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Home >>Use Of Microbes in Industry and Agriculture >> Single Cell Protein SCP from Microrganisms
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Single Cell Protein SCP from Microrganisms - The term single cell protein (SCP) was coined at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by a group of scientists in 1966.
The term, as used today, is rather misleading, since it refers to not only the isolated cell protein but to "any microbial biomass from either uni and multicellular bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi or algae which can be used as food or feed additives". On an average, the microbial biomass contains about 45 to 55% protein, although in some bacteria the protein content is as high as 80%.
The biomass also contains other essential nutrients as well, and as such it is an ideal supplement to conventional food supply.

However, in many countries, use of microbial biomass as a supplement to diet has met with scepticism because of certain psychological barriers. But even in these countries, it will playa major role via SCP feeding to animals which will be then consumed by the humans. As compared with traditional methods of producing proteins for food or feed, large scale production of microbial biomass has the following advantages:
(i) Micro organisms in general have a high rate of multiplication.
(ii) Microbes have high protein content.
(iii) They can utilize a large number of different carbon sources, some of which are waste products.

(iv)Strains with high yield and good composition can be selected or produced relatively easily.
(v) Microbial biomass production is independent of seasonal and climatic variation.
In India, at CFTRI (Central Food Technology Res. Institute), Mysore, research is being conducted on the use of blue green alga, Spirulina as a supplement to diet (food and feed). The, alga is cultured, dried, powdered and then used in the from of one gram tablets.
It contains 60% protein, essential vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. When fishes and children (3-12 years old) were fed on this food, encouraging results were obtained. It is, therefore hoped that Spirulina will become an important supplement to the diet of humans and also of marine and fresh water life.

However, there are certain disadvantages also, of using microbial biomass as supplement to diet. Many micro organisms produce toxic substances and it has to be made sure that the biomass does not contain any such substance.

Sometimes the micro organisms when taken in, lead to indigestion and allergenic reactions. The high nucleic acid in many microbial biomass products is also undesirable.

 

 
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