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Energy transformation and sustainability have become a challenge, especially for developing countries, which face broad energy-related issues such as a wide demand–supply gap, extensive fossil fuel dependency, and low accessibility to clean energy. Globally, smart grid technology has been identified to address these affairs and enable a smooth transition from traditional to smart energy systems, ensuring energy security. This paper studies the critical role in strengthening the power system, integrating renewable sources, electrifying the transport sector, and harnessing bioenergy. Evaluating the current energy scenario in Nepal, this article presents the smart grid as a solution to existing and future energy issues and the associated challenges during its implementation, urging concerned authorities to launch initiatives to promote it. Moreover, this study also lays the foundation for future research into the smart grid’s potential to reform the power sector in other developing nations with abundant renewable energy sources and similar energy-related barriers. Graphical abstract

There is a growing interest in studying the bioactive compounds of invasive green macroalga Caulerpa cylindracea due to their potential biotechnological applications. Algal samples were collected from two sites and seasons. Elemental analysis showed the abundance of carbon in the raw material as a source of carbohydrates. The total protein content in different samples ranged from 8.17 to 9.98%. Total lipids in different samples were around 2%. Fatty acid (FA) results revealed the presence of various types, including omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA. Furthermore, an alkaline hydrolysis optimization using response surface methodology was investigated to extract soluble compounds. It showed that the best combination for polyphenols and ABTS was 12.5% sodium carbonate (SC) at 100 °C for 8 h; however, the best combination for proteins and carbohydrates was 7.5% SC at 100 °C for 5 h. A combination of ultrasound pretreatments was carried out to assess the enhancement of the contents. Thus, an increasing amount was recorded for polyphenols and antioxidant capacity. Ultrasound pretreatment results in decreasing extraction time for all compounds. Results showed that the invasive seaweeds, causing environmental impacts in the Mediterranean Sea, represent an interesting source of bioactive compounds.

Mangroves are ecosystems with unique characteristics due to the high salinity and amount of organic matter that house a rich biodiversity. Fungi have aroused much interest as they are an important natural source for the discovery of new bioactive compounds, with potential biotechnological and pharmacological interest. This review aims to highlight endophytic fungi isolated from mangrove plant species and the isolated bioactive compounds and their bioactivity against protozoa, bacteria and pathogenic viruses. Knowledge about this type of ecosystem is of great relevance for its preservation and as a source of new molecules for the control of pathogens that may be of importance for human, animal and environmental health.

The recently discovered wild yeast Wickerhamomyces sp. UFFS-CE-3.1.2 was analyzed through a high-throughput experimental design to improve ethanol yields in synthetic media with glucose, xylose, and cellobiose as carbon sources and acetic acid, furfural, formic acid, and NaCl as fermentation inhibitors. After Plackett–Burman (PB) and central composite design (CCD), the optimized condition was used in a fermentation kinetic analysis to compare this yeast's performance with an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (JDY-01) genetically engineered to achieve a higher xylose fermentation capacity and fermentation inhibitors tolerance by overexpressing the genes XYL1, XYL2, XKS1, and TAL1. Our results show that furfural and NaCl had no significant effect on sugar consumption by UFFS-CE-3.1.2. Surprisingly, acetic acid negatively affected glucose but not xylose and cellobiose consumption. In contrast, the pH positively affected all the analyzed responses, indicating a cell's preference for alkaline environments. In the CCD, sugar concentration negatively affected the yields of ethanol, xylitol, and cellular biomass. Therefore, fermentation kinetics were carried out with the average concentrations of sugars and fermentation inhibitors and the highest tested pH value (8.0). Although UFFS-CE-3.1.2 fermented glucose efficiently, xylose and cellobiose were mainly used for cellular growth. Interestingly, the genetically engineered strain JDY-01 consumed ~ 30% more xylose and produced ~ 20% more ethanol. Also, while UFFS-CE-3.1.2 only consumed 32% of the acetic acid of the medium, JDY-01 consumed > 60% of it, reducing its toxic effects. Thus, the overexpressed genes played an essential role in the inhibitors' tolerance, and the applied engineering strategy may help improve 2G ethanol production.

The study of growth-promoting microorganisms is vital due to their potential for developing agricultural technologies that enhance the sustainability of production systems. The identification, isolation, and production of these organisms can contribute to the generating new, high-value agricultural bioinputs. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of treating vegetable seeds (carrot and cauliflower) with a yeast cell culture on seed quality and seedling production. The yeast strain used in the experiments (CHAP-208), isolated from Senna macranthera flowers, was identified as Rhodotorula sp. During cultivation, it produced ~ 2.8 mg/L of indole acetic acid (IAA). Subsequent germination and seedling growth experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions for both carrot and cauliflower, followed by seedling production trials in an agricultural greenhouse for cauliflower. Imbibing carrot seeds for 2 h in the Rhodotorula sp. CHAP-208 cell suspension enhenced seedling development under laboratory conditions. Soaking cauliflower seeds did not affect germination but increased plant emergence rates and root length in the greenhouse environment. This effect may be linked to the auxin-production capacity of Rhodotorula sp. CHAP-208, marking the first report of a yeast isolated from S. macranthera flowers with high plant growth-promoting activity. These findings suggest that Rhodotorula sp. CHAP-208 is a promising bioinoculant for promoting plant growth. Future studies should quantify IAA levels before and after seed soaking, as well as in samples from the resulting seedlings and plants.

