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Applied Sciences
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Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II
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Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2022) | Viewed by 42027

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marco F. L. Lemos

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Guest Editor
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-614 Peniche, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology; bioeconomy; biomarkers; circular economy; stress biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sara C. Novais

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-614 Peniche, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology; marine resources valorization; genomics; biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Susana F. J. Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520–614 Peniche, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology; marine resources valorization; food development; natural-based food coatings and films
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carina Félix

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-614 Peniche, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology; marine resources valorization; microbiology; genomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Blue biotechnology plays a major role in converting marine biomass into societal value and is therefore a key pillar for many marine economy developmental frameworks and sustainability strategies: the Blue Growth Strategy, diverse Sea Basin Strategies (e.g., Atlantic Action Plan Priority 1 and 2 and COM(2017)183), the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Limassol Declaration, or even the UN Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda. However, despite the recognized biotechnological potential of marine biomass, the work is dispersed between multiple areas of applied biotechnology, resulting in few concrete examples of product development.

Food and feeds, and high-revenue cosmeceutical, pharma, biomedical markets, and others, are increasingly more important for marine biocompounds, which hold a myriad of unexploited uses, as they have often been demonstrated to contain molecules with a plethora of bioactivities, ranging from antioxidant to anti-inflammatory, tissue-specific protection, antimicrobial, anti-tumoral, antifouling, and texturizer, among many others.

This Special Issue will cover review articles, short communications and research papers addressing marine resources’ in vitro and/or in vivo biological activities, which may present high applicability and potential for industrial purposes.

Dr. Marco F. L. Lemos
Dr. Sara C. Novais
Dr. Susana F. J. Silva
Dr. Carina Félix
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • applied biotechnology
  • bioactive secondary metabolites
  • biological assay
  • blue biotechnology
  • marine biomass
  • marine natural products

