Microbial Polysaccharides

Abstract

Abstract Cote, Gregory L. and Ahlgren, Jeffrey A. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture). Microbial polysaccharides are complex carbohydrate polymers produced by a variety of microorganisms. Those of commercial interest are generally produced extracellularly in substantial quantities. Commercial applications can be based on specific structural features or on physical properties. Applications based on physical properties include use as water‐soluble thickeners, gelling agents, and emulsion stabilizers. Applications based on specific structural features include the use of bacterial capsular antigens as vaccines, and the use of polysaccharides as metal complexants. Economically, the most important microbial polysaccharides are xanthan gum, dextran, and gellan. Others, such as pullulan, curdlan, and scleroglucan, are used less in the United States, but significant quantities are used overseas. Other microbial polysaccharides that show promise are bacterial cellulose, emulsan, liposan, levan, and succinoglucan. β‐ D ‐Glucans and sulfated polysaccharides are of interest as immunomodulators. Vol. 16, pp. 578–611, 372 refs. to November 1993.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1002/0471238961.1309031803152005.a01

Journal

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology

Year

2000