Microbial systems refer to manufacturing platforms based on microorganisms — primarily bacteria (E. coli) and yeast (Pichia pastoris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) — used for the high-yield production of recombinant proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), enzymes, and small biological molecules through fermentation. Compared to mammalian systems, microbial platforms offer advantages in terms of growth rate, scalability, cost-efficiency, and process simplicity, making them particularly suited for products that do not require complex post-translational modifications. They are widely used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing for the production of insulin, growth hormones, antibody fragments, and plasmid DNA used as starting material for viral vector and gene therapy manufacturing.
