Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104552
Victor M. Rodrigues , Pablo F.F. Farias , Augusto M. Souza , Ana C. Luchiari , Hugo A.O. Rocha , Susana M.G. Moreira
Marine sulfated polysaccharides (SP) have attracted interest as bioactive materials for bone regeneration. In this study, we investigated the osteogenic potential in vitro and in vivo of SP F0.5v, F0.9v and F1.8v samples obtained from the crude extract (CE) of Caulerpa sertularioides, which had previously demonstrated osteogenic activity. The chemical composition of samples revealed different profiles, and the F0.5v sample had higher total sugars and sulfate degree. In vitro, the F0.5v sample significantly enhanced ALP activity, promoted matrix mineralization, and upregulated key osteogenic markers in hMSC-WJ at concentrations of 5 and 10 μg·mL−1, both in the presence and absence of osteogenic inducers in the culture medium. In vivo, zebrafish exposed to F0.5v sample exhibited no malformations or embryotoxicity, while calcein staining revealed significantly increased vertebral calcification at 5 and 10 μg·mL−1. This work provides the first in vivo insight into the osteogenic effects of SP from C. sertularioides, and for the first time identifies the F0.5v sample as the primary contributor to this activity. These findings demonstrate that this sample is both non-toxic and osteoinductive, taking a step closer to a pure bioactive compound with potential application as a marine-derived biomolecule for bone regeneration.
{"title":"Sulfated polysaccharides from Caulerpa sertularioides promote bone regeneration in hMSC-WJ and zebrafish models","authors":"Victor M. Rodrigues , Pablo F.F. Farias , Augusto M. Souza , Ana C. Luchiari , Hugo A.O. Rocha , Susana M.G. Moreira","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104552","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104552","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine sulfated polysaccharides (SP) have attracted interest as bioactive materials for bone regeneration. In this study, we investigated the osteogenic potential in vitro and in vivo of SP F0.5v, F0.9v and F1.8v samples obtained from the crude extract (CE) of <em>Caulerpa sertularioides</em>, which had previously demonstrated osteogenic activity. The chemical composition of samples revealed different profiles, and the F0.5v sample had higher total sugars and sulfate degree. In vitro, the F0.5v sample significantly enhanced ALP activity, promoted matrix mineralization, and upregulated key osteogenic markers in hMSC-WJ at concentrations of 5 and 10 μg·mL<sup>−1</sup>, both in the presence and absence of osteogenic inducers in the culture medium. In vivo, zebrafish exposed to F0.5v sample exhibited no malformations or embryotoxicity, while calcein staining revealed significantly increased vertebral calcification at 5 and 10 μg·mL<sup>−1</sup>. This work provides the first in vivo insight into the osteogenic effects of SP from <em>C. sertularioides</em>, and for the first time identifies the F0.5v sample as the primary contributor to this activity. These findings demonstrate that this sample is both non-toxic and osteoinductive, taking a step closer to a pure bioactive compound with potential application as a marine-derived biomolecule for bone regeneration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104552"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074181","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}
Microalgae are increasingly recognized as a sustainable source of nutritionally and pharmacologically relevant bioactive compounds. The growing applications of microalgae have prompted intensive research into sustainable, high-yield extraction methods for bioactive recovery. Cold plasma technology has emerged as a promising non-thermal tool for improving extraction efficiency in biological systems. Its application in extraction is particularly attractive due to its eco-friendly nature and capacity to induce cell wall disruption, facilitating compound release. This study aimed to optimize Atmospheric Cold Plasma-Assisted Extraction (ACPAE) of bioactive compounds from Chlorella vulgaris and to compare its performance with conventional maceration (ME). Extraction time (5–15 min) was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and the resulting extracts were analyzed for phytohormones, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and total carbohydrates. Results demonstrated that ACPAE offers a non-thermal extraction strategy that significantly enhances the recovery of bioactive compounds compared with ME. The optimized ACPAE condition (12.73 ± 0.05 min) yielded the highest levels of phytohormones, amino acids, and minerals, while maceration produced higher total carbohydrate and certain vitamin contents. Plasma treatment induced structural modifications in algal cells, such as cell wall disruption, thereby facilitating the release of intracellular bioactive compounds. Overall, ACPAE demonstrated a more effective, time- and resource-efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional maceration, with strong potential for scalable recovery of microalgal bioproducts.
