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Photosynthetic microorganisms convert carbon dioxide and solar radiation into interesting bioactive compounds not yet entirely explored. Several species of microalgae are known to be rich in colored high-valuable components that, although remarkable, are poorly explored as natural sources of pigments for cosmetics. Pigments associated to photosynthetic activity include chlorophyll, β-carotene, astaxanthin, xanthophylls, and phycobiliproteins, many of which have shown high potential as cosmetic actives due to their antioxidant, immune-enhancing, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the last decade, concern with a young and beautiful appearance has emerged, encouraging many consumers to use anti-aging cosmetics daily. As a result, the cosmetic market has been growing and evolving rapidly to meet consumer expectations. However, due to regular use and the sensitive nature of facial skin, local adverse reactions may often occur, such as irritation, sensitization, or photoreactions, and safety evaluation is mandatory prior to marketing. It is, therefore, understandable that new actives from natural sources, such as microalgae, are perceived as attractive alternatives for consumers who seek ingredients without allergenic potential. Thus, the cosmetic industry has recently started to explore the inclusion of compounds extracted from microalgae and cyanobacteria in innovative formulations. Herein, we revised nontraditional microalgae species for pigment production with cosmetic applications, indicating those that could also be considered potential ingredients for innovative cosmetics.Key points• Extraction methods for pigments from photosynthetic microorganisms were compiled.• Innovative cosmeceuticals could be developed with natural pigments.• Safety features of such natural pigments were also described.

Background Members of the Planctomycetota phylum harbour an outstanding potential for carbohydrate degradation given the abundance and diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) encoded in their genomes. However, mainly members of the Planctomycetia class have been characterised up to now, and little is known about the degrading capacities of the other Planctomycetota . Here, we present a comprehensive comparative analysis of all available planctomycetotal genome representatives and detail encoded carbohydrolytic potential across phylogenetic groups and different habitats. Results Our in-depth characterisation of the available planctomycetotal genomic resources increases our knowledge of the carbohydrolytic capacities of Planctomycetota . We show that this single phylum encompasses a wide variety of the currently known CAZyme diversity assigned to glycoside hydrolase families and that many members encode a versatile enzymatic machinery towards complex carbohydrate degradation, including lignocellulose. We highlight members of the Isosphaerales, Pirellulales, Sedimentisphaerales and Tepidisphaerales orders as having the highest encoded hydrolytic potential of the Planctomycetota . Furthermore, members of a yet uncultivated group affiliated to the Phycisphaerales order could represent an interesting source of novel lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases to boost lignocellulose degradation. Surprisingly, many Planctomycetota from anaerobic digestion reactors encode CAZymes targeting algal polysaccharides – this opens new perspectives for algal biomass valorisation in biogas processes. Conclusions Our study provides a new perspective on planctomycetotal carbohydrolytic potential, highlighting distinct phylogenetic groups which could provide a wealth of diverse, potentially novel CAZymes of industrial interest.

The seminal discovery of paclitaxel from endophytic fungus Taxomyces andreanae was a milestone in recognizing the immense potential of endophytic fungi as prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites of use in medicine, agriculture, and food industries. Following the discovery of paclitaxel, the research community has intensified efforts to harness endophytic fungi as putative producers of lead molecules with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cardio-protective, and immunomodulatory properties. Endophytic fungi have been a valuable source of bioactive compounds over the last three decades. Compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxin, huperzine, camptothecin, and resveratrol have been effectively isolated and characterized after extraction from endophytic fungi. These findings have expanded the applications of endophytic fungi in medicine and related fields. In the present review, we systematically compile and analyze several important compounds derived from endophytic fungi, encompassing the period from 2011 to 2022. Our systematic approach focuses on elucidating the origins of endophytic fungi, exploring the structural diversity and biological activities exhibited by these compounds, and giving special emphasis to the pharmacological activities and mechanism of action of certain compounds. We highlight the tremendous potential of endophytic fungi as alternate sources of bioactive metabolites, with implications for combating major global diseases. This underscores the significant role that fungi can play in the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents that address the challenges posed by prevalent diseases worldwide.

Fluorescence spectroscopy offers a cheap, simple, and fast approach to monitor poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) formation, a biodegradable polymer belonging to the biodegradable polyester class polyhydroxyalkanoates. In the present study, a fluorescence and side scatter-based spectroscopic setup was developed to monitor in situ biomass, and PHB formation of biotechnological applied Cupriavidus necator strain. To establish PHB quantification of C. necator, the dyes 2,2-difluoro-4,6,8,10,12-pentamethyl-3-aza-1-azonia-2-boranuidatricyclo[7.3.0.03,7]dodeca-1(12),4,6,8,10-pentaene (BODIPY.sup.493/503), ethyl 5-methoxy-1,2-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3-oxoindole-2-carboxylate (LipidGreen2), and 9-(diethylamino)benzo[a]phenoxazin-5-one (Nile red) were compared with each other. Fluorescence staining efficacy was obtained through 3D-excitation-emission matrix and design of experiments. The coefficients of determination were [greater than or equal to] 0.98 for all three dyes and linear to the high-pressure liquid chromatography obtained PHB content, and the side scatter to the biomass concentration. The fluorescence correlation models were further improved by the incorporation of the biomass-related side scatter. Afterward, the resulting regression fluorescence models were successfully applied to nitrogen-deficit, phosphor-deficit, and NaCl-stressed C. necator cultures. The highest transferability of the regression models was shown by using LipidGreen2. The novel approach opens a tailor-made way for a fast and simultaneous detection of the crucial biotechnological parameters biomass and PHB content during fermentation.

