Karla Flores-Zambrano , Wilson Tapia , Pablo Castillejo
{"title":"Microalgae strains isolated from piggery wastewater in Ecuador: Effective nitrogen compound removal and growth potential in extremophile conditions","authors":"Karla Flores-Zambrano , Wilson Tapia , Pablo Castillejo","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00883","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00883","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effluents generated by anthropogenic activities are a significant source of pollution and eutrophication in natural water bodies. In Ecuador, the increase in pig production has exacerbated this issue due to the untreated discharge of pig effluents. This study focused on the characterization of native microalgae present in pig effluents and the evaluation of their capacity to remove nitrogenous compounds under various conditions, with the aim of identifying efficient strains for phycoremediation. Four microalgal strains were isolated and molecularly identified as <em>Radiococcus polycoccus, Chlorolobion braunii, Micractinium</em> sp., and <em>Desmodesmus multivariabilis</em>. The cultures were exposed to initial concentrations of 100 mg L<sup>-1</sup> N-NH₄ and 49.97 mg L<sup>-1</sup> N-NO₃ for 12 days to assess their cellular growth and nutrient removal rates. Growth kinetics were analyzed under conditions of 2000 mg L<sup>-1</sup> N-NH₄ and extreme pH levels of 3 and 10. <em>Chlorolobion braunii</em> demonstrated the highest productivity, achieving a removal of 67.73 % of N-NH₄ and 30.59 % of N-NO₃, and reached the highest cellular density under extreme ammonium conditions, being the only strain capable of growing at acidic pH. Conversely, <em>Micractinium</em> sp. exhibited the highest growth under alkaline conditions. These results highlight the promising potential of native microalgae from pig effluents for wastewater remediation and their adaptation to environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00883"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identification and purification of a novel bacteriophage T7 endonuclease from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR) biodiversity hotspot","authors":"Priyen Pillay , Maabo Moralo , Sibongile Mtimka , Taola Shai , Kirsty Botha , Lusisizwe Kwezi , Tsepo L. Tsekoa","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The four-way (Holliday) DNA junction is a key intermediate in homologous recombination, a ubiquitous process that is important in DNA repair and generation of genetic diversity. The final stages of recombination require resolution of the junction into nicked-duplex species by the action of a junction-resolving enzyme. The enzymes involved are nucleases that are highly selective for the structure of branched DNA. Here we present the isolation, expression and purification of a novel T7 endonuclease from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR), which possesses junction resolving capabilities. An initial approach was employed where the process was scaled up to 3 L with IPTG concentration of 0.1 mM at 30 °C and purified via immobilised metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). Expression titres of 20 ± 0.003 µg.L<sup>-1</sup> culture were achieved with the amount of KBR-T7 endonuclease required per reaction ranging from as low as 10 to 100 nanograms. The solubility of the enzyme was relatively poor; however, enzyme activity was not affected. A derivative for improved solubility and efficacy was then designed from this original wild-type version, MBP-KBR-T7 and was expressed under similar conditions at 20 °C yielding 1.63 ± 0.154 mg.L<sup>-1</sup> of formulated enzyme. This novel high value enzyme derivative is a valuable asset within the molecular reagent space as a tool for confirming both <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> genome editing; therefore, a means to produce it recombinantly in a scalable and technoeconomicaly viable process is highly desirable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00877"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143103879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Loan , Avinash Karpe , Saeid Babaei , Stuart Denman , Chunghong Chen , Matthias Joust , Kristy Lam , Dawar Hussain , Sapna Pillai Vibhakaran , Matthew Callaghan , Abed Chaudhury , Karen Paco , Nigel Tomkins , Tristan Yang , Stephanie Payne , Michael Ayliffe , Ming Luo
{"title":"Biosynthesis of bromoform by Curvularia fungi provides a natural pathway to mitigate enteric methane emissions from ruminants","authors":"Thomas Loan , Avinash Karpe , Saeid Babaei , Stuart Denman , Chunghong Chen , Matthias Joust , Kristy Lam , Dawar Hussain , Sapna Pillai Vibhakaran , Matthew Callaghan , Abed Chaudhury , Karen Paco , Nigel Tomkins , Tristan Yang , Stephanie Payne , Michael Ayliffe , Ming Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00876","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00876","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ruminant livestock industry is the largest agricultural emissions source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, primarily from enteric methane. Several technologies, both natural and synthetic are being investigated to mitigate enteric methane emissions. Macroalgae derived feed ingredients that contain bromoform, a recognised inhibitor of methanogenesis, are an effective natural approach for methane mitigation. However, producing sufficient biomass economically to satisfy the livestock industry at a global scale is challenging. Here we demonstrate that a <em>Curvularia</em> soil fungi isolate can be cultured to produce bromoform and subsequently inhibit methanogenesis in pure cultures of <em>Methanobrevibacter smithii</em> and in mixed cultures of ovine rumen fluid. This highly culturable fungal species produces no known toxins and creates an exciting new, scalable and natural alternative for reducing ruminant livestock emissions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00876"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143103878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fungal – assisted microalgae flocculation and simultaneous lignocellulolytic enzyme production in wastewater treatment systems","authors":"Anna Civzele, Linda Mezule","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study investigates the application of white rot fungi for reactor–scale