Anwendungsbereiche molekularbiologischer Analytik. : Vorstudie zur Anwendbarkeit molekularbiologischer Analytik im Zusammenhang mir der Qualitätssicherung von Produkten.
The analysis of biological parameters plays an important role in different areas. Apart from classic analyses for pathogenic germs aspects of food safety are focusing on the monitoring and control of the production processes (e.g. fermentation). Increasing economic pressure due to the globalisation of markets requires strict quality assurance and control – the early detection of a quality problem will minimizes the costs through production failure. The selected examples presented in this study gives an overview of analytical methods for biological parameters already in use in different industrial sectors, and of the potentials for molecular biological and biochemical analysis in future. The cited examples are intended to give an idea of the wide range of possible applications for these analyses. Test methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) are already used to identify pathogens in the beverage industry or in some areas of sewage treatment plant technology. Questions of product authenticity are becoming increasingly important with regard to traceability and the indication of origin for foodstuffs. Similar to the testing for genetically modified organisms, molecular biological analyses (PCR) are becoming increasingly relevant for this applications. One of the potential applications for molecular biological analyses is the control of the production process in industrial plants, such as biogas production or wastewater treatment plants where materials are converted through the action of microorganisms. Currently process control in these plants is mainly performed on the basis of physical-chemical parameters or process-related experience. Microbiological analyses are used only to deal with specific aspects till now. Therefore experts see a large potential for process optimization for this application. By giving a better understanding of the relationship between the conversion of materials and the microorganisms involved, molecular biological analysis provides an opportunity to produce a relevant description of the microbiological status of the production process. These findings should be included to allow a better process control in future. Further scientific research will, however, be necessary in order to better understand the microbiological principles of such production processes. Despite the application potentials and the analytical methods already in existence, molecular biological test methods are still not widely used for aspects of quality assurance and control. This is partly due to the higher costs for these methods compared to conventional analytical techniques, and partly due to a certain level of uncertainty regarding the acceptance of such measuring techniques in the international or legal context. From a technical viewpoint, there are problems with sample preparation (quantitative detection of pathogenic germs with DNA-based methods) which – to a certain extent – lessen the advantages of the methods of molecular biological analysis. It can be expected, however, that technical developments will bring considerable improvements in this sector in future. One can thus assume that although molecular biological methods will become increasingly important in the next few years, they will not fully replace the current classic cultivation techniques.
