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Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential

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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 32188

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Dr. Felix Krujatz

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Guest Editor

1. Technical University of Dresden, Institute of Natural Materials Technology, Dresden, Germany
2. biotopa gGmbH - Center for Applied Aquaculture & Bioeconomy, Radeberg, Germany
Interests: microalgae; photobioreactor; biorefinery; co-cultures; single-cell analysis; biosystems engineering; bioprocess monitoring

Dr. Steffen Braune

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Molecular Cell Biology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany
Interests: cyanobacteria; microalgae; bioactive and pharmacoactive metabolites, thrombogenicity; blood platelets; blood plasma proteins

Dr. Dorina Strieth

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Guest Editor

RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Mechanical and Process Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
Interests: sustainability; phototrophic biofilms; biofertilizer; cyanobacteria; co-cultivation; MICP; bio-sandstone
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Phototrophic microorganisms, such as microalgae and cyanobacteria, require only light, CO₂, water and a few inorganic molecules or elements for growth and production of value-added cell metabolites. Over the last several decades, cultivation of these has, therefore, evolved into a globally established, economically important branch of biotechnology. A better understanding of metabolic pathways and metabolite production will lead to improved assessments of aquatic primary production. From a biotechnological perspective, a better understanding will lead to improved yield and the ability to manipulate algal growth for bio-production purposes.
Many microalgae and cyanobacteria are amenable to genetic manipulation. For instance, the genomes of more than 190 cyanobacteria have been sequenced to date, and genomic-based analyses are being applied to document their changing transcriptome, proteome and metabolome. Genetic engineering now opens an avenue to further improve the biomass and will ultimately aid in manipulation of selected strains for biotechnological applications in protein production, bioremediation, biofuel, and pharmaceutical production.
For this Special Issue we welcome research papers and reviews for following topics:

Improving production of biomass (e.g., process and reactor design);
Use of microalgae and cyanobacteria for the permanent sequestration of CO₂;
Use of microalgae and cyanobacteria as cell factories for the direct bioconversion of CO₂ into valuable substances (by natural or synthetic metabolic processes);
Innovative downstream processing concepts (cell disruption, extraction of metabolites, and milking);
Biological and pharmacological effects of cell ingredients such as phycobiliproteins (in vitro and in vivo);
Extremophilic (e.g., thermophilic, acidophilic, and cryophilic) and terrestrial microalgae and cyanobacteria for biotechnological applications;
Co-culture and synergistic biological systems for biotechnological applications, e.g., marine sponges/marine snails/plants/plant tissue cells.

Dr. Felix Krujatz
Dr. Steffen Braune
Dr. Dorina Striehth
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

microalgae
cyanobacteria
biotechnology
culturing conditions
downstream processing
biomass production
CO2 sequestration and bioconversion
bioactive and pharmacoactive substances
extremophiles

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Microalgae Extracts for Food and Feed Supplementation—A Promising Source of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds

by Fernando Pagels, Helena M. Amaro, Tânia G. Tavares, Berta F. Amil and A. Catarina Guedes

Life 2022, 12(11), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12111901 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

Microalgae are known producers of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, making them natural alternatives to be used as food and feed functional ingredients. This study aimed to valorise biomass and exploit new applications and commercial value for four commercially available microalgae: Isochrysis galbana, Nannochloropsis sp., Tetraselmis sp., and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. For that, five extracts were obtained: acetone (A), ethanol (E), water (W), ethanol:water (EW). The antioxidant capacity (ABTS^•+/DPPH^•/^•NO/O₂^•−/ORAC-FL) and anti-inflammatory capacity (HBRC/COX-2) of the extracts were screened. The general biochemical composition (carbohydrates, soluble proteins, and lipids) and the main groups of bioactive compounds (carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and peptides) of extracts were quantified. The results of antioxidant assays revealed the potential of some microalgae extracts: in ABTS^•+, Nannochloropsis sp. E and Tetraselmis sp. A, E, and P; in DPPH^•, Tetraselmis sp. A and E; in ^•NO, P. tricornutum E and EW; in O₂^•−, Tetraselmis sp. W; and in ORAC-FL, I. galbana EW and P. tricornutum EW. Concerning anti-inflammatory capacity, P. tricornutum EW and Tetraselmis sp. W showed a promising HBRC protective effect and COX-2 inhibition. Hence, Tetraselmis sp. and P. tricornutum extracts seem to have potential to be incorporated as feed and food functional ingredients and preservatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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14 pages, 1843 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of CO₂ Supply for the Intensive Cultivation of Chlorella sorokiniana IPPAS C-1 in the Laboratory and Pilot-Scale Flat-Panel Photobioreactors

by David A. Gabrielyan, Boris V. Gabel, Maria A. Sinetova, Alexander K. Gabrielian, Alexandra G. Markelova, Natalia V. Shcherbakova and Dmitry A. Los

