 minutes. In our history of industrial microbiology, there were many scientists, Leeuwenhoek, Spallanzani, and Pasteur as exemplification to the microbial society. Microorganisms act as a raw source for the development of various microbial products such as Vitamins, Recombinant Products, Flavouring agents, vaccines, and Antibiotics. In general microbiology, industrial microbiology, and industrial biotechnology we use microbes to cultivate and grow new products for human welfare at low cost which constitutes addictive properties. 

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are considered as the microbes’ product which is produced as a secondary metabolite. Microbial Secondary Metabolites are the intermediates produced in idiophase and the growth of these microbial products like antibiotics took place during the deceleration and stationary phase. Secondary metabolites are considered microbes that possess non-growing or slow-growing cells, especially in fungi possessing filaments.

Other products of secondary metabolites include  

• Single Cell Protein
• Various enzymes which serve the antimicrobial properties
• Pharmacological products
• Antibiotic term was coined by microbiologist Selman Waksman in 1942.
• Antibiotics can be defined as the drugs which are consumed by the host to fight against pathogens.
• They inhibit the multiplication capability of microorganisms and by doing so they prevent living beings who are suffering from mild diseases or severe diseases during a proper course of time.
• Antibiosis: The ability of antibiotics to kill or inhibit the pathogen’s activities inside the host body.

History of Antibiotics:

• Penicillin: First antibiotic
• Discovered by: Alexander Flemming
• Year of Discovery: 1928
• Source: Penicillium notatum

Process of Production of Antibiotics:

Media for Industrial Fermentation to be used in specified concentrations.

It includes 

• Sources from Carbon, Nitrogen, Minerals, Chelators, Oxygen, and many more.
• Sterilisation of media is the mandatory process that includes batch, fed-batch, continuous as well as filtering sterilisation.
• Inoculum as a starter is used possessing capabilities of production like baker’s yeast and vegetative fungi.  
• Designing a fermentor is done to provide an environment for the growth of microorganisms with properly controlled temperature, pressure, weight, etc.
• Aeration and agitation balance to be maintained.
• Recovery and Purification by using filtration and centrifugation are done to get the product.
• Effluent disposal must be done by following the proper guidelines of biosafety levels.

Examples of Microbial Antibiotics:

Uses of Antibiotics:

• Antibiotics have medicinal properties against allergic reactions,  viral infections, bacterial infections, fungal infections, urinary tract infections, and yeast infections.
• Antibiotics have preservative properties by which we can store meat for a long time without its degradation.
• Antibiotics can be added as a supplement to the grazing animals’ feed for their better growth.

Properties of Antibiotics:

• Antibiotics act as a resistance in the host body to the infectious agents which cause disease.
• Antibiotics act as a barrier by preventing the disease from becoming more severe inside the host.
• Antibiotics only act against the harmful bacteria which can and are causing severity inside the host body.
• Antibiotics possess no or little side effects on the host body. 

Routes of Administration:

Antibiotics can be delivered to the host body by following the routes like intramuscular, Subcutaneous, Intradermal, and oral.

Side Effects of Antibiotics:

• Basic symptoms like diarrhoea, rashes, nausea, and vomiting.
• Other symptoms which are considered rare include deafness, blood disorders like blood clotting, and issues of having kidney stones.

Conclusion

Antibiotics using chronological ancient history possess various medicinal uses. It also plays a vital role in the pharmacy and its sub-branches like pharmacology, pharmacovigilance, and pharmacogenomics. Our generation who suffer from mild to severe disease relies on the consumption of antibiotics. Antibiotics in the host body resist the accumulation, growth, and multiplication of the microorganism. 

We show dependency on antibiotics as these medications prevent the body from the severe attacks of the microbial communities by acting on them via various routes like intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, and intravenously.  Antibiotics in the modern age rely on the production of molecules that are bioactive in nature. The term industrial microbiology  serves us by providing welfare in the form of various commodIties like alcohols, beverages, vinegar, single-cell proteins, various antibiotics like Penicillin, Streptomycin, monoclonal antibodies, and many more. Apart from these antibiotics are promoting the biotechnology field to develop new diagnostic methods.