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Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water, Agriculture and Aquaculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 14801

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Prof. Dr. Athena Economou-Amilli

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Department of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: aquatic ecosystems; marine ecology biodiversity; phylogenetic analysis; eutrophication; water quality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The technological and commercial exploitation of microalgae and Cyanobacteria biomass for the production of high value products (biofuel, bio fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and other bio-based products) has been partly explored and is still in high demand; the same accounts for the marine macroalgal assemblages. Therefore, the Algae Production Industry in Europe has proved to be an emerging sector of the blue bio-economy.

However, sound knowledge of the algae biodiversity and community composition in various aquatic biotopes (freshwaters, transitional waters, and marine and hypersaline habitats) is necessary for both the pure systematic and ecological interest, as well as for the selection of local variants or native species. Emphasis on these local taxa would allow sound monitoring for optimized biomass development in cultures and for the production of specific co-products with higher scientific or commercial value (e.g. secondary metabolites, nutritional fatty acids, etc).

Prof. Dr. Athena Economou-Amilli
Guest Editor

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Keywords

algae biodiversity
transitional waters
marine and hypersaline habitats
local isolates
taxonomy
algal harvesting
impact of stress factors
high-value products and co-products
secondary metabolites
nutritional fatty acids
carotenoids

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unexplored Potential: Metabolite Screening of Local Lake Algae Isolated from Al-Asfar Lake in Saudi Arabia

by Sumayah I. Alsanie and Faten Dhawi

Water 2023, 15(15), 2757; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15152757 - 30 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1161

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to explore the commercial potential of various microalgae variants found in Al-Asfar Lake, Saudi Arabia, which have not been extensively investigated previously. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the metabolic profiles of algae isolated from Al-Asfar Lake. The isolated algae were subjected to molecular analysis using specific primers for the Chlorophyceae class to confirm their identity. Subsequently, we compared the concentration of metabolites in the locally isolated Chlorella vulgaris from Al-Asfar Lake with five commercially available algae (Tetraselmis, Nannochloropsis, Chlorella vulgaris, Spirulina, and Isochrysis). To perform the metabolomics analysis, we employed untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, which yielded a total of 168 metabolites from the microalgae samples. The data were further analyzed using MetaboAnalyst. The results revealed two distinct clusters of microalgae: the first cluster comprised Chlorella vulgaris and the microalgae isolated from the lake, while the second cluster consisted of two sub-clusters, with Isochrysis grouped with Tetraselmis, and Nannochloropsis clustered with Spirulina. Notably, the metabolites of Al-Asfar Lake algae showed a remarkable similarity to Chlorella vulgaris. These findings have significant implications for the environmental aspect of Al-Asfar Lake, shedding light on critical insights into the metabolites and commercial potential of the lake’s microalgae. The valuable insights gained from this research can be utilized to investigate the impact of nutrient abundance on the lake’s biodiversity, enhance microalgal biomass production for biofuel applications, and explore the reuse of lake water in agriculture and environmental restoration projects. Overall, our study provides important groundwork for understanding the potential of Al-Asfar Lake microalgae and their application in various industries, contributing to the sustainable development and environmental health of the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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22 pages, 74705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Records of Tetraselmis sp. Strains with Biotechnological Potential Isolated from Greek Coastal Lagoons

by Alexandros Ntzouvaras, Xanthi Chantzistrountsiou, Niki Papageorgiou, Aikaterini Koletti, Ioannis-Dimosthenis Adamakis, Maria-Eleftheria Zografaki, Sofia Marka, Gabriel Vasilakis, Amerssa Tsirigoti, Ioannis Tzovenis, Emmanouil Flemetakis and Athena Economou-Amilli

Water 2023, 15(9), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091698 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1743