Life 2022, 12(10), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101469 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1856

Abstract

Microalgae are increasingly being used for capturing carbon dioxide and converting it into valuable metabolites and biologically active compounds on an industrial scale. The efficient production of microalgae biomass requires the optimization of resources, including CO₂. Here, we estimated the productivity of Chlorella sorokiniana IPPAS C-1 depending on CO₂ concentrations and the ventilation coefficient of the gas-air mixture (GAM) in flat-panel photobioreactors (FP-PBRs) at laboratory (5 L) and pilot (18 L) scales. For the laboratory scale, the PBRs operated at 900 µmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹ and 35.5 ± 0.5 °C; the optimal CO₂ flow rate was estimated at 3 mL CO₂ per 1 L of suspension per minute, which corresponds to 1.5% CO₂ in the GAM and an aeration rate of 0.2 vvm. These parameters, being scaled up within the pilot PBRs, resulted in a high specific growth rate (µ ≈ 0.1 h⁻¹) and high specific productivity (P_sp ≈ 1 g dw L⁻¹ d⁻¹). The principles of increasing the efficiency of the intensive cultivation of C. sorokiniana IPPAS C-1 are discussed. These principles are relevant for the development of technological regimes for the industrial production of Chlorella in flat-panel PBRs of various sizes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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17 pages, 2804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cultivation of Chlorella sorokiniana IPPAS C-1 in Flat-Panel Photobioreactors: From a Laboratory to a Pilot Scale

by David A. Gabrielyan, Maria A. Sinetova, Boris V. Gabel, Alexander K. Gabrielian, Alexandra G. Markelova, Margarita V. Rodionova, Vladimir S. Bedbenov, Natalia V. Shcherbakova and Dmitry A. Los

Life 2022, 12(9), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12091309 - 25 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1765

Abstract

Flat-panel photobioreactors are effective systems for microalgae cultivation. This paper presents the growth characteristics of the microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana IPPAS C-1 as a result of three-stage scale-up cultivation in a specially designed cultivation system. First, C. sorokiniana was grown aseptically in 250 mL glass vessels; then, it was diluted and inoculated into a 5-liter flat-panel horizontal photobioreactor; and, at the last stage, the culture was diluted and inoculated into a 70-liter flat-panel vertical photobioreactor. In the presented cycle, the cultured biomass increased by 326 times in 13 days (from 0.6 to 195.6 g dw), with a final biomass concentration of 2.8 g dw L⁻¹. The modes of semi-continuous cultivation were considered. The biomass harvest and dilution of the suspension were carried out either every day or every 3–4 days. For C. sorokiniana IPPAS C-1, a conversion coefficient of optical density values to dry biomass (g L⁻¹) was refined through a factor of 0.33. The key parameters of the photobioreactors tested in this work are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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11 pages, 1619 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Influence of Different Light-Emitting Diode Colors on Growth and Phycobiliprotein Generation of Arthrospira platensis

by Conrad H. G. Jung, Peter Waldeck, Shadi Sykora, Steffen Braune, Ingolf Petrick, Jan-Heiner Küpper and Friedrich Jung

Life 2022, 12(6), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060895 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1835

Abstract

Light-emitting diodes (LED) can be utilized as tailorable artificial light sources for the cultivation of cyanobacteria such as Arthrospira platensis (AP). To study the influence of different LED light colors on phototrophic growth and biomass composition, AP was cultured in closed bioreactors and exposed to red, green, blue, or white LED lights. The illumination with red LED light resulted in the highest cell growth and highest cell densities compared to all other light sources (order of cell densities: red > white > green > blue LED light). In contrast, the highest phycocyanin concentrations were found when AP was cultured under blue LED light (e.g., order of concentrations: blue > white > red > green LED light). LED-blue light stimulated the accumulation of nitrogen compounds in the form of phycobiliproteins at the expense of cell growth. The results of the study revealed that exposure to different LED light colors can improve the quality and quantity of the biomass gained in AP cultures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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19 pages, 3787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Optimizing the Effect of Light Color, Sodium Chloride and Glucose Concentration on Biomass Production and the Quality of Arthrospira platensis Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

by Ahmad Nosratimovafagh, Abolghasem Esmaeili Fereidouni and Felix Krujatz

Life 2022, 12(3), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12030371 - 03 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3131

