Characterization and control of fungal morphology for improved production performance in biotechnology

• Published in: Journal of biotechnology 2013-01, Vol.163 (2), p.112-123
• Main Authors: Krull, Rainer, Wucherpfennig, Thomas, Esfandabadi, Manely Eslahpazir, Walisko, Robert, Melzer, Guido, Hempel, Dietmar C., Kampen, Ingo, Kwade, Arno, Wittmann, Christoph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aeration; Bioengineering - methods; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; Culture; engineering; Environome; Estimates; Filamentous microorganisms; fungal morphology; fungal spores; Fungi; Fungi - cytology; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - metabolism; hyphae; Image analysis; Industrial Microbiology - methods; Mass transfer; mixing; Morphology; Mycel and pellet growth; mycelium; Mycelium - cytology; Mycelium - genetics; Mycelium - metabolism; osmolality; Pellets; Process parameters; Rheology; Surface properties
• ISSN: 0168-1656; 1873-4863
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.06.024

► Filamentous morphology is successfully characterized by several measurement techniques. ► Characterization of fungal morphology on micro-, macro-, and process-scale level. ► Morphological life cycle in suspension culture. ► Control strategies for fungal morphology. ► Precise control of fungal morphology by the addition of micro-particles and osmolality. Filamentous fungi have been widely applied in industrial biotechnology for many decades. In submerged culture processes, they typically exhibit a complex morphological life cycle that is related to production performance – a link that is of high interest for process optimization. The fungal forms can vary from dense spherical pellets to viscous mycelia. The resulting morphology has been shown to be influenced strongly by process parameters, including power input through stirring and aeration, mass transfer characteristics, pH value, osmolality and the presence of solid micro-particles. The surface properties of fungal spores and hyphae also play a role. Due to their high industrial relevance, the past years have seen a substantial development of tools and techniques to characterize the growth of fungi and obtain quantitative estimates on their morphological properties. Based on the novel insights available from such studies, more recent studies have been aimed at the precise control of morphology, i.e., morphology engineering, to produce superior bio-processes with filamentous fungi.