World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 8 (Supplement 1), 14-15
Microbiology in the 1990s: reflections about open questions and trends H.-P. Schmauder
Besides the classical research areas in microbiology (taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, fermentation techniques, etc.) there are necessities for doing increased research work on (a) antagonistic interactions between microorganisms and plants (as well as plant cell cultures); (b) applications of microorganisms, cells or enzymes for biotransformations of chemical synthesized or natural compounds and their use in chemical, pharmaceutical or agrochemical processes; (c) all possible areas for immobilization of biocatalysts and studying all open questions of physiology, transport processes, kinetics or technology of these immobilized reactions, respectively; as well as (d) application of microbiological and biochemical knowledge to solve problems in ecology. These examples indicate that there is a wide field not only for research in 'classical' microbiology but also outside of the historical research profiles, e.g. interactions in complex habitats or in ecological systems. These four named spheres will be illustrated below. The (antagonistic) interaction between plants and microorganisms is a typical example to study not only for an isolated system but'also for a complex system. The organisms of these systems react mostly in the interaction within the microhabitats rather than in isolated cultures. The microorganisms grow on or in plant parts or tissues. As a rule all plant pathogens as well as some of the saprophytic microorganisms are able to produce substances showing phytotoxic or phytoeffective activities. On the other hand, it is known that there is the possibility of (antagonistic) interactions between the different plant microorganisms. This complicated ecological system has not Bet been studied in detail. Up to now, mostly isolated, single observations have been described about the mode of attack and interaction between parasitic, pathogenic or saprophytic microorganisms and plants; molecular and physiological
H.-P. Schmauder is at the Friedrich-Bchiller-University Jena, Department of Biology, Institute of Biology, Technical Microbiology, Neugasse 23, D-O-6900, Jena, Germany. 9 1992 Rapid Communications of Oxford Ltd
14
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol 8 Supplement 1 " I992
reactions of the partners in these interactions; different kinds of signal transformation, signal transduction, sterical necessities for the induction of an answer to the attack, etc.; types of microorganisms found on plant parts in relation to the age of plants, plant parts, etc.; and interactions between the microorganisms grown on or in pIant parts. A more detailed knowledge about the modes of action, of attack, and molecular or substantial premises will allow development of new 'biological' methods for the control of parasites, of plant protection or for increasing yields. For a solution to these problems there is the necessity to develop new methods in biotests, biochemistry and biology as well as biotechnology. The chemical, pharmaceutical and agrochemicaI industries cannot exist without the use of biocatalysts (enzymes, antibodies, intact cells of microorganisms, animals or plants) in some processes of biotransformation. The partial high specificities of these biocatalysts with regard to their practical use allow us to develop new methods, to save costs, to reduce ecological problems, etc. In recent years the following main topics have been the centre of interest: (a) application in organic solvents or in mixtures of organic solvents with water; (b) studying of mechanisms of the reactions for the development of more economical and ecologically applicable processes; (c) look-out for new kinds of biocatalysts, organisms, reactions, etc.; (d) development of new ways for scale-up, scale-down, analytical methods, etc. These topics will occupy a main field in research and development in microbiology/biotechnology in the I990s. In close connection to biotransformations as welt as de-nouo syntheses of interesting compounds is the immobilization of biocatalysts. This method is suitable to stabilize biological activities and to make reactions more effective, etc. Some problems have not been solved satisfactorily and need to be localized, e.g.: (a) finding of new or more effective methods for immobilization; (b) studying transport processes in relation to substrates, products, intermediates, etc., also with a view to the differences between lipophilic
Microbiology in the 1990s and hydrophilic compounds; (c) research about the physiology of immobilization by way of comparison with free cells. This is necessary in relation to an application of immobilized biocatalysts for production/transformations of lipophilic compounds; and (d) technological variants for scale-up, etc., to an industrial application. In the last decades an accumulation of ecological problems was recorded. For a reduction of these accumulated problems as well as for a lower rate of new ecological loads there is a necessity to intensify all research in this area by looking to the following topics: (a) search for new organisms, methods, and technologies for degradation or for processes with reduced rates of by-products; (b)
development of new analytical methods for detection of dangerous compounds, metabolism of such substances and detection of metabolic intermediates with tendencies of accumulation processes, etc.; (c) increase of all research with a direction to reduce by-products and ecological problems, e.g. cleaning of waste water, exhaust air or gases and soil; as well as (d) research about all aspects of safety control, etc. In due time efforts will intensify to solve open problems and questions in the area of research and practical application. These problems are obliged to have a fixed position in a programme of microbiological congresses in the 1990s.
