Latest Review Papers in Microbial Biotechnology Section 2023

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 13916

Special Issue Editor

Laboratory of Chemistry and Biotechnology of Natural Products, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of La Réunion, 15 Avenue René Cassin, CS 92003, CEDEX 09, 97744 Saint-Denis, France
Interests: microbiology; biotechnology; specialized metabolites; fermentations; pigments
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality review papers in all the fields of Microbial Biotechnology. We encourage researchers from related fields to contribute review papers highlighting the latest developments in Microbial Biotechnology or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so. Full-length comprehensive reviews will be preferred.

Let us share the science as widely as possible.

Dr. Mireille Fouillaud
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2845 KiB  
Article
Improvement of Carotenoids’ Production by Increasing the Activity of Beta-Carotene Ketolase with Different Strategies
by Qiaomian Zhou, Danqiong Huang, Haihong Yang, Zeyu Hong and Chaogang Wang
Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020377 - 12 Feb 2024
Viewed by 670
Abstract
Canthaxanthin is an important antioxidant with wide application prospects, and β-carotene ketolase is the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of canthaxanthin. However, the challenge for the soluble expression of β-carotene ketolase is that it hinders the large-scale production of carotenoids such as [...] Read more.
Canthaxanthin is an important antioxidant with wide application prospects, and β-carotene ketolase is the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of canthaxanthin. However, the challenge for the soluble expression of β-carotene ketolase is that it hinders the large-scale production of carotenoids such as canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Hence, this study employed several strategies aiming to improve the soluble expression of β-carotene ketolase and its activity, including selecting optimal expression vectors, screening induction temperatures, adding soluble expression tags, and adding a molecular chaperone. Results showed that all these strategies can improve the soluble expression and activity of β-carotene ketolase in Escherichia coli. In particular, the production of soluble β-carotene ketolase was increased 8 times, with a commercial molecular chaperon of pG-KJE8, leading to a 1.16-fold enhancement in the canthaxanthin production from β-carotene. Interestingly, pG-KJE8 could also enhance the soluble expression of β-carotene ketolase derived from eukaryotic microalgae. Further research showed that the production of canthaxanthin and echinenone was significantly improved by as many as 30.77 times when the pG-KJE8 was added, indicating the molecular chaperone performed differently among different β-carotene ketolase. This study not only laid a foundation for further research on the improvement of β-carotene ketolase activity but also provided new ideas for the improvement of carotenoid production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Microbial Biotechnology Section 2023)
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Review

