Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts最新文献

{"title":"Aggressive nitrogen assimilation during exponential growth in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii","authors":"Miku Tibule,&nbsp;Windula Mallawarachchi,&nbsp;Oyinkansola Oyateru,&nbsp;Mahtab Ziaeian,&nbsp;Minsung Kim,&nbsp;Hasni Nimalka Dharmasiri,&nbsp;Jae-Hyeok Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioavailable nitrogen (N) is a key limiting factor for global biomass production. In dynamic environments, organisms must adopt effective nitrogen use strategies (NUS) to capitalize on episodic N availability. The recent discovery of intracellular guanine crystals in diverse algal species raises new questions about their roles in NUS. To investigate NUS in <em>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii,</em> a model photosynthetic eukaryote, we quantified N-to-biomass conversion efficiency in mixotrophic batch cultures supplied with common environmental N sources. Cultures reached saturating growth at 4 mM ammonium, 4 mM nitrate, and 2 mM urea, indicating comparable molar N utilization efficiency across sources. Under sub-saturating N conditions, residual N measurements showed that approximately 1.5 mM N was consumed per unit of biomass (optical density at 680 nm). In contrast, higher N inputs resulted in progressively greater N consumption per unit biomass, suggesting N storage. Consistently, N uptake kinetics in dense culture following an N pulse revealed rapid assimilation of 3–6 mM N per unit of biomass. N source-specific transcriptome profiles revealed N source-specific regulation of assimilation pathways and transporter genes, consistent with tailored NUS in <em>C. reinhardtii</em>. Together, these findings support a model in which <em>C. reinhardtii</em> rapidly acquires and stores N during exponential growth, enabling sustained metabolism during subsequent N scarcity. Variation in N use efficiency across growth phases and N conditions suggests regulatory mechanisms governing N partitioning and storage. This study highlights flexible NUS in microalgae and offers insights to enhancing N assimilation capacity and resilience in agricultural and aquacultural systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104798"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148554975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Salinity-driven physiological and metabolomic responses of the Sargassum swartzii holobiont: an exploratory GC–MS profiling study","authors":"Mayur S. Mahajan,&nbsp;Neelam Nathani","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The metabolomic consequences of salinity fluctuation for tropical seaweed holobionts remain largely unexplored, despite their direct relevance to cultivation-based biorefinery strategies. This study provides an exploratory, integrated GC–MS metabolomic and physiological characterization of <em>Sargassum swartzii</em> from Beyt Dwarka, Gujarat (Arabian Sea) and its holobiont: including the native epiphytic microbial community, in vitro cultivated under hypo-osmotic (25 ppt), ambient (35 ppt), and hyper-osmotic (45 ppt) conditions compared against field-collected baseline (Day 0). Growth dynamics, photosynthetic pigment regulation, and 46 curated metabolites were assessed over a 9-day cultivation period. Relative to the field baseline, laboratory cultivation was associated with broad metabolic adjustment, including near-complete reduction of sorbitol, depletion of very-long-chain fatty acids, and higher relative abundance of unsaturated fatty acids; against this baseline, graded salinity produced distinct metabolite profiles across the three treatments. The 25 ppt treatment showed an osmotic-stress profile (higher relative abundance of 13-octadecenoic acid; 88% decline in growth rate), the 35 ppt treatment showed the highest relative abundance of bioactive long-chain PUFAs (CLA, DPA, and DHA), and the 45 ppt treatment showed the broadest compositional shift alongside the highest biomass productivity (0.199 ± 0.094 g L⁻¹ day⁻¹; 4.64-fold over 25 ppt). Physiological measurements, for which true biological replication (<em>n</em> = 3) was maintained, indicated divergent pigment patterns: a significant salinity × time interaction for predominantly host-associated chlorophyll <em>a</em> versus phycobiliproteins that showed independent main effects without interaction. Several bacterial lipid markers, carotenoids, and a putative prostaglandin F2α are consistent with literature reports of contributions from taxonomically diverse holobiont-associated biosynthetic sources. These exploratory observations suggest that the 35–45 ppt range supports both biomass productivity and bioactive fatty acid accumulation and that the holobiont metabolome may extend the accessible bioproduct repertoire, providing candidate targets for salinity-based cultivation design in tropical seaweed