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnologg, Vo] 8 Supplement 1 " 1992
X~
Microbiology in the 1990s: reflections about open questions and trends H.-P. Schmauder
Besides the classical research areas in microbiology (taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, fermentation techniques, etc.) there are necessities for doing increased research work on (a) antagonistic interactions between microorganisms and plants (as well as plant cell cultures); (b) applications of microorganisms, cells or enzymes for biotransformations of chemical synthesized or natural compounds and their use in chemical, pharmaceutical or agrochemical processes; (c) all possible areas for immobilization of biocatalysts and studying all open questions of physiology, transport processes, kinetics or technology of these immobilized reactions, respectively; as well as (d) application of microbiological and biochemical knowledge to solve problems in ecology. These examples indicate that there is a wide field not only for research in 'classical' microbiology but also outside of the historical research profiles, e.g. interactions in complex habitats or in ecological systems. These four named spheres will be illustrated below. The (antagonistic) interaction between plants and microorganisms is a typical example to study not only for an isolated system but'also for a complex system. The organisms of these systems react mostly in the interaction within the microhabitats rather than in isolated cultures. The microorganisms grow on or in plant parts or tissues. As a rule all plant pathogens as well as some of the saprophytic microorganisms are able to produce substances showing phytotoxic or phytoeffective activities. On the other hand, it is known that there is the possibility of (antagonistic) interactions between the different plant microorganisms. This complicated ecological system has not Bet been studied in detail. Up to now, mostly isolated, single observations have been described about the mode of attack and interaction between parasitic, pathogenic or saprophytic microorganisms and plants; molecular and physiological
H.-P. Schmauder is at the Friedrich-Bchiller-University Jena, Department of Biology, Institute of Biology, Technical Microbiology, Neugasse 23, D-O-6900, Jena, Germany. 9 1992 Rapid Communications of Oxford Ltd
14
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol 8 Supplement 1 " I992
reactions of the partners in these interactions; different kinds of signal transformation, signal transduction, sterical necessities for the induction of an answer to the attack, etc.; types of microorganisms found on plant parts in relation to the age of plants, plant parts, etc.; and interactions between the microorganisms grown on or in pIant parts. A more detailed knowledge about the modes of action, of attack, and molecular or substantial premises will allow development of new 'biological' methods for the control of parasites, of plant protection or for increasing yields. For a solution to these problems there is the necessity to develop new methods in biotests, biochemistry and biology as well as biotechnology. The chemical, pharmaceutical and agrochemicaI industries cannot exist without the use of biocatalysts (enzymes, antibodies, intact cells of microorganisms, animals or plants) in some processes of biotransformation. The partial high specificities of these biocatalysts with regard to their practical use allow us to develop new methods, to save costs, to reduce ecological problems, etc. In recent years the following main topics have been the centre of interest: (a) application in organic solvents or in mixtures of organic solvents with water; (b) studying of mechanisms of the reactions for the development of more economical and ecologically applicable processes; (c) look-out for new kinds of biocatalysts, organisms, reactions, etc.; (d) development of new ways for scale-up, scale-down, analytical methods, etc. These topics will occupy a main field in research and development in microbiology/biotechnology in the I990s. In close connection to biotransformations as welt as de-nouo syntheses of interesting compounds is the immobilization of biocatalysts. This method is suitable to stabilize biological activities and to make reactions more effective, etc. Some problems have not been solved satisfactorily and need to be localized, e.g.: (a) finding of new or more effective methods for immobilization; (b) studying transport processes in relation to substrates, products, intermediates, etc., also with a view to the differences between lipophilic
Microbiology in the 1990s and hydrophilic compounds; (c) research about the physiology of immobilization by way of comparison with free cells. This is necessary in relation to an application of immobilized biocatalysts for production/transformations of lipophilic compounds; and (d) technological variants for scale-up, etc., to an industrial application. In the last decades an accumulation of ecological problems was recorded. For a reduction of these accumulated problems as well as for a lower rate of new ecological loads there is a necessity to intensify all research in this area by looking to the following topics: (a) search for new organisms, methods, and technologies for degradation or for processes with reduced rates of by-products; (b)
development of new analytical methods for detection of dangerous compounds, metabolism of such substances and detection of metabolic intermediates with tendencies of accumulation processes, etc.; (c) increase of all research with a direction to reduce by-products and ecological problems, e.g. cleaning of waste water, exhaust air or gases and soil; as well as (d) research about all aspects of safety control, etc. In due time efforts will intensify to solve open problems and questions in the area of research and practical application. These problems are obliged to have a fixed position in a programme of microbiological congresses in the 1990s.
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnologg, Vo] 8 Supplement 1 " 1992
X~