Abstract

Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) biomass is a valuable source of sustainable proteins, and the basis for new food and feed products. State-of-the-art production of Spirulina biomass in open pond systems only allows limited control of essential process parameters, such as light color, salinity control, or mixotrophic growth, due to the high risk of contaminations. Closed photobioreactors offer a highly controllable system to optimize all process parameters affecting Spirulina biomass production (quantity) and biomass composition (quality). However, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of light color, salinity effects, and mixotrophic growth modes of Spirulina biomass production has not been performed yet. In this study, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to develop statistical models, and define optimal mixotrophic process conditions yielding maximum quantitative biomass productivity and high-quality biomass composition related to cellular protein and phycocyanin content. The individual and interaction effects of 0, 5, 15, and 30 g/L of sodium chloride (S), and 0, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 g/L of glucose (G) in three costume-made LED panels (L) where the dominant color was white (W), red (R), and yellow (Y) were investigated in a full factorial design. Spirulina was cultivated in 200 mL cell culture flasks in different treatments, and data were collected at the end of the log growth phase. The lack-of-fit test showed that the cubic model was the most suitable to predict the biomass concentration and protein content, and the two-factor interaction (2FI) was preferred to predict the cellular phycocyanin content (p > 0.05). The reduced models were produced by excluding insignificant terms (p > 0.05). The experimental validation of the RSM optimization showed that the highest biomass concentration (1.09, 1.08, and 0.85 g/L), with improved phycocyanin content of 82.27, 59.47, 107 mg/g, and protein content of 46.18, 39.76, 53.16%, was obtained under the process parameter configuration WL4.28S2.5G, RL10.63S1.33G, and YL1.00S0.88G, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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15 pages, 4046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silver Nanoparticle Production by the Cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp.: De Novo Manipulation of Nano-Biosynthesis by Phytohormones

by Maged E. Mohamed, Nermin A. El Semary and Nancy S. Younis

Life 2022, 12(2), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020139 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2260

Abstract

Background: Numerous cyanobacteria have the potential to reduce metallic ions to form pure metal nanoparticles in a green biosynthesis process. Aim: To investigate the production capacity of silver nanoparticles by the cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. and to examine the effect of five different phytohormones, indole acetic acid, kinetin; gibberellic acid; abscisic acid; and methyl jasmonate, on this capacity. Methods: The cyanobacterial strain was grown for 60 days and the harvested cyanobacterium biomass was incubated with 0.1 mM of AgNO₃. Percentage conversion of Ag⁺ to Ag⁰ was calculated to indicate the AgNPs’ production capacity. Different concentrations of the five phytohormones were added to cultures and the AgNP production was monitored throughout different time intervals. Results: Cyanothece sp. biosynthesized spherical AgNPs (diameter range 70 to 140 nm, average diameter 84.37 nm). The addition of indole acetic acid and kinetin provoked the maximum conversion (87.29% and 55.16%, respectively) of Ag⁺ to Ag⁰, exceeding or slightly below that of the control (56%). Gibberellic and abscisic acids failed to elevate the Ag⁺ to Ag⁰ conversion rate (45.23% and 47.95%, respectively) above that of the control. Methyl jasmonate increased the Ag⁺ to Ag⁰ conversion rate to 90.29%, although nearly all the cyanobacterial cultures died at the end. Conclusion: Phytohormones could be used to induce or inhibit the green production of AgNPs with the cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. This novel manipulation technique may have several applications in agriculture or biomedicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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18 pages, 1280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioremediation of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: A Chassis for a Synthetic Biology Approach

by Francesca Marchetto, Marco Roverso, Davide Righetti, Sara Bogialli, Francesco Filippini, Elisabetta Bergantino and Eleonora Sforza

Life 2021, 11(12), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11121300 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3809

Abstract

One of the main concerns in industrialized countries is represented by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), persistent contaminants hardly to be dealt with by conventional wastewater treatment processes. Phyco-remediation was proposed as a green alternative method to treat wastewater. Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is a unicellular photosynthetic organism candidate for bioremediation approaches based on synthetic biology, as it is able to survive in a wide range of polluted waters. In this work, we assessed the possibility of applying Synechocystis in PFAS-enriched waters, which was never reported in the previous literature. Respirometry was applied to evaluate short-term toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), which did not affect growth up to 0.5 and 4 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Continuous and batch systems were used to assess the long-term effects, and no toxicity was highlighted for both compounds at quite high concentration (1 mg L⁻¹). A partial removal was observed for PFOS and PFOA, (88% and 37%, with removal rates of about 0.15 and 0.36 mg L⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively). Measurements in fractionated biomass suggested a role for Synechocystis in the sequestration of PFAS: PFOS is mainly internalized in the cell, while PFOA is somehow transformed by still unknown pathways. A preliminary bioinformatic search gave hints on transporters and enzymes possibly involved in such sequestration/transformation processes, opening the route to metabolic engineering in the perspective application of this cyanobacterium as a new phyco-remediation tool, based on synthetic biology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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13 pages, 1292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of an Aerosol-Based Photobioreactor for Cultivation of Phototrophic Biofilms

by Dorina Strieth, Andreas Weber, Johannes Robert, Judith Stiefelmaier, Jonas Kollmen, Marianne Volkmar, Michael Lakatos, Volkmar Jordan, Kai Muffler and Roland Ulber