Abstract

In the pursuit of sustainable sources for food, energy, and health products, microalgae have gained attention. In the present study, the lagoonal system of the Nestos River delta was selected as a sampling point in order to search for opportunistic and robust species. Two new strains of Tetraselmis are described with regards to their taxonomic features (as observed using light and transmission electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetics) and their biochemical properties (total lipid, total protein, and total carbohydrate content, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant capacity). The studied strains were identified as representatives of Tetraselmis verrucosa f. rubens. Furthermore, both strains exhibited an interesting biochemical profile coupled with high growth rates and promising antioxidant activity, without the use of enhancement and induction culture methods, warranting further investigation and showing potential for biotechnological use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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18 pages, 3435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beneath the Aegean Sun: Investigating Dunaliella Strains’ Diversity from Greek Saltworks

by Urania Lortou, Manthos Panou, Georgia Papapanagiotou, Georgia Florokapi, Christos Giannakopoulos, Savvas Kavoukis, Georgios Iakovou, Giorgos Zalidis, Konstantinos Triantafyllidis and Spyros Gkelis

Water 2023, 15(6), 1037; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061037 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2400

Abstract

The genus Dunaliella belongs to the division Chlorophyta and is known for its ability to survive in highly saline environments. Dunaliella is an important source of carotenoids, especially beta-carotene and has a wide range of applications. In this study, we aimed to isolate and identify Dunaliella strains from active and abandoned saltworks in Greece. Four seasonal samplings were carried out in seven active saltworks and two samplings were performed in an abandoned saltwork throughout the year 2020. Strains were characterized based on their morphological and phylogenetic traits, whilst their beta-carotene potential were evaluated. Fifteen (15) Dunaliella strains were isolated and classified into nine species based on morphological and morphometrical features. The isolated strains were assigned to different species such as D. parva, D. granulata, D. minuta, D. terricola, D. asymmetrica, D. bioculata, D. viridis, D. minutissima, and D. polymorpha. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicate the formation of distinct clades among different Dunaliella species and suggest that morphological and morphometrical features may not always align with the phylogenetic position of species in the Dunaliella clade. Strains were found to produce a low amount of beta-carotene under default laboratory conditions. This study comprises the first phylogenetic inference of several Dunaliella species and highlights a gap on molecular data for Dunaliella spp. We provide valuable information on the diversity of Dunaliella strains in the saltworks of Greece, which can be used for further research and biotechnological applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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17 pages, 3938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carotenogenic Activity of Two Hypersaline Greek Dunaliella salina Strains under Nitrogen Deprivation and Salinity Stress

by Xanthi Chantzistrountsiou, Alexandros Ntzouvaras, Sofia Papadaki, Amersa Tsirigoti, Ioannis Tzovenis and Athena Economou-Amilli

Water 2023, 15(2), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020241 - 05 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1555

Abstract

The culture growth and carotenogenic activity of two Greek Dunaliella salina strains (AthU-Al D30 and AthU-Al D31) under stress conditions are investigated herein, with emphasis on β-carotene production as well as on lutein and zeaxanthin. In particular, the strains were cultivated in “standard” conditions (60 ‰ salinity and 1.18 M of NaNO₃), under salinity stress conditions (160 ‰ salinity and 1.18 M of NaNO₃) and under nitrogen deprivation conditions (60 ‰ salinity and 0 M of NaNO₃). In addition to the two Greek strains, the D. salina CCAP 19/18 strain, which has been extensively studied regarding carotenogenesis, is included in this study as a reference. All three strains were found to produce increased amounts of β-carotene when cultivated under nitrogen deprivation conditions, while the AthU-Al D31 strain also produced high amounts of carotenoids under salt stress. The HPLC carotenoid profiles of the strains revealed reduced production of lutein in nitrogen deprivation conditions, coupled with a high production of β-carotene. The strains exhibited various responses in terms of carotenogenic activity, indicating an intraspecific variation in the metabolic reactions related to carotenogenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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11 pages, 4100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Rapid Method for Authentication of Macroalgae Based on Vis-NIR Spectroscopy Data Combined with Chemometrics Approach

by Frysye Gumansalangi, Jose L. P. Calle, Marta Barea-Sepúlveda, Manikharda, Miguel Palma, Lideman, Mohamad Rafi, Andriati Ningrum and Widiastuti Setyaningsih

Water 2023, 15(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010100 - 28 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2344

