Martins BEKERS

Professor Martins BEKERS Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia Kronvalda bulv. 4 Riga, LV 1586 Latvia Phone: +371 67034892 Fax: +371 67034885 E-mail: mbek@latnet.lv

Born: August 31, 1928, Madona, Latvia

Interests:

• Food and Environmental Biotechnology: Fermentation Process, Cell Immobilisation
• Industrial Microbiology: Yeasts, Lactic Acid Bacteria, Acetic Acid Bacteria, Zymomonas mobilis
• Physiology of Primary Metabolites Producers , Osmotolerance
• Anabiosis of Microorganisms
• Biofuel Problems - Bioethanol, Biogas
• Closed Biotechnological Systems

Languages: Latvian, English, Russian, German

Education:

• Latvia University of Agriculture (Faculty of Food Technology), 1953
• Dr. sc. ing. (Candidate of Sciences in former USSR, Ph. D. in Western countries),
  Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1959
• Dr. habil. biol. (Doctor of Science in former USSR), Institute of Food Technology, Kiev, Ukraine, 1979

Experience:

• Engineer, Riga Yeast Factory, 1953-1959
• Engineer and Researcher, Latvian Food Technology and Design Office, 1959-1962
• Senior Researcher, Head of Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1962-1993
• Deputy Director, Institute of Microbiology, 1962-1991
• Professor, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Riga Technical University, 1972-1995
• Director, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, 1993-1997
• Professor, Head of Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Food Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1993-
• State Emeritus Scientist, 2000 -

Honours and Awards:

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1973
• Full Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1978
• Honorary Doctoral Degree, Dr.h.c. (Food Technology), Latvia University of Agriculture, 1989
• Full Member, Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science of Latvia, 1993
• The Latvian SSR State Prize, 1965, 1980
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences A.Kirchensteins Prize, 1986
• The Merited Scientist of Latvia, 1978
• The Gold (2) and Silver (3) Medals of USSR Exhibition of National Economy Achievements (1970-1980)
• Honorary Member, All-Union (USSR) Society of Microbiology
• S. Vavilov Medal (All-Union Scientific Society), 1984
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences Presidium Award (4), (1970-1980)
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences H.Skuja Prize, 1998
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences Grand Medal, 2000
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences and joint-ctock company "Aldaris" Prize, 2000
• State Emeritus Scientist, 2000 -
• The Three Star Order of the Republic of Latvia, 2003
• The Latvia University of Agriculture Professor's J. Abolins   Prize, 2007

Professional Activities and Memberships:

• President, Latvian Biotechnology Association, 1990-
• Member of Presidium, All-Union (USSR) Society of Microbiology, 1980-1985
• Member of Scientific Council, Institute of Microbiology, 1962-1993
• Member, All-Union (USSR) Problem Council for Physiology and Biochemistry of Microorganisms, 1974-1982
• Member of Advisory Boards for:
           Biotechnology (Multi-volume comprehensive treatise), 2nd Edition, H. J. Rhem and G.Reed (ed.), 1991-
           Encyclopaedia of Soviet Latvia, 1981-1988

        Journals:
            Microbiology, Moscow, 1974-1984
            Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1982-1988
            Acta Biotechnologica, 1980-
            Proceedings of Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1980-1990

• Representative from Latvia, General Assembly of the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB), 1980-1999
• Member of Working party ‘’Physiology of Microorganisms’’, EFB, 1990-1998
• Member of Working party ‘’Environmental Biotechnology’’, EFB, 1990-
• Member of the International Commission on Yeasts and Yeast-Like Organisms, Union of Microbiological Societies, 1990-
• Chairman, The Latvian Academy of Sciences Henrichs Skuja Prize (in Biology) Committee, 1993-
• Chairman, The Latvian Academy of Sciences Paulis Lejins Prize (in Agriculture) Committee, 1993-
• Member, Latvian Council of Science, 1991-1994
• Member, Latvian Council of Science Expert Commitee (Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology), 1991-2007
• Chairman , Latvian Council for State Emeritus Scientists, 1995-2004
• Chairman of Scientific Council, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, 1996-2005
• Member, Latvian Society of Microbiology, 1962-

Lectures:

• Mass conversion and heat production during aerobic biosynthesis of L-lysine by Brevibacterium sp. X International Congress of Microbiology, Mexico, 1970.
• Some aspects of submerge culture intensification. International Symposium on Advances in Microbial Engineering, Marionske Lazne, Czechosl., 1972.
• Recovery and growth of dried yeast Saccharomyces cerevisia. 3rd International Specialised Symposium on Yeasts, Finland, 1973.
• Biomembranes of yeast during dehydration - rehydration. Sixth International specialised symposium on yeast. Montpeller, France, 1978.
• Development of microbial and enzyme biotechnology in Latvia. US/USSR Conference, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1979.
• Anaerobic fermentation of plant juice and evaluation of fermentation products. VI International Fermentation Symposium and V International Symposium an Yeast. London (Ontario, Canada), 1980.
• Growth and dehydration of yeasts which use starch-containing substrates. VIII Intern. specialised symp. on yeasts. Bombay, 1983.
• Wet green crop fractionation: small-scale operation in the USSR. 3rd Intern. Conf. on Leaf Protein Research. Italy - Pisa, Perusia, Viterbo, 1989.
• Closed and semiclosed biotechnological systems for agriculture. Workshop ‘’Bioprocess Technology for Closed Cycle Production’’. Graz, Austria, 1990.
• Wasteless processing products of photosynthesis and enhancement of soil. Microsymposium ‘’Problems of Environmental Biotechnology’’. Working party Environmental Biotechnology EFB, Riga, 1993.
• Bioenergy and bioenergy related research in Latvia. IEA Bionergy conference. Oslo, 1995.
• Closed biotechnological system for the manufacture of non-food products from grain. Intern. Conference ‘’Cereals: Novel Uses and Processes’’. Manchester, 1996.
• Recent research in bioethanol production. Workshop, Sounion, GR, 1996
• Stabilisation of immobilized cells systems using a modified metal surface, fructose polymer levan and high cell concentration. Symposium, Cordoba, 1998.
• Enzymatic and bacterial fermentation of coat mush for functional food production. Forum for Applied Biotechnology, Brugge (Belgium), 1998.
• Functional food. Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1999.

Courses:

• Introduction in Biotechnology, Riga Technical University, 1973-1993.
• Food Biotechnology, University of Latvia, 1995-

Recent/Representative publications:

• Dehydration of Microbial Biomass and Extracellular Metabolites, 1967, Riga: Zinatne, 361 pp. (in Russian).
• V. Bekere, M. Bekers. Lysine by Microbial Synthesis, 1974, Riga:Zinatne, 124 pp. (in Russian and Latvian).
• Introduction in Biotechnology, 1974, Riga: Zvaigzne , 211 pp. (in Latvian);1978, Moscow: Food Industry Press, 231 pp. (in Russian).
• M. Bekers (Ed.) et. al. Biotechnology of Microbial Synthesis, 1980, Riga: Zinatne, 350 pp. (in Russian).
• M. Bekers, B. Damberga, A. Rapoport. Anabiosis at Microorganisms. 1981, Riga: Zinatne , 247 pp. (in Russian).
• M. Bekers, G. Liepins, J. Raipulis. Horizons of Biotechnology. 1987, Riga: Avots , 219 pp. (in Latvian).
• M. Bekers, G. Liepins, J. Raipulis. Biotechnology, 1990, Moscow: Agropromizdat , 333 pp. (in Russian).
• M. Bekers (Ed.) et. al. Transformation Products of Photosynthesis, 1984, Riga: Zinatne, 246 pp. (in Russian).
• M.Bekers, A.Vigants. Chapter: Production of alcohol for fuel and organic solvents. - In: Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS) UNESCO, 2001