microalgae harvesting and explores the mechanisms underlying the algal–fungal interactions and their impact on biomass composition. Enzymatic analysis and microscopy revealed that the formation of algal-fungal complexes and successful harvesting are coupled with fungal cellulose-degrading enzyme production and hydrolytic processes of microalgae cells. Fluorescence intensity decreased by over 80 % in cells stained with Calcofluor-white after interaction with white rot fungi, indicating the reduction in cellulose content in microalgal cells caused by fungal enzymatic activity. These enzymes also caused significant cell damage and more than 50 % decrease in microalgae cell size. The presence of cellulolytic enzymes broadens the potential application of the resulting biomass in various biotechnological applications. Moreover, reactor-scale bioflocculation resulted in over 95 % <em>T. obliquus</em> and almost 85 % <em>C. vulgaris</em> harvesting efficiency from secondary wastewater within less than 24 h, demonstrating the method's scalability and industrial applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00875"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143103880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cobalt phosphide-loaded biochar synthesis using phosphate-accumulating yeast and its application as an electrocatalyst","authors":"Yoshihiro Ojima , Riho Akiyoshi , Itto Tokiwa , Takashi Nakazono , Yusuke Yamada , Masayuki Azuma","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2025.e00874","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A phosphorus (P)-accumulating mutant strain of <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> is used as a precursor for transition metal phosphides (TMPs) biochar. Tetrahydrofuran treatment of the P-accumulating yeast coupled with pyrolysis resulted in the formation of CoP-loaded biochar (CoP@P-yeast) unlike previously reported Co<sub>2</sub>P-loaded biochar using dry baker's yeast. The CoP@P-yeast exhibited the electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution with an overpotential of −192 mV at 10 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. Furthermore, the CoP@P-yeast showed the highest ammonia production rate of 33 mg-NH<sub>3</sub> h<sup>−1</sup> mg-catalyst<sup>−1</sup> in nitrate reduction reaction, as well as much higher than that with platinum on graphitized carbon. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that relatively large TMP crystals mainly located at the biochar surface, which may be beneficial to avoid catalytic deterioration during the nitrate reduction reaction. This study demonstrates that P-accumulating mutant strain of yeast is a suitable precursor to improve the activity of the resulting TMP biochar.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00874"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11787416/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Valorization of agro-industrial waste through solid-state fermentation: Mini review","authors":"Mohammad Perwez , Sameer Al Asheh","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00873","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00873","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agriculture and industrial waste are produced in large volumes every year worldwide, causing serious concerns about their disposal. These wastes have high organic content, which microorganisms can easily assimilate into relevant value-added products. Valorization of agro-industrial waste is required for sustainable development. Solid state fermentation is an excellent method of utilizing waste for circular bioeconomy. Exploitation of agro-industrial waste as a substrate utilizing microorganisms for solid state fermentation provides beneficial products for use in industries and other fields. The use of waste reduces the cost of production of value-added products. This method is an environmentally friendly, economical and feasible approach for waste management. This review discusses the factors affecting the production of value-added products through solid state fermentation. It also discusses the valuable products from solid state fermentation technology, such as antibiotics, enzymes, organic acids, bioremediation, biosurfactants and biofertilizers. Challenges and future prospects are also presented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00873"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11780145/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143068466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ihtisham Ul Haq , Kashif Rahim , Sajida Maryam , Najeeba Parre Paker
{"title":"Bacteriophage-based biosensors technology: Materials, fabrications, efficiencies and shortcomings","authors":"Ihtisham Ul Haq , Kashif Rahim , Sajida Maryam , Najeeba Parre Paker","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ongoing research in biosensor technologies has led to advanced functional materials for healthcare diagnostics, and bacteriophages (phages), demonstrating exceptional utility due to their high specificity, accuracy, rapid, label-free, and wireless detection capabilities with minimal false-positive results. Phage-based-pathogen-detecting biosensors (PBPDBs) include surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors, magnetoelastic (ME), electrochemical, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensors. Commonly used substrates for PBPDBs are gold, silicon, glass, carbon-based materials, magnetic particles, and quantum dots. These substrates are chemically and physically modified to optimize phage orientation on sensor surfaces, enhancing bacterial capture. To address typical stability and issues encountered in traditional biosensor applications, phage particles and genetically modified phages are utilized to improve biosensor stability and increase detection efficacy while reducing assay time. Genetic modification in phages facilitated by CRISPR/Cas9 enables the tailoring of phages to target specific bacterial strains. This approach helps overcome the inherent specificity of phages and enables the detection of multiple pathogens in a single assay. Multiple pathogens can be detected through a single phage-based assay. This manuscript elucidates the fabrication methodologies and detection efficiencies of PBPDBs providing valuable insights into the development of practical, precise, and efficient biosensors for pathogen detection.</div></div><div><h3>Summary</h3><div>PBPDBs are emerging diagnostic tools for the detection of bacterial pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00872"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732128/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Doha H. Aboubaker , Nermeen A. Shaffie , Mona F. Shabana , Ahmed Abd Elghafour , Bassant M.M. Ibrahim
