ENGR407-13S1 (C) Semester One 2013

Bioprocess Engineering 1

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 18 February 2013
End Date: Sunday, 23 June 2013
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 3 March 2013
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 19 May 2013

Description

Engineering biochemistry covering enzyme kinetics, metabolism and applied molecular biology.

Topics
Section 1: Engineernig Biochemistry (Simone Dimartino)

• Introduction to course and my lectures. The cell – organelles
• Cell components, biomolecules – Carbs, Organic acids, lipids, fats, steroids, amino acids,
            proteins
• Enzymes 1 – What is an enzyme? Enzyme kinetics – M-M
• Enzymes 2 – Enzyme kinectics – Inhibition, examples/design of inhibitors (brief)
• Metabolism 1 – Principles of metabolism
• Metabolism 2 – How do we know? How do you study metabolic pathways
• Metabolism 3 – Examples of metabolic pathways – Glycolysis
• Metabolism 4 – Examples of metabolic pathways – The Krebs Cycle
• Metabolism 5 – In lecture tutorial – Metabolism problem solving (what was previously
            taught in the tutorials)
• Enzymes 3 – Immobilisation
• Enzymes 4 – Industrial Uses
• Protein bioinformatics – “How to” web guide, Pymol, Protein calculator, PDB, BLAST

Section 2: Genetic  Engineering (Dr. Celine Valery)

Part 1 – Genetic engineering basics
Molecular biology refresher
• The central dogma (from DNA to protein synthesis)
• DNA structure and function
• Protein structure and function
NA replication and repair
• Replication process
• Repair and recombination
• Natural mutation
Manipulating and analysing DNA 1: main steps in DNA cloning
• DNA extraction techniques
• Building recombinant DNA: restriction enzymes and ligation
• Cloning vectors (types and choice of)
• Transformation into host cells
Manipulating and analysing DNA 2: PCR and sequencing
• Principles of PCR and site-directed mutagenesis
• DNA sequencing
• Illustration:  PCR and sequencing in DNA forensics
Proteins: post-translational modifications and folding
• Overview of the translation process
• Typical post-translational modifications (and reasons for), illustration: formation of
            disulfide bridges during the production of insulin
• The importance of folding: example of pathologies related to protein misfolding (focus on
            neurodegenerative diseases)
• Analysing proteins, classical techniques (including folding analysis)

Part 2 - Medical and industrial applications
Overview of protein expression systems
• Currently marketed recombinant products and corresponding expression systems
           (recombinant therapeutic proteins, antibodies, vaccines,..)
• Overview and comparison of expression systems (bacteria, yeasts vs CHO &
            mammalian), tools for host selection (process requirement and cost criteria)
Study case 1 : producing recombinant therapeutics
• Production of insulin from bacterial cells
• Examples of protein therapeutics production from mammalian cells
Study case 2 : genetic engineering and viruses
• Production of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine from yeast cells
• Viral vectors and gene therapy
Genetic engineering and biomedical research
• Model of diseases and gene knockout engineering
• Protein tracking strategies: fusion genes, example of green-fluorescent protein
• Protein expression studies: manipulating gene promoters
Transgenic plants and genetically modified foods
• Transgenic plant proteins:  examples and process of production
• Transgenic plants: complex systems
• Genetically modified foods: gene-implantation technologies (soil bug Agrobacterium
            tumefaciens, electroporation, gene guns)
• Currently marketed modified crops, and global presence
Animal transgenesis
• Gene transfer strategies in animal transgenesis
• Transgenic animals and their current use (medicine and industrial)
• Study case 1: “pharming” - transgenic animal proteins (example of anti-cancer
            antibodies from milk products)
• Study 2: transgenesis in the improvement of production traits (examples of wool and
            milk)
Review

Section 3: Industrial Microbiology (Dr. Gabriel Visnovsky and Dr Jason Ryan)

• Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes
• Microbial metabolism
• Culture media
• Screening, Isolation, Preservation and Improvement of Microorganisms
• Inoculum preparation and Sterilization
• Culture medium design for industrial fermentations
• Culture medium design for industrial fermentations
• Microbial growth kinetics
• Microbial stoichiometry
• Bioreactors design and scale up
• Case study 1
• Case study 2

Prerequisites

ENCH281 or subject to approval of the Director of Studies

Restrictions

ENCH323

Course Coordinator

Gabriel Visnovsky

Block 1: Dr. Simone Dimartino (simone.dimartino@.canterbury.ac.nz)
Block 2: Dr. Celine Valery (celine.valery@canterbury.ac.nz)
Block 3: Dr. Gabriel Visnovsky (gabriel.visnovsky@canterbury.ac.nz)

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Presentations 10%
Presentations 10%
Final Exam 57%
Test 23%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Ratledge, Colin. , Kristiansen, B; Basic biotechnology ; 3rd ed; Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Shuler, Michael L. , Kargi, Fikret; Bioprocess engineering : basic concepts ; 2nd ed; Prentice Hall, 2002.

Notes

Concerns
Students with concerns about the course should contact any of the teachers listed above, the 3rd Pro Director of Studies (Dr. Chris Williamson), or the Head of Department.

General Policies of the Department
Students may obtain the general policies of the University on matters such as the aegrotat applications, appeals procedures, reconsideration of grades and special provision for students with disabilities from the University Calendar.  The Department assessment details, Departmental Safety Handbook, Electrical Safety Supplement and Disposal of Chemical Wastes Policy are distributed to the students at the beginning of the new year.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $808.00

International fee $4,550.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Chemical and Process Engineering .

All ENGR407 Occurrences

  • ENGR407-13S1 (C) Semester One 2013