Abstract
In recent years immobilized cells have commonly been used for various biotechnological applications, e.g., antibiotic production, soil bioremediation, biodegradation and biotransformation of xenobiotics in wastewater treatment plants. Although the literature data on the physiological changes and behaviour of cells in the immobilized state remain fragmentary, it is well documented that in natural settings microorganisms are mainly found in association with surfaces, which results in biofilm formation. Biofilms are characterized by genetic and physiological heterogeneity and the occurrence of altered microenvironments within the matrix. Microbial cells in communities display a variety of metabolic differences as compared to their free-living counterparts. Immobilization of bacteria can occur either as a natural phenomenon or as an artificial process. The majority of changes observed in immobilized cells result from protection provided by the supports. Knowledge about the main physiological responses occurring in immobilized cells may contribute to improving the efficiency of immobilization techniques. This paper reviews the main metabolic changes exhibited by immobilized bacterial cells, including growth rate, biodegradation capabilities, biocatalytic efficiency and plasmid stability.
Highlights
For many decades attention has been focused on microbial behaviour in planktonic systems, it has been reported that in natural environments, and clinical and industrial settings a wide range of surfaces constitute the major sites of microbial occurrence
Changes included three major groups: proteins involved in the early step of biofilm formation and attachment analyses conducted by showed changes in bacterial protein profiles between included three majorresponsible groups: proteins involved the early of biofilmand formation attachment of bacteria, proteins for cofactors andin amino acid step biosynthesis, proteinsand involved in the suspended andproteins immobilized cells ranging from to even more than 50%
Amino acid biosynthesis, and proteins involved in the adaption and protection of cells. for Proteomic differences are observed between immobilized and Changes included three major groups: proteins involved in the early step of biofilm formation adaption andbacteria, protection of even cells
Summary
For many decades attention has been focused on microbial behaviour in planktonic systems, it has been reported that in natural environments, and clinical and industrial settings a wide range of surfaces constitute the major sites of microbial occurrence. In natural communities of bacteria it has been documented that attached microorganisms are more active than their free-living counterparts, and exhibit differences in gene expression [1,2]. It is well known that interaction between bacteria and solid phase results in a variety of physiological changes in microbial behaviour [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Immobilization of living and growing cells due to their self-proliferating and self-regenerating properties, and their ability to catalyze multistep and multifunctional reactions involving coenzyme regeneration may be used for various purposes.
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