biorefineries that warrant confirmatory investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104820"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148567534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cytological and molecular genetic evidence of feminized male gametophyte in the brown alga Saccharina japonica","authors":"Xiufeng Zhou,&nbsp;Cailing Yi,&nbsp;Nianchao Xue,&nbsp;Yan Li,&nbsp;Juan Sun,&nbsp;Shuxiu Chen,&nbsp;Yuting Zhai,&nbsp;Liang Shi,&nbsp;Yanling Liu,&nbsp;Nan Zhao,&nbsp;Xia Li,&nbsp;Xiaojie Li,&nbsp;Linan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parthenogenesis, a reproductive process in which unfertilized gametes develop into sporophytes, is commonly observed in the female gametophytes of kelp. Recently, <em>Saccharina japonica</em>, an economically significant kelp species, has been reported to exhibit parthenogenesis in its male gametophytes. However, the cytological and genetic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. This study integrates ultrastructural analysis, ploidy assessment, parentage identification, and transcriptomics to investigate parthenogenesis in feminized male gametophytes (F-GM) of <em>S. japonica</em>. Ultrastructural changes in F-GM during parthenogenesis resembled those in typical female gametophytes (GF), including an increase in plastids and mitochondria and cell wall disintegration, which may provide a cellular foundation for parthenogenetic development. In both F-GM and GF, DNA doubling occurred early during parthenogenesis, specifically after egg cell formation but prior to the first cell division. F-GM produced egg-like cells capable of normal fertilization, functioning as a maternal parent while retaining its inherent paternal role in sexual reproduction. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the gene expression profile of F-GM transitions from a male to a female gametophyte-like state during parthenogenetic development. During this transition, the upregulation of female-biased gene expression happens earlier than the downregulation of male-biased gene expression. Notably, this feminization did not depend on downregulation of male sex-determining genes; rather, autosomes played a comparable role to sex chromosomes. This study fills crucial gaps in our understanding of feminized male gametophyte parthenogenesis in <em>S. japonica</em>, offers valuable insights into the regulation of parthenogenesis in brown algae, and helps evaluate both its ecological implications and the practical value of male gametophyte parthenogenesis in kelp breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104786"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148567536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated microalgal-bacterial cultivation: A scalable solution for eel aquaculture wastewater purification with co-produced biomass","authors":"Mingmin Zheng,&nbsp;Yanting Qiu,&nbsp;Yongjin He,&nbsp;Bilian Chen,&nbsp;Mingzi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional wastewater treatment methods for aquaculture face critical challenges: single microalgal systems exhibit poor chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (e.g., ≤20.9% in this study), while single bacterial systems struggle with efficient ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) elimination. To overcome these limitations, this study develops a synergistic microalgal-bacterial co-culture system (<em>Chlamydomonas</em> sp. YC + <em>Bacillus licheniformis</em>) that integrates the complementary metabolic strengths of both organisms for holistic eel aquaculture wastewater remediation and bioresource recovery. The co-culture achieved 100% COD removal (vs. 20.9% by microalgae alone) and near-complete nutrient elimination (99.09% NH₄⁺-N, 95.60% TP, 89.50% TN) in batch mode, surpassing discharge standards. Kinetic modeling revealed enhanced microbial growth (μ_m = 0.3890 d⁻¹) and nitrogen assimilation (α = 0.1926 g protein/mg N), confirming the system's metabolic synergy. Semi-continuous (20% renewal rate) and continuous cultivations in 5-L reactors consistently met China's Grade I standards (TN: 0.10 mg/L; COD: 5.00 mg/L), while a 1000-L outdoor photobioreactor demonstrated scalability with 95.68% TN removal (80 → 3.45 mg/L). Beyond remediation, the biomass exhibited high-value compositions (40% proteins, 30% lipids, 18% polysaccharides), with nitrogen-limited continuous cultivation further boosting lipid accumulation to 48%—ideal for biofuel production. This study provides a circular bioeconomy solution that simultaneously resolves the inefficiencies of single-organism systems and transforms wastewater into valuable bioproducts, offering a sustainable paradigm for aquaculture wastewater management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104821"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148567535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analyses