#enzyme testing

Where are enzymes used? 

Enzymes have been in use in different industries for many years to control process time, improve texture, enhance flavor, extend shelf life, and limit the use of other chemicals. For instance, proteases that occur naturally in animal feces are used to soften hides in the leather tanning industry, while the brewing industry uses enzymes found in barley to convert the starch to sugars, and proteins to amino acids. Other industries include food processing, animal nutrition, carbohydrate processing, laundry detergents, and photography. Enzymes are also essential in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry, as well as for human supplementation to address digestion concerns like lactose intolerance.  

According to Microbe magazine, enzymes are also playing a vital role in the agricultural sector, as farmers have managed to increase land productivity by up to 50%. Various microbes have been claimed to increase plant tolerance to stress and drought, enhance nutrient absorption, produce better foliage, and ultimately, increase the yield.

How do enzymes work? 

Different enzymes are used for different purposes in various industries. For example, proteases dissolve fibrin to digest blood clots in the medical treatment of thromboses, and also remove proteins when used as contact lens cleaners. Amlylases are used in detergents to break down starch stains, cellulases in the biofuel industry to break down cellulose into sugars, and Trypsin in baby food to predigest the food before being consumed by the baby.  

Use of Microbiology Instruments to Overcome Challenges Facing Enzyme Testing 

Like a variety of other industrial products, microbiology instruments are used to perform various essential tests on enzymes. However, enzymes have unique attributes that make them very difficult to test using traditional plating methods, particularly the pH levels and solubility of the reagent. These methods are also not effective for testing oil based enzymes and gas releasing enzyme reagents, since they may produce false positive results, requiring more time to complete the tests. Fortunately, there are microbiological instruments that break through these challenges, allowing the quality assurance process to be performed rapidly and effectively. 

The testing and rapid detection systems employed in microbiology quality assurance have enabled modern laboratories to perform tests on multiple enzymes for a variety of microorganisms including yeast and molds, E. coli, Lactic Acid Bacteria, Salmonella, Coliforms, Total aerobic Count, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 

These modern instruments are designed to increase the rate of reagent release, which results in fast, accurate and real-time results at significantly lower costs compared to conventional techniques. The microbiology quality assurance process requires less time, labor and money since the assays are much simpler to perform, and the system is not affected by reagent interference. 

Contact Biolumix to learn more about microbiological instruments for testing enzymes.

Biolumix

3928 Varsity Dr.

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Phone: (734) 984-3100

Fax: 734-222-1830 

Email: [email protected]

http://www.mybiolumix.com