• M. Bekers, A. Rapoports. Conservation of yeasts by dehydration. - Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, 1987, vol. 35. pp. 127-174.
• M. Bekers, J. Shvinka, L. Pankova, M. Laivenieks, I. Mezhbarde. A simultaneous sucrose conversion into ethanol and levan by Zymomonas mobilis. - Appl. Biochemistry and Biotechnol., 1990, 24/25, pp. 265-274.
• Vigants A., Zikmanis P., Bekers M. Sucrose medium osmolality as a regulator of anabolic and catabolic parameters in Zymomonas culture. - Acta Biotechnologica, 1996, N 4., pp. 321-327.
• Rapoport A., Khroustalyova G., Camanis G., Bekers M. Anhydrobiosis of yeasts: permeability of the plasma membrane. - Microbiology, 1995, vol. 64., N 1, pp. 229-232 (in English version of the journal).
• M. Beker, P. Zikmanis, A. Vigants et. al. Influence of growth medium osmolality on levan production by Zymomonas mobilis. 7th European Congress on Biotechnology. Abstract Book, v.4. Nice. 1995, p. 55.
• Marauska M., Vigants A., Klincare A., Upite D., Kaminska E., Bekers M. Influence of water activity and medium osmolality on growth and acid production of Lactobacillus casei var. alactosus. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., 1996., vol. 50, Nr. 3, pp. 144-146.
• Laukevics J., Bekers M., Danilevics A., Kaminska E., Lisovska A., Upite D., Vigants A. Suitability of some sorts of grain for ethanol fermentation in Latvia. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci., 1996, vol. 50, N 3, pp. 137-139.
• Linde R., Gonta S., Karsakevich A., Vìna I., Bekers M. A method of purification and characteristics of Zymomonas mobilis 113 s levan. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci. 1996., vol. 50, N 3, pp. 140-143.
• M. Bekers. Biofuel production as a component of closed biotechnological system. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci, 1995, N 9/10, pp. 113-120.
• Auzina L., Kruce R., Upite D., Bekers M. Apple juice fermentation by liquid and dry instant wine yeast. - Proc. Latvian Acad. Sci. , 1996, vol. 50, N 3, pp. 130-132.
• M. Bekers et. al. Lysine technologies and producers - USSR Author’s certificates # 171727 (1964); 258845 (1967); 240644 (1968); 279621 (1969); 344734 (1970); 432894 (1971); 378411 (1971); 386006 (1972); 453931 (1973); 496300 (1973); 507634 (1973); 494040 (1973); 502019 (1973); 554855 (1974); 625412 (1976); 671384 (1976); 656341 (1976); 820221 (1976); 656340 (1976); 659620 (1976); 751097 (1980); 751097 (1976); 671384 (1976); 681925 (1977); 732377 (1977); 738395 (1978); 778256 (1978); 1179661 (1983); 1249938 (1984); 174611 (1989).
• A. Klincare, M. Bekers, I. Ramane, V. Auzina, D. Upite, V. Lupmane, I. Leimane, R. Are, Â. Lisovska. Bacterial strain Lactobacillus casei var. alactosus - producer of L(+) lactic acid. - LV 5677, 1992, Int. Cl. C12P7/56.
• M. Bekers, J. Svinka, J. Raipulis, M. Laivenieks, L. Pankova, I. Mezbarde. Zymomonas mobilis strain 113s. - LV 5709, 1993. Int. Cl. C12P19/04.
• M.Bekers, J.Laukevics, D.Upite, E.Kaminska, A.Karsakevica, I.Vina, E.Ventina, A.Vigants, S.Gonta, R.Linde. Inoculation of microbial cells culture immobilized in poreous carrier. - LV 11973 B, 1997. Int. C12N11/00.
• M.Bekers, M.Marauska, J.Laukevics, M.Grube, D.Karklina, U.Viesturs, A.Vigants. Production of polyfunctional food products from grain. - LV 123304 B, 1999.
• A.Karsakevich, E.Ventina, I.Vina, M.Bekers, S.Gonta, R.Linde, E.Kaminska. The effect of chemical treatment of stainless wire surface on Zymmomonas mobilis cell attachment and product synthesis. - Acta Biotechnologica, 1998, vol. 18, N 2, pp. 255-265.
• M.Bekers, R.Linde, A.Danilevich, E.Kaminska, D.Upite, A.Vigants, R.Scherbaka. Sugar beet diffusion juice and syrup as media for ethanol and levan production by Zymomonas mobilis. - Food Biotechnology, 1999, vol. 13, N 1, pp. 107-119. 
• M.Bekers, M.Marauska, M.Grube, U.Viesturs, J.Laukevics, A.Vigants, D.Karklina. Oat based polyfunctional food. - In: Proc. 13th Forum for Applied Biotechnology. Gent, Sept. 22-23, 1999, Part II, pp. 589-592.
• M.Bekers, E.Ventina, A.Karsakevica, I.Vina, et.al. Attachment of yeast to modified stainless steel wire spheres, growth of cells and ethanol production. - Process Biochemistry, 2000, vol. 35, pp. 523-530.
• M.Bekers, A.Vigants, J.Laukevics, M.Toma, A.Rapoports, P.Zikmanis. The effect of osmoinduced stress on product formation by Zymomonas mobilis on sucrose. - Int. J. Food Microbiol., 2000, N 55, pp. 147-150.
• I.Vina, A.Karsakevich, M.Bekers. Stabilization of anti-leukemic enzyme L-asparaginase by immobilization on polysaccharide levan. - J. Mol. Catalysis B: Enzymatic, 2001, pp. 551-558.
• M.Bekers. Bioconversion of agricultural biomass into protein, lysine, biofuel and valuable food products. - Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., B, 2001, vol. 55, N 2/3, pp. 117-123.
• M.Bekers, R.Linde, D.Upite, E.Kaminska, U.Viesturs. Sugar beet juice fermentation by Zymmomonas mobilis attached to stainless steel wire spheres. - Acta Biotechnologica, 2001, vol. 21, pp. 89-96.
• M.Bekers, M.Marauska, J.Laukevics, M.Grube, A,Vigants, D.Karklina, L.Skudra, U.Viesturs. Oats and fat-free milk based functional food. - Food Biotechnology, 2001, vol. 15, N 1, pp. 1-12.
• M.Bekers, M.Marauska, J.Laukevics, M.Grube, A,Vigants, D.Karklina, L.Skudra, U.Viesturs. Oats and fat-free milk based functional food. - Food Biotechnology, 2001, vol. 15, N 1, pp. 1-12.
• M.Grube, M.Bekers, D.Upite, E.Kaminska. IR-spetroscopic studies of Zymomonas mobilis   and levan precipitate. - Vibrational Spectroscopy, 2002, vol. 28, pp. 277-285.
• Bekers M., Upite D., Kaminska E., Grube M., Laukevics J., Vina I., Vigants A., Zikmanis P. Fructan biosynthesis by intra- and extracellular Zymomonas mobilis levansucrase after simultaneous production of ethanol and levan. - Acta Biotechnologica, 2003, N 1, pp. 85-93.
• Bekers M., Upite D., Kaminska E., Laukevics J., Ionina R., Vigants A. Catalytic activity of Zymomonas mobilis  extracellular „Levan-levansucrase” complex in sucrose medium. - Proceedings of 17th Forum for applied biotechnology, Gent, Proceedings part I, 2003, pp. 321-324.
• Vigants A., Marx S., Linde R., Ore S., Bekers M., Vina I., Hicke H. A novel and simple method for the purification of extracellular levansucrase from Zymomonas mobilis. - Current Microbiology, 2003, vol. 47, N 3, pp. 198-202.
• Bekers M., Marauska M., Grube M., Karklina D., Duma M. New prebiotics for functional food. - Acta Alimentarica, 2004, vol.33, N 1, pp. 31-37.
• P.Semjonovs, M.Marauska, M.Bekers, M.Grube, R.Linde. Utilisation of fructans by Bifidobacterium lacticum 12. - Engineering in Life Sciences, 2004, vol. 4, pp. 433-437.
• M.Bekers,  D.Upite, E.Kaminska , J.Laukevics, M.Grube, A.Vigants, R.Linde. Stability of levan produced by  Zymomonas mobilis . - Process Biochemistry, 2005, vol. 40,N 5, pp. 1535-1539.
• M.Bekers, M.Grube, D.Upite, E.Kaminska , R.Linde, R.Scherbaka, A. Danilevich. Carbohydrates in Jerusalem artichoke powder suspensions tuber systems. - Nutrition and Food Science, 2007, vol. 37, N 1, pp. 42-49. 

