Production of beta-lactam antibiotics by microorganisms

beta-lactam antibiotics are commercially and clinically important compounds that are produced by bacteria as well as by filamentous fungi. There is a great interest not only to increase the yield of microbial antibiotic production but also to generate new and highly effective antibiotics. It may be foreseen that this aim is reached by the use of in vitro recombinant technology. The biochemical as well as the physiological data which seem to be important for the understanding of beta-lactam biosynthesis is filamentous fungi are summarised. In addition, recent technical advances are mentioned which become available through molecular biology. Examples are given to demonstrate the feasability of DNA recombinant technology for biotechnical applications by introducing novel biosynthetic pathways into fungal beta-lactam producers.