Abstract

Macroalgae are an essential basic ingredient for many industries from which numerous derived products with great economic value are manufactured. Each macroalga has a unique composition that might provide specific physical and chemical information that can be used as markers for authentication. Their compositions may differ depending on different factors, including geographical regions. Unsupervised exploratory techniques, namely principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and nonparametric supervised methods including support vector machines (SVMs) and random forests (RFs), were applied to the Vis-NIR spectroscopic data to standardize the quality of macroalgae based on three regional zones in Indonesia (Western, Central, Eastern). A total of 35 macroalgae samples from six islands in Indonesia were analyzed. The PCA and HCA results present a tendency for the samples to be distributed and clustered according to the type of their species. Meanwhile, the SVM successfully classified samples based on their regional zones, and when combined with five-fold cross-validation, acquired an accuracy of 82%. The RF model algorithm obtained an accuracy of 100%, 80%, and 82% for the training, test, and five-fold cross-validation, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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24 pages, 5109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Description of Aliinostoc alkaliphilum sp. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria), a New Bioactive Metabolite-Producing Strain from Salina Verde (Pantanal, Brazil) and Taxonomic Distribution of Bioactive Metabolites in Nostoc and Nostoc-like Genera

by Maria Christodoulou, Jouni Jokela, Matti Wahlsten, Lyudmila Saari, Athena Economou-Amilli, Marli de Fatima Fiore and Kaarina Sivonen

Water 2022, 14(16), 2470; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14162470 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2179

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are a group of oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes found in almost all habitats on earth including those characterized as extreme environments. It has been observed that the number of studies dealing with the biodiversity of extremophilic cyanobacteria is limited while studies exploring their bioactive potential are even scarcer. The taxonomy of three Nostoc-like cyanobacterial strains isolated from a shallow lake in Brazil was studied by applying a polyphasic approach. The bioactive potential of the strains was also evaluated using antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The metabolites present in the bioactive HPLC fractions were identified by UPLC/ESI/Q-TOF. Based on our phylogenetic inferences in combination with morphological and ecological information, we describe Aliinostoc alkaliphilum sp. nov., exhibiting antibacterial and antifungal activities. The main bioactive metabolite in all three strains was nocuolin A, which represents the first report of this metabolite in Aliinostoc. Our phylogenetic studies also revealed that many bioactive metabolite-producting strains that are currently assigned to Nostoc belong to other distinct evolutionary lineages. These findings highlight the importance of polyphasic approach studies in both cyanobacterial taxonomy and natural product discovery programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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18 pages, 685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds and Pigments in Freshwater Cladophora glomerata Biomass from Various Lithuanian Rivers as a Potential Future Raw Material for Biotechnology

by Monika Nutautaitė, Asta Racevičiūtė-Stupelienė, Saulius Bliznikas, Ilona Jonuškienė, Jūratė Karosienė, Judita Koreivienė and Vilma Vilienė

Water 2022, 14(7), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071138 - 01 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2491

Abstract

Freshwater macroalgae produces a wide range of bioactive compounds, and interest in utilizing its biomass is growing rapidly. Meanwhile, exploiting renewable sources for biomass collection could lead to more sustainable biotechnological chains. The aim of this study was to investigate Cladophora glomerata biomass from Lithuanian rivers as a potential raw material for biotechnology. For this reason, phenolic compound profiles, antioxidant activity and pigment concentrations were determined in macroalgal biomass samples collected from the following four Lithuanian rivers: Dubysa (B1), Šventoji (B2), Nevėžis (B3) and Jūra (B4). The highest total phenolic compound content was determined in B3 (1.32 mg GAE/g). Three phenolic acids were identified, namely gallic (12.94–35.13 µg/g), p-hydroxybenzoic (23.97–29.05 µg/g) and p-coumaric (1.79–6.46 µg/g). The results indicate significant C. glomerata antioxidant activity; the highest reducing power reached 0.737 AU (B3), the total antioxidant content was 1.47 mg Trolox/g (B3), DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging was 11.09% (B3) and 97.86% (B1) and FRAP activity 20.86 µmol/L (B3). The content of pigments ranged from 0.56-0.74, 0.39–0.57, 0.17–0.23 to 0.11–0.17 mg/g in chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, and lutein, respectively. To conclude, C. glomerata macroalgal biomass may have the potential to act as a functional raw material, as several groups of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities were observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae Biomass Development for the Production of High-Value Products In Vivo and In Vitro)

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