of chloroplast genome reveals unique features in Chaetoceros species having setae chloroplasts","authors":"Xudan Lu,&nbsp;Yuelei Dong,&nbsp;Yang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104771","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104771","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Chaetoceros</em> is one of the most diverse genera of planktonic diatoms. Therein, section <em>Chaetoceros</em> is morphologically unique due to the presence of numerous chloroplasts in the setae. Previous molecular marker analyses reported its monophyly. However, robust validation with higher-resolution genomic data remains lacking, and the structural genome features are still unknown. Thus in this study, phylogenetic analysis was inferred from the 102 shared protein-coding genes of chloroplast genomes for diatom species, comprising 16 species of the family Chaetocerotaceae newly assembled. The monophyly of section <em>Chaetoceros</em> was verified. Their unique features of the chloroplast genome were revealed as follows: 1) loss of photosynthesis-related genes such as <em>petF</em> and <em>psaI</em>, 2) structural variations including expansion of inverted repeats and a reduction in the number of repeats. Accelerated substitution rates of functional genes indicated relaxed purifying selection. Phylogeny inferred from photosystem I (<em>psa</em>) functional genes showed the divergence of two groups within the genus <em>Chaetoceros</em>, corresponding to the presence or absence of setae chloroplasts. The two groups differed at amino acid sites 29 to 33 of <em>psaE</em>, indicating this domain might critically influence PSI functional sequence divergence. <em>Chaetoceros</em> species originated around 88.4 million years ago (the Late Cretaceous Epoch), and the species of section <em>Chaetoceros</em> diverged from the closely related species <em>C. didymus</em>, which lacks setae chloroplasts. This study provided the first detailed characterization of the chloroplast genome for section <em>Chaetoceros</em>, enriching reference data and helping to advance phylogenetic resolution and evolutionary understanding of the genus <em>Chaetoceros</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104771"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148554555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response of zooplankton and phytoplankton community structure to photovoltaic coverage scenarios: A case study of a coal mining subsidence area in Huainan","authors":"Yanxue Gao,&nbsp;Yuzhi Zhou,&nbsp;Yahui Song,&nbsp;Jinming Duan,&nbsp;Lingtao Kong,&nbsp;Xiaoyang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a medium for clean energy production, an increasing number of floating photovoltaic systems are being established on water surfaces. In this study, zooplankton and phytoplankton in coal mining subsidence waterlogged areas were taken as the research objects. Through field comparison, a comparative assessment was conducted to examine how zooplankton and phytoplankton community structures varied across floating photovoltaic systems with different coverage rates and coverage durations, under the integrated context of floating photovoltaic configurations and other environmental factors. The results showed differences in zooplankton and phytoplankton community structures under different photovoltaic coverage durations and coverage rates, which were accompanied by changes in light, water temperature, and nutrient cycling. Lower phytoplankton density and a lower proportion of cyanobacteria were associated with long-term high photovoltaic coverage, which was accompanied by higher diversity of zooplankton and phytoplankton communities and a more stable community. Zooplankton eggs hatched in advance, and the increase in rotifer density was associated with the disturbance caused by the construction of the new high coverage photovoltaic power station system. Photovoltaic anchoring may have contributed to the release of nutrients from sediments; together with exogenous input, this was accompanied by higher nitrogen and phosphorus loads, higher phytoplankton density, and a higher proportion of cyanobacteria. The increase in nutrient concentration in low photovoltaic coverage and non-photovoltaic coverage was associated with fishery activities. Low photovoltaic coverage area and non-photovoltaic coverage area showed similar community characteristics, and the phenomenon of cyanobacterial blooms and high zooplankton density in summer appeared. With increasing photovoltaic coverage duration, plankton densities tended to decrease and community stability appeared to increase. In terms of coverage rate, reduced external disturbances to water bodies, lower fishery-related nutrient loads, and a decrease in the frequency of cyanobacterial blooms are associated with high photovoltaic coverage. This