title: The microbial cell factory.
abstract: Microorganisms have been used for decades as sources of antibiotics, vitamins and enzymes and for the production of fermented foods and chemicals. In the 21st century microorganisms will play a vital role in addressing some of the problems faced by mankind. In this article three of the current applications in which microbes have a significant role to play are highlighted: the discovery of new antibiotics, manufacture of biofuels and bioplastics, and production of fine chemicals via biotransformation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, Ardmore House, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland. Cormac.d.murphy@ucd.ie
authors.forename: Cormac D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D001711:Biotransformation; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D056804:Biofuels; D010969:Plastics