What is the role of microbial biotechnology and genetic engineering in medicine?

Fernando Santos-Beneit

doi:10.1002/mbo3.1406

What is the role of microbial biotechnology and genetic engineering in medicine?

Microbiologyopen. 2024 Apr;13(2):e1406. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.1406.

Author

Fernando Santos-Beneit^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Sustainable Processes, Valladolid, Spain.
² Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.

Abstract

Microbial products are essential for developing various therapeutic agents, including antibiotics, anticancer drugs, vaccines, and therapeutic enzymes. Genetic engineering techniques, functional genomics, and synthetic biology unlock previously uncharacterized natural products. This review highlights major advances in microbial biotechnology, focusing on gene-based technologies for medical applications.

Keywords: antibiotics; biotechnology; cancer; genetic engineering; medicine; microbiology.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biotechnology* / methods
Genetic Engineering*
Genetic Techniques
Genomics
Synthetic Biology

Grants and funding

None