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 929 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Selected Red Seaweeds from Central Portugal
by Marta V. Freitas, Leonardo G. Inácio, Ana Ruas, Isabela A. Silva, Teresa Mouga, Leonel Pereira and Clélia Afonso
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010157 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2683
Abstract
Throughout the ages, macroalgae have provided humankind with elements beneficial to human health, and often with bioactive abilities. Yet, while today we fully acknowledge such potential, especially that of the most widely known species, an even greater number of species remain unaknowledged. This [...] Read more.
Throughout the ages, macroalgae have provided humankind with elements beneficial to human health, and often with bioactive abilities. Yet, while today we fully acknowledge such potential, especially that of the most widely known species, an even greater number of species remain unaknowledged. This holds particularly true for the highly diverse phylum Rhodophyta (red seaweeds) and, therefore, the present study aims to unveil the antioxidant and the antimicrobial potential of twelve red seaweed species collected in central Portugal. Results obtained from the antioxidant assays ABTS and TPC highlighted the high scavenging capacity of the coralline algae Corallina officinalis, Ellisolandia elongata and Amphiroa rigida, and the high phenolic content of Porphyra umbilicalis, whereas the antimicrobial analyses through MIC determination emphasized the activities of Sphaerococcus coronopifolius and Mesophyllum lichenoides against, respectively, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study raised awareness of the bioactive potential waiting to be discovered regarding less known Rhodophyta species, such as Amphiroa rigida and Mesophyllum lichenoides. Therefore, we believe this study provides extra steps in pinpointing Rhodophyta species with bioactive potential, encouraging further studies tailored toward a biotechnological perspective, and, ultimately, influencing current perspectives regarding the exploration of seaweeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II)
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13 pages, 2354 KiB  
Article
Nannochloropsis oceanica as a Sustainable Source of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Enrichment of Hen Eggs
by Marta Neves, Ana Ferreira, Madalena Antunes, Joana Laranjeira Silva, Susana Mendes, Maria M. Gil and Carla Tecelão
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8747; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188747 - 20 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2378
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica as a sustainable source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) for hen eggs enrichment. During 4 weeks, hens were fed with 3% (w/w) of Nannochloropsis [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica as a sustainable source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) for hen eggs enrichment. During 4 weeks, hens were fed with 3% (w/w) of Nannochloropsis oceanica supplemented diet. Throughout the assay, eggs were analyzed according to several nutritional and physical parameters, namely: (i) protein, fat, and ash content; (ii) fatty acid profile; (iii) thickness and colour of the shell; (iv) total egg weight; (v) protein quality (HU) and (vi) yolk colour. A remarkable increase in eicosapentaenoic (EPA), from 2.1 ± 0.1 to 5.2 ± 1.2 mg/100 g, and docosahexaenoic (DHA), from 50.3 ± 4.0 to 105 ± 18 mg/100 g, fatty acids was observed. Yolk colour also changed significantly according to the La Roche scale, from 9.6 ± 0.8 to 11.4 ± 0.8 (more orange). Feed supplementation did not lead to changes in the remaining analyzed parameters. A shelf life study, carried out for 28 days at room temperature, showed a decrease in eggs protein quality. In conclusion, eggs from hens fed with Nannochloropsis oceanica had a yolk colour more appealing to consumers and higher levels of EPA and DHA, allowing its classification as high in n-3 PUFA (CE nº 1924/2006). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II)
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17 pages, 1771 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts of Gracilaria gracilis with a View into Its Potential Use as an Additive in Fish Feed
by Clélia Afonso, Ana Patrícia Correia, Marta V. Freitas, Teresa Mouga and Teresa Baptista
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6642; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146642 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3253
Abstract
Fish in aquaculture systems are subject to several stressors that inhibit the immune response and potentiate the development of disease and increased mortality. The inclusion of additives in the fish diet, namely seaweeds or their extracts, that are natural sources of bioactive compounds [...] Read more.
Fish in aquaculture systems are subject to several stressors that inhibit the immune response and potentiate the development of disease and increased mortality. The inclusion of additives in the fish diet, namely seaweeds or their extracts, that are natural sources of bioactive compounds can be an important tool for promoting the health and well-being of these animals. The present study aims at the development of sustainable and effective methodologies for the extraction of bioactive compounds of the red seaweed Gracilaria gracilis, exploring its antibacterial and antioxidant potential and considering its potential use as an additive for functional fish feeds. The yield of the extraction methods was evaluated upon the use of sequential solid–liquid extraction techniques with ethanol and water as solvents, different extraction temperatures (room temperature: 40 °C and 70 °C), and extraction time. The results demonstrated that the adoption extraction times of 30 min at 40 °C provided higher yields. We also evaluated the antioxidant capacity and the antibacterial properties of the obtained extracts against different strains that cause fish diseases by disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH reducing capacity method and quantification of total polyphenols content (TPC). With these results, we can establish extraction procedures that allow the future use of G. gracilis extracts, with antibacterial and antioxidant effects in a safe and effective way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II)
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18 pages, 2099 KiB  
Article
Unveiling Biological Activities of Marine Fungi: The Effect of Sea Salt
by Micael F. M. Gonçalves, Ana Paço, Luís F. Escada, Manuela S. F. Albuquerque, Carlos A. Pinto, Jorge A. Saraiva, Ana Sofia Duarte, Teresa A. P. Rocha-Santos, Ana Cristina Esteves and Artur Alves
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 6008; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11136008 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3325
Abstract
There is an urgent need for new substances to overcome current challenges in the health sciences. Marine fungi are known producers of numerous compounds, but the manipulation of growth conditions for optimal compound production can be laborious and time-consuming. In Portugal, despite its [...] Read more.
There is an urgent need for new substances to overcome current challenges in the health sciences. Marine fungi are known producers of numerous compounds, but the manipulation of growth conditions for optimal compound production can be laborious and time-consuming. In Portugal, despite its very long coastline, there are only a few studies on marine fungi. From a collection of Portuguese marine fungi, we screened for antimicrobial, antioxidant, enzymatic, and cytotoxic activities. Mycelia aqueous extracts, obtained by high pressure-assisted extraction, and methanolic extracts of culture media showed high antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. The mycelium extracts of Cladosporium rubrum showed higher antioxidant potential compared to extracts from other fungi. Mycelia and culture media extracts of Aspergillus affinis and Penicillium lusitanum inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Kocuria rhizophila, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including multiresistant strains. Penicillium lusitanum and Trichoderma aestuarinum inhibited the growth of clinical strains of Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. All extracts from culture media were cytotoxic to Vero cells. Sea salt induced alterations in the mycelium’s chemical composition, leading to different activity profiles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II)
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Review

