Microbes and Their Products for Sustainable Human Life

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbes are omnipresent and are able to survive and continuously evolve with the changing environment. The majority of microbes are beneficial for humans and nature and a fraction of microbes are considered to be pathogens. Understanding the world of microbes is important to mitigate their dangerous effects and harness their potential for human health, food security, sustainable energy sources, and tackling climate change. Microbes are an integral part of human life and they are used to produce various food products through fermentation. Microbial products such as polyhydroxyalkanoates and exopolysaccharides have great potential in the health sector. Microbes are also used to improve crop yields and productivity. Infectious diseases are a major cause of death around the globe. Almost one third of drugs (antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering, and anticancer medicines) are produced using microbes. A large amount of wastewater and organic waste is generated through industrial and household activities and causes environmental pollution. The use of microbes in waste treatment is an eco-friendly method with the advantage of resource recovery and the production of valuable products such as lipids, hydrogen, polymers, etc. Microbes also have a direct role in the valorization of waste into bioenergy, performing anaerobic digestion, dark fermentation, and photo fermentation. It is important to explore the role of microbes in human health and sustainability. Keeping in view the recent advances in microbes and their product-related research, this Special Issue will include a series of review and research articles that cover the following topics:

• Advances in cultured and uncultured microbes’ isolation and characterization.
• Microbial fermentative products and metabolites as prebiotics/probiotics and food.
• Role of microbes in the biotransformation and synthesis of valuable chemicals.
• Microbial enzyme production and characterization for valuable biochemical production.
• Microbe-derived material (polysaccharides and exopolysaccharides) production and applications.
• Microbe-mediated synthesis of nanomaterials and their application.
• Resource recovery from waste and production of valuables.
• Microbes in advanced biofuel production.

Dr. Shashi Kant Bhatia
Dr. Ranjit Gurav
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Biomolecules biomolecules	5.5	8.3	2011	16.9 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Energies energies	3.2	5.5	2008	16.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Foods foods	5.2	5.8	2012	13.1 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	5.6	7.8	2000	16.3 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Polymers polymers	5.0	6.6	2009	13.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Biomolecules Energies Foods IJMS Polymers

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15 pages, 1762 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Improved Cordycepin Production by Cordyceps Militaris Using Corn Steep Liquor Hydrolysate as an Alternative Protein Nitrogen Source

by Ying Chang, Xiaolan Liu, Yan Jiao and Xiqun Zheng

Foods 2024, 13(5), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13050813 - 06 Mar 2024

Viewed by 805

Abstract

Cordycepin production in the submerged culture of Cordyceps militaris was demonstrated using hydrolyzed corn processing protein by-products, known as corn steep liquor hydrolysate (CSLH), as an alternative nitrogen source. The growth, metabolism, and cordycepin production of Cordyceps militaris were evaluated under various concentrations [...] Read more.

Cordycepin production in the submerged culture of Cordyceps militaris was demonstrated using hydrolyzed corn processing protein by-products, known as corn steep liquor hydrolysate (CSLH), as an alternative nitrogen source. The growth, metabolism, and cordycepin production of Cordyceps militaris were evaluated under various concentrations of CSLH induction. The results demonstrated that CSLH addition had positive effects on the growth and cordycepin production with various C. militaris strains. The optimum strain, C. militaris GDMCC5.270, was found to effectively utilize CSLH to promote mycelium growth and cordycepin production. Low concentrations of CSLH (1.5 g/L) in the fermentation broth resulted in 343.03 ± 15.94 mg/L cordycepin production, which was 4.83 times higher than that of the group without CSLH. This also enhanced the metabolism of sugar, amino acids, and nucleotides, leading to improved cordycepin biosynthesis. The increase in key amino acids, such as glutamic acid, alanine, and aspartic acid, in the corn steep liquor hydrolysate significantly enhanced cordycepin yield. The corn steep liquor hydrolysate was confirmed to be a cost-effective accelerator for mycelium growth and cordycepin accumulation in C. militaris, replacing partial peptone as a cheap nitrogen source. It serves as a suitable alternative for efficient cordycepin production at a low cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Microbes and Their Products for Sustainable Human Life)

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17 pages, 183523 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Lactobacillus crispatus CCFM1339 Inhibits Vaginal Epithelial Barrier Injury Induced by Gardnerella vaginalis in Mice

by Xiaoyan Huang, Rumeng Lin, Bingyong Mao, Xin Tang, Jianxin Zhao, Qiuxiang Zhang and Shumao Cui

Biomolecules 2024, 14(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14020240 - 18 Feb 2024

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Abstract

The vaginal epithelial barrier, which integrates mechanical, immune, chemical, and microbial defenses, is pivotal in safeguarding against external pathogens and upholding the vaginal microecological equilibrium. Although the widely used metronidazole effectively curtails Gardnerella vaginalis, a key pathogen in bacterial vaginosis, it falls [...] Read more.