Microalgae are used in various biotechnological processes, such as biofuel production due to their high biomass yields, agriculture as biofertilizers, production of high-value-added products, decontamination of wastewater, or as biological models for carbon sequestration. The number of these biotechnological applications is increasing, and as such, any advances that contribute to reducing costs and increasing economic profitability can have a significant impact. Nitrogen fixing organisms, often called diazotroph, also have great biotechnological potential, mainly in agriculture as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Microbial consortia typically perform more complex tasks than monocultures and can execute functions that are challenging or even impossible for individual strains or species. Interestingly, microalgae and diazotrophic organisms are capable to embrace different types of symbiotic associations. Certain corals and lichens exhibit this symbiotic relationship in nature, which enhances their fitness. However, this relationship can also be artificially created in laboratory conditions with the objective of enhancing some of the biotechnological processes that each organism carries out independently. As a result, the utilization of microalgae and diazotrophic organisms in consortia is garnering significant interest as a potential alternative for reducing production costs and increasing yields of microalgae biomass, as well as for producing derived products and serving biotechnological purposes. This review makes an effort to examine the associations of microalgae and diazotrophic organisms, with the aim of highlighting the potential of these associations in improving various biotechnological processes.

The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has become a recognized system for expression/secretion of heterologous proteins. This non-conventional yeast is currently being developed as a workhorse for biotechnology by several research groups throughout the world, especially for single-cell oil production, whole cell bioconversion and upgrading of industrial wastes. This mini-review presents established tools for protein expression in Y. lipolytica and highlights novel developments in the areas of promoter design, surface display, and host strain or metabolic pathway engineering. An overview of the industrial and commercial biotechnological applications of Y. lipolytica is also presented.

3-Hydroxybutanone (Acetoin, AC) and 2,3-butanediol (BD) are two essential four-carbon platform compounds with numerous pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis applications. AC and BD have two and three stereoisomers, respectively, while the application of the single isomer product in chemical synthesis is superior. AC and BD are glucose overflow metabolites produced by biological fermentation from a variety of microorganisms. However, the AC or BD produced by microorganisms using glucose is typically a mixture of various stereoisomers. This was discovered to be due to the simultaneous presence of multiple butanediol dehydrogenases (BDHs) in microorganisms, and AC and BD can be interconverted under BDH catalysis. In this paper, beginning with the synthesis pathways of microbial AC and BD, we review in detail the studies on the formation mechanisms of different stereoisomers of AC and BD, summarize the properties of different types of BDH that have been tabulated, and analyze the structural characteristics and affinities of different types of BDH by comparing them using literature and biological database data. Using microorganisms, recent research on the production of optically pure AC or BD was also reviewed. Limiting factors and possible solutions for chiral AC and BD production are discussed.

A holistic approach covering a wide range of environmental microbial applications along with current and future trends In Microbial Biotechnology: Role in Ecological Sustainability and Research, a team of distinguished researchers delivers an authoritative overview of the role of microbial biotechnology in the pursuit of environmental and ecological sustainability. The book provides readers with compelling presentations of microbial technology, including its applications in the removal of environmental pollutants, and sustainable agriculture using microbial biocontrol agents or bio-fertilizers. Readers will also be able to explore the microbial reduction of greenhouse gases and a wide range of other cutting-edge applications, including the removal of various toxic environmental contaminants, such as antibiotics, pesticides, dyes, and heavy metals. Microbial Biotechnology provides: * A thorough introduction to microorganisms, their metabolic engineering, the human microbiome, and other foundational topics * An in-depth exploration of environmental management, including bioremediation through a nexus approach * A fulsome treatment of current trends in microbial biotechnology and its role in sustainable production Perfect for professionals in applied microbiology, biotechnology, environmental engineering, green chemistry, and soil science, Microbial Biotechnology: Role in Ecological Sustainability and Research will also earn a place in the libraries of research scholars, scientists, and academicians with an interest in environmental microbiology and ecology.

Fungi are widely exploited for large-scale production in the biotechnological industry to produce a diverse range of substances due to their versatility and relative ease of growing on various substrates. The occurrence of a phenomenon—the so-called fungal strain degeneration—leads to the spontaneous loss or decline of production capacity and results in an economic loss on a tremendous scale. Some of the most commonly applied genera of fungi in the biotechnical industry, such as Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Penicillium, are threatened by this phenomenon. Although fungal degeneration has been known for almost a century, the phenomenon and its underlying mechanisms still need to be understood. The proposed mechanisms causing fungi to degenerate can be of genetic or epigenetic origin. Other factors, such as culture conditions, stress, or aging, were also reported to have an influence. This mini-review addresses the topic of fungal degeneration by describing examples of productivity losses in biotechnical processes using Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Trichoderma reesei, and Penicillium chrysogenum. Further, potential reasons, circumvention, and prevention methods are discussed. This is the first mini-review which provides a comprehensive overview on this phenomenon in biotechnologically used fungi, and it also includes a collection of strategies that can be useful to minimize economic losses which can arise from strain degeneration.Key points• Spontaneous loss of productivity is evident in many fungi used in biotechnology.• The properties and mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are very versatile.• Only studying these underlying mechanisms enables the design of a tailored solution.