Since ancient times, yeasts have been used for brewing and breadmaking processes. They now represent a flagship organism for alcoholic fermentation processes. The ubiquity of some yeast species also offers microbiologists a heterologous gene-expression platform, making them a model organism for studying eukaryotes. Yeasts: from Nature to Bioprocesses brings together information about the origin and evolution of yeasts, their ecological relationships, and the main taxonomic groups into a single volume. The book initially explores six significant yeast genera in detailed chapters. The book then delves into the main biotechnological processes in which both prospected and engineered yeasts are successfully employed. Yeasts: from Nature to Bioprocesses, therefore, elucidates the leading role of these single-cell organisms for industrial microbiology in environmental, health, social, and economic terms. This book is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary resource for general readers as well as scholars of all levels who want to know all about yeast microbiology and their industrial applications.

The importance of insects for angiosperm pollination is widely recognized. In fact, approximately 90% of all plant species benefit from animal-mediated pollination. However, only recently, a third part player in this story has been properly acknowledged. Microorganisms inhabiting floral nectar, among which yeasts have a prominent role, can ferment glucose, fructose, sucrose, and/or other carbon sources in this habitat. As a result of their metabolism, nectar yeasts produce diverse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other valuable metabolites. Notably, some VOCs of yeast origin can influence insects’ foraging behavior, e.g., by attracting them to flowers (although repelling effects have also been reported). Moreover, when insects feed on nectar, they also ingest yeast cells, which provide them with nutrients and protect them from pathogenic microorganisms. In return, insects serve yeasts as transportation and a safer habitat during winter when floral nectar is absent. From the plant’s point of view, the result is flowers being pollinated. From humanity’s perspective, this ecological relationship may also be highly profitable. Therefore, prospecting nectar-inhabiting yeasts for VOC production is of major biotechnological interest. Substances such as acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, and isobutanol have been reported in yeast volatomes, and they account for a global market of approximately USD 15 billion. In this scenario, the present review addresses the ecological, environmental, and biotechnological outlooks of this three-party mutualism, aiming to encourage researchers worldwide to dig into this field.

This study explored the use of chicken feathers, a low-cost and abundant agricultural byproduct, as a sorbent for the removal of reactive yellow dye from aqueous solutions. The dual potential of feathers as both adsorbents and sorbents, attributed to their keratin-rich structure, was utilized to investigate their effectiveness in dye removal. Feathers, activated with 1.0 mol/L HCl, exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity at 70 °C and pH 5.5, as determined from Langmuir isotherm modeling. A 22 central composite rotatable design revealed that temperature and pH significantly influence the adsorption efficiency, with higher temperatures favoring the process. Kinetic studies demonstrated pseudo-first-order behavior, with rapid initial adsorption reaching equilibrium within 120 min. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the endothermic nature of the process (ΔH° = 28.04 kJ mol−1), a positive entropy change (ΔS° = 66.62 J/mol·K), and a reduction in Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) with increasing temperature, suggesting enhanced feasibility at elevated temperatures. This research highlights the potential of utilizing poultry industry residues as sustainable and efficient sorbents for environmental remediation, contributing to waste valorization and eco-friendly wastewater treatment solutions.

This study aimed to develop a sustainable bioinput using Streptomyces sp. BEI-18A cultivated in an alternative culture medium (ACM) formulated with winery spent yeast and composting leachate. Actinomycetes were initially isolated from grape waste composting piles and screened for agricultural potential in vitro. Streptomyces sp. BEI-18A was selected for further bioinput development based on its high siderophore production. The ACM formulation was optimized in three steps: (I) determining the optimal concentration of winery spent yeast through mixture design; (II) assessing the effect of composting leachate addition on microbial growth; and (III) establishing the final composition of ACM components. The optimized ACM consisted of 3 g/L spent yeast, 2 g/L sucrose, 1 g/L soybean extract, and 10% (v/v) composting leachate. Cultivation of Streptomyces sp. BEI-18A in this medium resulted in a bioinput containing 7.80 × 107 CFU/mL. Its agricultural potential was validated in pot experiments with wheat and soybean, where application of the bioinput promoted significant improvements in early plant growth, enhancing several phytometric parameters. The results highlight the feasibility of valorizing agro-industrial residues as low-cost substrates for microbial bioinput production. This approach represents a promising strategy to foster sustainability in agriculture while reducing environmental impacts.

Synthetic herbicides such as glyphosate and 2,4-D are widely used in agriculture but can negatively impact non-target organisms, including microorganisms essential for ecological balance. Yeasts associated with pollinating insects play crucial roles in plant–insect interactions, yet their responses to herbicides remain understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of yeasts isolated from bees and beetles to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a plant-growth-promoting hormone, as well as their ability to tolerate or degrade glyphosate (in the commercial herbicide Zapp QI 620®) and 2,4-D (in the commercial Aminol 806®). Seven yeast strains were isolated from insects, identified via ITS sequencing, and assessed for IAA production in YPD medium. Growth assays were conducted under varying herbicide concentrations, and 2,4-D degradation was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. All strains produced IAA, with Papiliotrema siamensis CHAP-239 exhibiting the highest yield (4.17 mg/L). Glyphosate completely inhibited growth in all strains, while 2,4-D showed dose-dependent effects, with four strains tolerating lower concentrations. Notably, Meyerozyma caribbica CHAP-248 degraded up to 46% of 2,4-D at 6.045 g/L. These findings highlight the ecological risks herbicides pose to beneficial yeasts and suggest the potential of certain strains for bioremediation in herbicide-contaminated environments. Overall, the study underscores the importance of preserving microbial biodiversity in the context of sustainable agriculture.