The vaginal epithelial barrier, which integrates mechanical, immune, chemical, and microbial defenses, is pivotal in safeguarding against external pathogens and upholding the vaginal microecological equilibrium. Although the widely used metronidazole effectively curtails Gardnerella vaginalis, a key pathogen in bacterial vaginosis, it falls short in restoring the vaginal barrier or reducing recurrence rates. Our prior research highlighted Lactobacillus crispatus CCFM1339, a vaginally derived Lactobacillus strain, for its capacity to modulate the vaginal epithelial barrier. In cellular models, L. crispatus CCFM1339 fortified the integrity of the cellular monolayer, augmented cellular migration, and facilitated repair. Remarkably, in animal models, L. crispatus CCFM1339 substantially abated the secretion of the barrier disruption biomarker E-cadherin (from 101.45 to 82.90 pg/mL) and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (35.18% vs. the model), consequently mitigating vaginal inflammation in mice. Immunological assays in vaginal tissues elucidated increased secretory IgA levels (from 405.56 to 740.62 ng/mL) and curtailed IL-17 gene expression. Moreover, L. crispatus CCFM1339 enhanced Lactobacilli abundance and attenuated Enterobacterium and Enterococcus within the vaginal microbiome, underscoring its potential in probiotic applications for vaginal barrier regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Microbes and Their Products for Sustainable Human Life)

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16 pages, 7414 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of In Vitro Fermentation of Polysialic Acid and Sialic Acid on Gut Microbial Community Composition and Metabolites in Healthy Humans

by Zhongwei Yin, Li Zhu, Minjie Gao, Dan Yu, Zijian Zhang, Ling Zhu and Xiaobei Zhan

Foods 2024, 13(3), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13030481 - 02 Feb 2024

Viewed by 886

Abstract

The influence of polysialic acid (PSA) and sialic acid (SA) on the gut microbial community composition and metabolites in healthy humans was investigated using a bionic gastrointestinal reactor. The results indicated that PSA and SA significantly changed the gut microbiota and metabolites to [...] Read more.

The influence of polysialic acid (PSA) and sialic acid (SA) on the gut microbial community composition and metabolites in healthy humans was investigated using a bionic gastrointestinal reactor. The results indicated that PSA and SA significantly changed the gut microbiota and metabolites to different degrees. PSA can increase the relative abundances of Faecalibacterium and Allisonella, whereas SA can increase those of Bifidobacterium and Megamonas. Both can significantly increase the content of short-chain fatty acids. The results of metabolome analysis showed that PSA can upregulate ergosterol peroxide and gallic acid and downregulate the harmful metabolite N-acetylputrescine. SA can upregulate 4-pyridoxic acid and lipoic acid. PSA and SA affect gut microbiota and metabolites in different ways and have positive effects on human health. These results will provide a reference for the further development of PSA- and SA-related functional foods and health products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Microbes and Their Products for Sustainable Human Life)

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17 pages, 3861 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Multiple Rounds of Enrichment on Metabolite Accumulation and Microbiota Composition of Pit Mud for Baijiu Fermentation

by Dong Li, Guangbin Ye, Xuyan Zong and Wei Zou

Foods 2023, 12(8), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12081594 - 09 Apr 2023

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Abstract

Pit mud (PM) is the main component of Baijiu (traditional Chinese liquor), and its microorganisms are the primary sources of the aroma of Chinese strong-flavor Baijiu (SFB). Enrichment plays an important role in the selection of functional microorganisms in PM. Herein, the PM [...] Read more.

Pit mud (PM) is the main component of Baijiu (traditional Chinese liquor), and its microorganisms are the primary sources of the aroma of Chinese strong-flavor Baijiu (SFB). Enrichment plays an important role in the selection of functional microorganisms in PM. Herein, the PM of SFB was submitted to six rounds of enrichment using clostridial growth medium (CGM), and changes in the metabolite accumulation and microbiota composition were evaluated. Based on the metabolite production and microbiota composition, the enrichment rounds were classified as the acclimation stage (round 2), main fermentation stage (rounds 3 and 4), and late fermentation stage (rounds 5 and 6). Species within the genus Clostridium dominated in the acclimation stage (65.84–74.51%). In the main fermentation stage, the dominant microbial groups were producers of butyric acid, acetic acid, and caproic acid, which included Clostridium (45.99–74.80%), Caproicibacter (1.45–17.02%), and potential new species within the order of Oscillataceae (14.26–29.10%). In the late stage of enrichment, Pediococcus dominated (45.96–79.44%). Thus, the main fermentation stage can be considered optimal for the isolation of acid-producing bacteria from PM. The findings discussed herein support the development and application of functional bacteria by bioaugmentation, and contribute to improving the quality of PM and SFB production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Microbes and Their Products for Sustainable Human Life)

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