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19 pages, 1989 KiB  
Review
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens: Harnessing Its Potential for Industrial, Medical, and Agricultural Applications—A Comprehensive Review
by Imen Zalila-Kolsi, Afif Ben-Mahmoud and Ray Al-Barazie
Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2215; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092215 - 31 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2933
Abstract
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a Gram-positive bacterium, has emerged as a versatile microorganism with significant applications in various fields, including industry, medicine, and agriculture. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the characteristics, genetic tools, and metabolic capabilities of B. amyloliquefaciens [...] Read more.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a Gram-positive bacterium, has emerged as a versatile microorganism with significant applications in various fields, including industry, medicine, and agriculture. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the characteristics, genetic tools, and metabolic capabilities of B. amyloliquefaciens, while highlighting its potential as a chassis cell for synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and protein expression. We discuss the bacterium’s role in the production of chemicals, enzymes, and other industrial bioproducts, as well as its applications in medicine, such as combating infectious diseases and promoting gut health. In agriculture, B. amyloliquefaciens has demonstrated potential as a biofertilizer, biocontrol agent, and stress tolerance enhancer for various crops. Despite its numerous promising applications, B. amyloliquefaciens remains less studied than its Gram-negative counterpart, Escherichia coli. This review emphasizes the need for further research and development of advanced engineering techniques and genetic editing technologies tailored for B. amyloliquefaciens, ultimately unlocking its full potential in scientific and industrial contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Microbial Biotechnology Section 2023)
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25 pages, 829 KiB  
Review
Eight Up-Coming Biotech Tools to Combat Climate Crisis
by Werner Fuchs, Lydia Rachbauer, Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann, Günther Bochmann, Doris Ribitsch and Franziska Steger
Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061514 - 07 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1982
Abstract
Biotechnology has a high potential to substantially contribute to a low-carbon society. Several green processes are already well established, utilizing the unique capacity of living cells or their instruments. Beyond that, the authors believe that there are new biotechnological procedures in the pipeline [...] Read more.
Biotechnology has a high potential to substantially contribute to a low-carbon society. Several green processes are already well established, utilizing the unique capacity of living cells or their instruments. Beyond that, the authors believe that there are new biotechnological procedures in the pipeline which have the momentum to add to this ongoing change in our economy. Eight promising biotechnology tools were selected by the authors as potentially impactful game changers: (i) the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway, (ii) carbonic anhydrase, (iii) cutinase, (iv) methanogens, (v) electro-microbiology, (vi) hydrogenase, (vii) cellulosome and, (viii) nitrogenase. Some of them are fairly new and are explored predominantly in science labs. Others have been around for decades, however, with new scientific groundwork that may rigorously expand their roles. In the current paper, the authors summarize the latest state of research on these eight selected tools and the status of their practical implementation. We bring forward our arguments on why we consider these processes real game changers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Microbial Biotechnology Section 2023)
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18 pages, 4266 KiB  
Review
Electroactive Bacteria in Natural Ecosystems and Their Applications in Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioremediation: A Review
by Gian Luigi Garbini, Anna Barra Caracciolo and Paola Grenni
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051255 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3627
Abstract
Electroactive bacteria (EAB) are natural microorganisms (mainly Bacteria and Archaea) living in various habitats (e.g., water, soil, sediment), including extreme ones, which can interact electrically each other and/or with their extracellular environments. There has been an increased interest in recent years in [...] Read more.
Electroactive bacteria (EAB) are natural microorganisms (mainly Bacteria and Archaea) living in various habitats (e.g., water, soil, sediment), including extreme ones, which can interact electrically each other and/or with their extracellular environments. There has been an increased interest in recent years in EAB because they can generate an electrical current in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFCs rely on microorganisms able to oxidize organic matter and transfer electrons to an anode. The latter electrons flow, through an external circuit, to a cathode where they react with protons and oxygen. Any source of biodegradable organic matter can be used by EAB for power generation. The plasticity of electroactive bacteria in exploiting different carbon sources makes MFCs a green technology for renewable bioelectricity generation from wastewater rich in organic carbon. This paper reports the most recent applications of this promising technology for water, wastewater, soil, and sediment recovery. The performance of MFCs in terms of electrical measurements (e.g., electric power), the extracellular electron transfer mechanisms by EAB, and MFC studies aimed at heavy metal and organic contaminant bioremediationF are all described and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Microbial Biotechnology Section 2023)
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32 pages, 2031 KiB  
Review
Metabolic Engineering of Model Microorganisms for the Production of Xanthophyll
by Nan Wang, Huakang Peng, Caifeng Yang, Wenfang Guo, Mengqi Wang, Gangqiang Li and Dehu Liu
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051252 - 09 May 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2299
Abstract
Xanthophyll is an oxidated version of carotenoid. It presents significant value to the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries due to its specific antioxidant activity and variety of colors. Chemical processing and conventional extraction from natural organisms are still the main sources of xanthophyll. [...] Read more.
Xanthophyll is an oxidated version of carotenoid. It presents significant value to the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries due to its specific antioxidant activity and variety of colors. Chemical processing and conventional extraction from natural organisms are still the main sources of xanthophyll. However, the current industrial production model can no longer meet the demand for human health care, reducing petrochemical energy consumption and green sustainable development. With the swift development of genetic metabolic engineering, xanthophyll synthesis by the metabolic engineering of model microorganisms shows great application potential. At present, compared to carotenes such as lycopene and β-carotene, xanthophyll has a relatively low production in engineering microorganisms due to its stronger inherent antioxidation, relatively high polarity, and longer metabolic pathway. This review comprehensively summarized the progress in xanthophyll synthesis by the metabolic engineering of model microorganisms, described strategies to improve xanthophyll production in detail, and proposed the current challenges and future efforts needed to build commercialized xanthophyll-producing microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Microbial Biotechnology Section 2023)
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