Research Projects:

• M. Bekers. Intensification of the Bakers Yeast Dehydration Using Fluidised Bed Method. Riga Yeast Factory (1953-1958).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). The Development of Vitamin B₁₂ Technology by Methane Fermentation of Distilleries Wastes. Latvian Ministry of Food Industry (1961-1964).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). The Development of L-lysine Feed Concentrate Technology. Latvian Academy of Sciences (1963-1975).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). The Anabiosis of Microorganisms:- Physiology and Biotechnology. Latvian Academy of Sciences (1962-1985).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). Transformation Products of Photosynthesis (Leaf Protein, Biogas). Latvian Academy of Sciences (1976-1986).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). Microbial Biosynthesis of Biologically Active Compounds. Latvian Academy of Sciences (1985-1993).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). Biosynthesis of Primary Metabolites and Storage Polymers by Zymomonas mobilis and Lactobacillus; Influence of Medium Osmolality and Turbidity. Latvian Council of Science (1991-1996).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). Technological Properties of Grain Produced in Latvia. Ministry of Agriculture (1994-1995).
• M. Bekers (Head of Latvian Part of Project in cooperation with South Jitland University). Plant Juices as Raw Material for Biotechnology (1994-1996).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). L-Lysine Production Using Byproducts of Distillery. ALKO, Finland (1990-1993).
• M. Bekers (Head of Project). Extracellular Product Synthesis by Zymomonas mobilis Using Immobilised Cell Systems and Physiology of Immobilised Culture. Latvian Council of Science (1997-1999).
• M. Bekers (Head of Programme). The Development of Technology for Biofuel Production in Latvia. Latvian Council of Science (1997-2000).
• M. Bekers (Head of Joint Project). Biofuel Production Technology and the Possibility of Its Implementation in Latvia. Latvian Council of Science (2001 - 2004).

Last update 12.02.2008