Bacterial exopolysaccharides production and their roles for human life

Abstract

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) is a general term for all these forms of bacterial polysaccharides found outside the cell wall. EPS are separated to two major groups are homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides.The production of exocelluar polysaccharides is found in many species of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The function of exopolysaccharides for bacteria itself are energy reserves, role in virulence, protection against physichally adverse condition, and bacteriophage adsorption. However, Isolation or extraction of EPS from bacterial cells does not ethically violate, because based on the results of research by scientists that EPS is not an essential substance for bacterial growth and survival. Therefore, EPS can be produced industrially for commercial purposes for the benefit of the welfare of humanity and for the purpose of future new polysaccharides. EPS has been proven to be applicable to improving the quality of food products as well as new foods, and can function on a variety of benefits in health pharmaceuticals. Other uses in the polymer industry have also made it possible as a new source of environmentally friendly polymers.