study reveals how photovoltaic systems influence the succession of zooplankton and phytoplankton community structures through coverage duration and coverage rate, while acknowledging that these factors vary in tandem across different sites. The observed phenomena reflect the combined effects of photovoltaic coverage duration and coverage rate against a background of environmental factors, rather than independent causal effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104816"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148554860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biohybrid delivery of Spirulina C-phycocyanin–doxorubicin via Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial ghosts: Development, characterization, and in vivo distribution","authors":"Basma A. Elshaer,&nbsp;Ahmed S. Sultan,&nbsp;Mohamed E. Abady,&nbsp;Omayma M. Sadek,&nbsp;Hoda E. Mahmoud","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Algae are recognized as rich sources of bioactive compounds with diverse biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. Among them, <em>Spirulina platensis</em>, a blue-green microalgae, is valued for its high C-phycocyanin (CPC) content, a natural pigment-protein complex with potential antioxidant and anticancer properties. In this study, CPC was extracted and purified from <em>S. platensis</em> using ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and anion exchange chromatography, achieving a final purity ratio (A₆₂₀/A₂₈₀) of 6.52. The purified CPC was characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, HPLC, TLC, PL, FTIR, MALDI-TOF and SDS-PAGE to confirm its structural and optical integrity.</div><div>To improve the stability of CPC at physiological temperature (37 °C) and enhance its therapeutic potential, CPC was chemically conjugated with doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> bacterial ghosts (KPBGs) were then prepared by controlled lysis to serve as biocompatible, hollow nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery. CPC, DOX, and CPC/DOX conjugates were successfully encapsulated within KPBG envelopes, and their morphology and distribution were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).<!--> <!-->To determine release kinetics and stability, the cumulative release of free CPC, CPC/DOX conjugates, and KPBG-loaded formulations was analyzed. Additionally, the fluorescence behavior of free and loaded CPC, DOX, and CPC/DOX conjugates was evaluated in vivo in an animal model to visualize biodistribution and drug localization.</div><div>Taken together, this study highlights the novel integration of algal-derived bioactive chemotherapeutic agents with bacterial ghost carriers, offering a promising strategy to enhance stability, targeted delivery, and sustained release in anticancer therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 104819"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148554904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced remediation of monosodium glutamate wastewater using the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Integrating strain selection, process optimization and adaptive laboratory evolution","authors":"Yusi Guo ,&nbsp;Menghan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yuanfeng Li ,&nbsp;Ronglu Liu ,&nbsp;Youyi Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhenjiang Li ,&nbsp;Hongjin Qiao ,&nbsp;Irini Angelidaki","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to create an efficient and sustainable treatment for high-salinity monosodium glutamate wastewater (MSGW) by assessing the algal marine diatom <em>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</em>. A systematic approach involving clonal screening, process optimization, and adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) was employed. The optimal initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) for algal growth was found to be 412 mg L⁻¹. Among 60 monocultures, strain No. 41 isolated by monoclonal screening showed the best removal efficiencies for COD, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Using Box-Behnken response surface methodology, optimal cultivation conditions were identified: light intensity of 110.31 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, temperature of 20.98 °C, ferric ion concentration of 265.41 μmol L⁻¹, and trace elements at 264.41% of f/2 medium. Validation tests achieved removal rates of 82.46% (COD), 73.43% (TN), and 83.45% (TP), with an optical density (OD₇₅₀) of 0.891 and a relative error under 6%. Furthermore, ALE-driven adaptation produced a robust strain capable of thriving in 1099 mg L⁻¹ COD—a concentration lethal to the wild-type strain. This evolved strain demonstrated enhanced growth rates and pollutant degradation efficiency, with total lipid content reaching 0.43 g g⁻¹ dry weight, underpinned by favorable modifications