{"title":"Protective role of savory essential oil on vital organs in rats against deleterious effects induced by lead acetate","authors":"Doha H. Aboubaker , Nermeen A. Shaffie , Mona F. Shabana , Ahmed Abd Elghafour , Bassant M.M. Ibrahim","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The damaging effects of heavy metal exposure on vital organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain can be lowered by natural compounds' anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant capacity. In the current investigation, the protective potential of savory(<em>Saturejahortensis</em>)essential oil (EO) against lead acetate-induced multi-organ damage in rats was evaluated. Thirty female Wister Albino rats were divided into the following groups: normal, positive control given lead acetate without concomitant treatment, reference given ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid and groups treated with savory EO (0.5 and 1 ml/rat), treatments were administered concomitantly with lead acetate for ten successive days. Electrocardiogram (ECG), open field, and rota-rod tests for evaluation of behaviour, as well as TNF-α, R-GSH & MDA were measured in brain and liver homogenates respectively, CRP, liver, kidney, and heart function tests, were measured in serum. Histopathology of vital organs was conducted at the end of the experiment.A high dose of savory EO, significantly improved the cardiac electrophysiology, psychological state, and locomotor activity of rats; moreover, it lowered inflammatory, oxidative biomarkers, liver, kidney, and cardiac function tests of the rats. Savory EO protects vital organs against heavy metal damage with the superiority of the high dose.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00871"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142985051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Muhamad Maulana Azimatun Nur , Mahreni , Sri Wahyu Murni , Tutik Muji Setyoningrum , Faizah Hadi , Tunjung Wahyu Widayati , Danang Jaya , Raden Roro Endang Sulistyawati , Dwi Aulia Puspitaningrum , Resti Nurmala Dewi , Hadiyanto , M. Hasanuzzaman
{"title":"Innovative strategies for utilizing microalgae as dual-purpose biofertilizers and phycoremediators in agroecosystems","authors":"Muhamad Maulana Azimatun Nur , Mahreni , Sri Wahyu Murni , Tutik Muji Setyoningrum , Faizah Hadi , Tunjung Wahyu Widayati , Danang Jaya , Raden Roro Endang Sulistyawati , Dwi Aulia Puspitaningrum , Resti Nurmala Dewi , Hadiyanto , M. Hasanuzzaman","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00870","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing need for sustainable agricultural practices due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers has prompted interest in microalgae as biofertilizers. This review investigates the potential of microalgae as biofertilizers and phycoremediators within sustainable agroecosystems, addressing both soil fertility and wastewater management. Microalgae provide a dual benefit by absorbing excess nutrients and contaminants from wastewater, generating nutrient-rich biomass that can replace chemical fertilizers and support plant growth. Implementation strategies include cultivating microalgae in wastewater to offset production costs, using closed photobioreactor systems to enhance growth efficiency, and applying microalgal biomass directly to soil or crops. Additionally, microalgae extracts provide essential bioactive compounds, such as phytohormones and amino acids, that enhance plant growth and resilience. While microalgae offer an eco-friendly solution for nutrient recycling and crop productivity, challenges in scalability, production cost, and regulatory frameworks hinder widespread adoption. This review highlights the potential pathways and technological advancements necessary for integrating microalgae into sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative approaches to overcome these barriers. Ultimately, microalgae biofertilizers represent a promising approach to reducing environmental impact and advancing sustainable farming practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00870"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11700267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prospective identification of extracellular triacylglycerol hydrolase with conserved amino acids in Amycolatopsis tolypomycina’s high G+C genomic dataset","authors":"Supajit Sraphet , Bagher Javadi","doi":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00869","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.btre.2024.e00869","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extracellular triacylglycerol hydrolases (ETH) play a critical role for microorganisms, acting as essential tools for lipid breakdown and survival in challenging environments. The pursuit of more effective ETH genes and enzymes through evolution holds significant potential for enhancing living conditions. This study employs a proteogenomic approach to identify high G+C ETH in a notable Gram-positive bacterium, <em>Amycolatopsis tolypomycina</em>. Utilizing knowledge from genome and machine learning algorithms, prospective ETH genes/enzymes were identified. Notably, the ETH structural conserved accessibility to solvent clearly indicated the specific sixteen residues (GLY50, PRO93, GLY141, ASP148, GLY151, ASP172, ALA176, GLY195, TYR196, SER197, GLN198, GLY199, GLY200, GLY225, PRO327, ASP336) with no frequency. By pinpointing key residues and understanding their role, this study sets the stage for enhancing ETH performance through computational proteogenomic and contributes to the broader field of enzyme engineering, facilitating the development of more efficient and versatile ETH enzymes tailored to specific industrial or environmental contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38117,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article e00869"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11697127/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}