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production. Generation time of Methylophilusis is about 2 h and it is utilized as
animal feed and generally produces more favorable protein composition in comparison to fungi or yeast. Large amounts of microbial protein can be produced
utilizing bacteria like Methylophilus methylitropous, Acinetobacter calcoacenticus, Acromobacter delvaevate, Aeromonas hydrophilla, Bacillus megaterium,
Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacterium, Lactobacillus species, Cellulomonas species,
Methylomonas methylotrophus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhodopseudomonas
capsulate, Flavobacterium species, Thermomonospora fusca (Dhanasekaran et al.
2011; Suman et al. 2015).
8.3.2 Algae
Centuries ago Spirulina was used by people of Aztecs near Texcoco in Mexico and
near lakechad in Africa. It was used as food after drying. Spirulina is the most commonly used algae as microbial protein. Even astronauts carried it to space during
their space travels. Likewise, biomass gained from Senedessmus and Chlorella has
been collected and utilized as food by tribal groups in some parts of the world.
Algae are used as source of food in various ways and its benefits include relatively
easy cultivation, efficient utilization of solar energy, high growth rate and rich protein content. The algae Spirulina is recommended as supplemental protein (Raja
et al. 2008). It is blue green algae with strong antioxidant activity and incites a free
radical scavenging enzyme system. A diet supplemented with Spirulina and other
nutraceuticals can help to protect stem/progenitor cells. Spirulina maxima in particular, can help to avoid fatty liver development triggered by carbon tetrachloride.
Evidence has shown that Spirulina can help patients with immune suppression, malnutrition, neural and hepatic compromise. Further inquiries on the antiviral effects
of this alga and its clinical consequences are strongly needed (Suman et al. 2015).
8.3.3 Fungi
Various fungi are utilized as a source of protein rich food (Bhalla et al. 2007).
Filamentous species of fungi are also utilized as microbial protein. In the late 1900s,
filamentous fungi and Actinomycetes bacteria were noted to produce protein from
several substrates. At the time of World War II, efforts were made to utilize Fusarium
and Rhizopus grown in fermenters as a source of protein rich food. The strains of
Aspergillus oryzae or Rhizopus arrhizus were chosen due to their nontoxic behavior. Saprophytic fungi can be grown on complex organic compounds and can render
them into simple substrate. Large amount of fungal biomass is formed as a result of
growth. Yield of mycelia varies greatly depending upon organisms and substrates.
On the other hand, some species of moulds, for example, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigates, Fusarium graminearum which are reported to be dangerous to humans, must
A. K. Singh et al.
production. Generation time of Methylophilusis is about 2 h and it is utilized as
animal feed and generally produces more favorable protein composition in comparison to fungi or yeast. Large amounts of microbial protein can be produced
utilizing bacteria like Methylophilus methylitropous, Acinetobacter calcoacenticus, Acromobacter delvaevate, Aeromonas hydrophilla, Bacillus megaterium,
Bacillus subtilis, Brevibacterium, Lactobacillus species, Cellulomonas species,
Methylomonas methylotrophus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhodopseudomonas
capsulate, Flavobacterium species, Thermomonospora fusca (Dhanasekaran et al.
2011; Suman et al. 2015).
8.3.2 Algae
Centuries ago Spirulina was used by people of Aztecs near Texcoco in Mexico and
near lakechad in Africa. It was used as food after drying. Spirulina is the most commonly used algae as microbial protein. Even astronauts carried it to space during
their space travels. Likewise, biomass gained from Senedessmus and Chlorella has
been collected and utilized as food by tribal groups in some parts of the world.
Algae are used as source of food in various ways and its benefits include relatively
easy cultivation, efficient utilization of solar energy, high growth rate and rich protein content. The algae Spirulina is recommended as supplemental protein (Raja
et al. 2008). It is blue green algae with strong antioxidant activity and incites a free
radical scavenging enzyme system. A diet supplemented with Spirulina and other
nutraceuticals can help to protect stem/progenitor cells. Spirulina maxima in particular, can help to avoid fatty liver development triggered by carbon tetrachloride.
Evidence has shown that Spirulina can help patients with immune suppression, malnutrition, neural and hepatic compromise. Further inquiries on the antiviral effects
of this alga and its clinical consequences are strongly needed (Suman et al. 2015).
8.3.3 Fungi
Various fungi are utilized as a source of protein rich food (Bhalla et al. 2007).
Filamentous species of fungi are also utilized as microbial protein. In the late 1900s,
filamentous fungi and Actinomycetes bacteria were noted to produce protein from
several substrates. At the time of World War II, efforts were made to utilize Fusarium
and Rhizopus grown in fermenters as a source of protein rich food. The strains of
Aspergillus oryzae or Rhizopus arrhizus were chosen due to their nontoxic behavior. Saprophytic fungi can be grown on complex organic compounds and can render
them into simple substrate. Large amount of fungal biomass is formed as a result of
growth. Yield of mycelia varies greatly depending upon organisms and substrates.
On the other hand, some species of moulds, for example, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigates, Fusarium graminearum which are reported to be dangerous to humans, must
A. K. Singh et al.