in morphology and ultrastructure. This study provides both theoretical insights and technical frameworks for the large-scale application of <em>P. tricornutum</em> in MSGW treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 104766"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of exopolysaccharide production and its physico-chemical properties from Monoraphidium contortum under batch and fed-batch conditions and evaluating its functional activities","authors":"Eman H. El-Naeb,&nbsp;Mahmoud S. Adam,&nbsp;Awatief F. Hifney,&nbsp;Mohamed Gomaa","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evaluation of growth conditions to enhance biomass productivity, exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield, and its physicochemical properties from <em>Monoraphidium contortum</em> were investigated under batch and fed-batch cultivation using experimental design approaches. A Plackett-Burman design was first applied to identify crucial factors affecting algal biomass and EPS production under batch conditions. Biomass and EPS productivity, alongside physicochemical properties (intrinsic viscosity, sulfate content, uronic acids, total sugars, and protein impurities), were further optimized using a central composite design. Under optimized batch cultivation, EPS production reached 0.4 g L⁻¹ (1.14 g g⁻¹ biomass) at optimal concentrations of citric acid (0.015 g L⁻¹), Na₂CO₃ (0.23 g L⁻¹), and K₂HPO₄ (0.072 g L⁻¹). In contrast, fed-batch cultivation under periodic supplementation of citric acid (0.009 g L⁻¹) and Na₂CO₃ (0.33 g L⁻¹) at 2-day intervals in the optimized BG-11 medium, further enhanced EPS production to 0.89 g L⁻¹ (2.07 g g⁻¹ biomass). This strategy resulted in a 25.5-fold increase in EPS yield relative to the original medium. Importantly, cultivation strategy markedly influenced EPS physicochemical properties. Fed-batch growth also improved algal biomass and cellular metabolite (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) productivity. EPS produced under optimal conditions exhibited strong antioxidant activities, with hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging reaching 67.29% and 78.13% at 1 mg mL⁻¹, respectively, Additionally, it showed potent anti-inflammatory activity (90.91% inhibition of protein denaturation at 10 mg mL⁻¹) and good emulsifying and foaming properties. This study highlighted the potential of cultivation strategy to enhance EPS production with tailored properties, coupled with high algal biomass and metabolite yields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 104768"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the role of microalgae in alleviating metabolic syndrome: Insights from murine models and human trials on obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders","authors":"Alba Domínguez-Encinas ,&nbsp;Blanca Pardo de Donlebún ,&nbsp;Laura Alonso-Pintre ,&nbsp;Pilar Gómez-Cortés ,&nbsp;Blanca Hernández-Ledesma ,&nbsp;Miguel Angel de la Fuente","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104749","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a group of pathologies that often occur together, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which are among the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. These conditions are associated with oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and disruptions in lipid and glucose metabolism. Current management strategies, including lifestyle modifications and drug-based therapies, often focus on specific aspects of MS, but have limitations in efficacy and long-term effectiveness. Additionally, since there is not a single treatment for MS, patients often need several different medications to manage its various components, increasing the risk of side effects and drug interactions. Recently, microalgae, unicellular photoautotrophic organisms, have emerged as a promising source of bioactive compounds, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, proteins, peptides and polysaccharides. These compounds show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic and lipid-regulating properties, making microalgae a potential therapeutic tool for addressing MS. This review brings together findings from a variety of research based on murine models and human trials, highlighting the therapeutic potential of microalgae to alleviate MS-related pathologies. It also explores the biological pathways involved and discusses the challenges in developing microalgae-based interventions for MS management. From a global perspective, much of the information contained in this review suggests that the use of microalgae in the diet may be beneficial for various conditions associated with MS. However, many more studies are needed to confirm these promising researches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 104749"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}