Life 2021, 11(10), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11101046 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

Phototrophic biofilms, in particular terrestrial cyanobacteria, offer a variety of biotechnologically interesting products such as natural dyes, antibiotics or dietary supplements. However, phototrophic biofilms are difficult to cultivate in submerged bioreactors. A new generation of biofilm photobioreactors imitates the natural habitat resulting in higher productivity. In this work, an aerosol-based photobioreactor is presented that was characterized for the cultivation of phototrophic biofilms. Experiments and simulation of aerosol distribution showed a uniform aerosol supply to biofilms. Compared to previous prototypes, the growth of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. could be almost tripled. Different surfaces for biofilm growth were investigated regarding hydrophobicity, contact angle, light- and temperature distribution. Further, the results were successfully simulated. Finally, the growth of Nostoc sp. was investigated on different surfaces and the biofilm thickness was measured noninvasively using optical coherence tomography. It could be shown that the cultivation surface had no influence on biomass production, but did affect biofilm thickness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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Review

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21 pages, 1134 KiB

Open AccessReview

Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Compounds from Arthrospira platensis and Its Effects on Tissue and Blood Cells—An Overview

by Friedrich Jung, Steffen Braune, Conrad H. G. Jung, Anne Krüger-Genge, Peter Waldeck, Ingolf Petrick and Jan-Heiner Küpper

Life 2022, 12(10), 1497; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101497 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2114

Abstract

The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) is a natural source of considerable amounts of ingredients that are relevant for nutra- and pharmaceutical uses. Different hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances can be obtained by extraction from the biomass. The respective extraction techniques determine the composition of substances in the extract and thus its biological activity. In this short review, we provide an overview of the hydrophilic compounds (phenols, phycobiliproteins, polysaccharides, and vitamins) and lipophilic ingredients (chlorophylls, vitamins, fatty acids, and glycolipids) of Arthrospira platensis. The principal influences of these substances on blood and tissue cells are briefly summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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15 pages, 1049 KiB

Open AccessReview

Strain Development in Microalgal Biotechnology—Random Mutagenesis Techniques

by Richard Bleisch, Leander Freitag, Yob Ihadjadene, Una Sprenger, Juliane Steingröwer, Thomas Walther and Felix Krujatz

Life 2022, 12(7), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12070961 - 27 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

Microalgal biomass and metabolites can be used as a renewable source of nutrition, pharmaceuticals and energy to maintain or improve the quality of human life. Microalgae’s high volumetric productivity and low impact on the environment make them a promising raw material in terms of both ecology and economics. To optimize biotechnological processes with microalgae, improving the productivity and robustness of the cell factories is a major step towards economically viable bioprocesses. This review provides an overview of random mutagenesis techniques that are applied to microalgal cell factories, with a particular focus on physical and chemical mutagens, mutagenesis conditions and mutant characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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21 pages, 5637 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Beneficial Effects of Cyanobacterial Co-Culture on Plant Growth

by Jonas Kollmen and Dorina Strieth

Life 2022, 12(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020223 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6599

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous phototrophic prokaryotes that find a wide range of applications in industry due to their broad product spectrum. In this context, the application of cyanobacteria as biofertilizers and thus as an alternative to artificial fertilizers has emerged in recent decades. The benefit is mostly based on the ability of cyanobacteria to fix elemental nitrogen and make it available to the plants in a usable form. However, the positive effects of co-cultivating plants with cyanobacteria are not limited to the provision of nitrogen. Cyanobacteria produce numerous secondary metabolites that can be useful for plants, for example, they can have growth-promoting effects or increase resistance to plant diseases. The effects of biotic and abiotic stress can as well be reduced by many secondary metabolites. Furthermore, the biofilms formed by the cyanobacteria can lead to improved soil conditions, such as increased water retention capacity. To exchange the substances mentioned, cyanobacteria form symbioses with plants, whereby the strength of the symbiosis depends on both partners, and not every plant can form symbiosis with every cyanobacterium. Not only the plants in symbiosis benefit from the cyanobacteria, but also vice versa. This review summarizes the beneficial effects of cyanobacterial co-cultivation on plants, highlighting the substances exchanged and the strength of cyanobacterial symbioses with plants. A detailed explanation of the mechanism of nitrogen fixation in cyanobacterial heterocysts is given. Finally, a summary of possible applications of co-cultivation in the (agrar-)industry is given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria and Their Biotechnological Potential)

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