Question

Protein is an important constituent of our food. Malnutrition caused by an inadequate dietary intake of protein leads to stunting, wasting and kwashiorkor. In a vegetarian society, pulses are the main source of protein. However a large population of developing countries earl not afford pulses. On one day, I read in newspaper that several microorganisms are good source of proteins and can be used commercially as food supplement. The proteins obtained by microbes is referred as ‘single cell protein’ (SCP). As a biology student, then you asked your teacher, what are ‘SCP’ and the important sources of SCP and how large scale production of microbial biomass is advantageous as compared with traditional methods of producing proteins for food or feed?

Answer 1

• Single Cell Protein (SCP) is microbial biomass obtained from bacteria, yeasts, fungi, or algae that can be used as food or feed supplements. On average, it contains 45–55% protein along with other essential nutrients. A wide variety of microorganisms can be used for SCP production. For example, pruteen is produced by the bacterium Methylophilus methylotrophus using methanol, a waste material from chemical industries. Several yeasts are also good sources of SCP. In India, the CFTRI (Central Food Technology Research Institute), Mysore, has promoted Spirulina, a blue-green alga containing about 60% proteins, vitamins, and unsaturated fatty acids.
• Large-scale production of microbial biomass has several advantages over traditional methods of obtaining proteins. Microorganisms have a high rate of multiplication, can utilize many different carbon sources including waste products, and strains with high yield and better composition can be selected or produced easily. Moreover, microbial biomass production is independent of seasonal and climatic variations, making it a reliable and efficient method for producing protein-rich food or feed.