A research team at a local firm has developed a type of "super alcohol bacteria" that can be utilized to produce alcohol far more effectively than conventional methods.

The team said the research results could be also applied to enhance the production of alternative energy sources or medical drugs.

Macrogen, a leading biotech venture company in South Korea, said it mapped out the entire genome sequence of a bacteria called "Zymomonas" which produces a higher yield of ethanol.

The company then succeeded in developing a super bacteria with a 20 percent higher efficiency in producing alcohol.

The genetically-engineered organism, known as Zymomonas mobilis, enhances the fermentation of biomasssugars, leading to greater yields of ethanol at lower costs. Ethanol is a clean, renewable fuel that can reduce dependence on imported petroleum.

Macrogen's research result will be published in the January issue of 'Nature Biotechnology.’