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17 pages, 1294 KiB  
Review
An Overview of the Alternative Use of Seaweeds to Produce Safe and Sustainable Bio-Packaging
by Silvia Lomartire, João C. Marques and Ana M. M. Gonçalves
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(6), 3123; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12063123 - 18 Mar 2022
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 24490
Abstract
In modern times, seaweeds have become widely involved in several biotechnological applications due to the variety of their constituent bioactive compounds. The consumption of seaweeds dates to ancient times; however, only from the last few decades of research can we explain the mechanisms [...] Read more.
In modern times, seaweeds have become widely involved in several biotechnological applications due to the variety of their constituent bioactive compounds. The consumption of seaweeds dates to ancient times; however, only from the last few decades of research can we explain the mechanisms of action and the potential of seaweed-derived bioactive compounds, which has led to their involvement in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Macroalgae-derived bioactive compounds are of great importance as their properties enable them to be ideal candidates for the production of sustainable “green” packaging. Diverse studies demonstrate that seaweed polysaccharides (e.g., alginates and carrageenans) not only provide health benefits, but also contribute to the production of biopolymeric film and biodegradable packaging. The dispersion of plastics and microplastics in the oceans provoke serious environmental issues that influence ecosystems and aquatic organisms. Thus, the sustainable use of seaweed-derived biopolymers is now crucial to replace plasticizers with biodegradable materials, and thus preserve the environment. The present review aims to provide an overview on the potential of seaweeds in the production of bioplastics which might be involved in food or pharmaceutical packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II)
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23 pages, 2728 KiB  
Review
Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids from Red Macroalgae: UV-Photoprotectors with Potential Cosmeceutical Applications
by Julia Vega, Geniane Schneider, Bruna R. Moreira, Carolina Herrera, José Bonomi-Barufi and Félix L. Figueroa
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5112; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115112 - 31 May 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4664
Abstract
Macroalgae belong to a diverse group of organisms that could be exploited for biomolecule application. Among the biocompounds found in this group, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are highlighted mainly due to their photoprotection, antioxidant properties, and high photo and thermo-stability, which are attractive [...] Read more.
Macroalgae belong to a diverse group of organisms that could be exploited for biomolecule application. Among the biocompounds found in this group, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are highlighted mainly due to their photoprotection, antioxidant properties, and high photo and thermo-stability, which are attractive characteristics for the development of cosmeceutical products. Therefore, here we revise published data about MAAs, including their biosynthesis, biomass production, extraction, characterization, identification, purification, and bioactivities. MAAs can be found in many algae species, but the highest concentrations are found in red macroalgae, mainly in the order Bangiales, as Porphyra spp. In addition to the species, the content of MAAs can vary depending on environmental factors, of which solar radiation and nitrogen availability are the most influential. MAAs can confer photoprotection due to their capacity to absorb ultraviolet radiation or reduce the impact of free radicals on cells, among other properties. To extract these compounds, different approaches can be used. The efficiency of these methods can be evaluated with characterization and identification using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), associated with other apparatus such as mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Therefore, the data presented in this review allow a broad comprehension of MAAs and show perspectives for their inclusion in cosmeceutical products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Resources Application Potential for Biotechnological Purposes, Volume II)
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