{"title":"Optimizing atmospheric cold plasma-assisted extraction for improved recovery of bioactive compounds from Chlorella vulgaris","authors":"Fatemeh Jamshidi-Kia , Keramatolah Saeidi , Bahram Hosseinzadeh Samani , Shirin Ghatrehsamani , Zahra Lorigooini","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microalgae are increasingly recognized as a sustainable source of nutritionally and pharmacologically relevant bioactive compounds. The growing applications of microalgae have prompted intensive research into sustainable, high-yield extraction methods for bioactive recovery. Cold plasma technology has emerged as a promising non-thermal tool for improving extraction efficiency in biological systems. Its application in extraction is particularly attractive due to its eco-friendly nature and capacity to induce cell wall disruption, facilitating compound release. This study aimed to optimize Atmospheric Cold Plasma-Assisted Extraction (ACPAE) of bioactive compounds from <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> and to compare its performance with conventional maceration (ME). Extraction time (5–15 min) was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and the resulting extracts were analyzed for phytohormones, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and total carbohydrates. Results demonstrated that ACPAE offers a non-thermal extraction strategy that significantly enhances the recovery of bioactive compounds compared with ME. The optimized ACPAE condition (12.73 ± 0.05 min) yielded the highest levels of phytohormones, amino acids, and minerals, while maceration produced higher total carbohydrate and certain vitamin contents. Plasma treatment induced structural modifications in algal cells, such as cell wall disruption, thereby facilitating the release of intracellular bioactive compounds. Overall, ACPAE demonstrated a more effective, time- and resource-efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional maceration, with strong potential for scalable recovery of microalgal bioproducts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073966","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104553
Amr Nasr Fekry, Hazim Qiblawey, Fares Almomani
The widespread use of oxytetracycline (OTC) in human medicine, livestock husbandry, and aquaculture has led to significant environmental concerns due to its persistence and potential ecological impacts. This comprehensive review analyzes current research on microalgae-based OTC removal systems, examining removal mechanisms, efficiency factors, and ecological implications. The analysis reveals that microalgal systems can achieve removal efficiencies of 96-99% through multiple concurrent mechanisms, including biosorption (15-20% contribution), biodegradation (>80% in some species), bioaccumulation, and enhanced photodegradation. The effectiveness of these mechanisms varies significantly with environmental parameters, particularly pH (optimal range 7.0-7.5), temperature (18-25 °C), and light intensity (90-110 μmol/m2/s). Species-specific responses to OTC exposure demonstrate concentration-dependent patterns, with evidence of hormesis at low concentrations (≤1.0 mg/L) transitioning to inhibitory effects at higher levels, accompanied by significant physiological and ultrastructural changes. Critical knowledge gaps include limited understanding of transformation products, insufficient surface interaction characterization, lack of comprehensive scale-up studies, and limited kinetics and isotherms studies. The technology currently stands at TRL 4-5, with successful laboratory demonstrations but requiring further development for industrial implementation. Future research directions should focus on molecular mechanism elucidation, modified microalgal and mixed-strain systems optimization, transformation product characterization, kinetic and isotherm's models, recyclability potential of living and dead biomass, and engineering solutions for practical implementation. This review provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners working to develop sustainable solutions for antibiotic contamination in aquatic environments while highlighting the potential for resource recovery through microalgae-based treatment systems.
{"title":"Bioremediation of oxytetracycline by utilizing microalgae: Latest progress and future directions","authors":"Amr Nasr Fekry, Hazim Qiblawey, Fares Almomani","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of oxytetracycline (OTC) in human medicine, livestock husbandry, and aquaculture has led to significant environmental concerns due to its persistence and potential ecological impacts. This comprehensive review analyzes current research on microalgae-based OTC removal systems, examining removal mechanisms, efficiency factors, and ecological implications. The analysis reveals that microalgal systems can achieve removal efficiencies of 96-99% through multiple concurrent mechanisms, including biosorption (15-20% contribution), biodegradation (>80% in some species), bioaccumulation, and enhanced photodegradation. The effectiveness of these mechanisms varies significantly with environmental parameters, particularly pH (optimal range 7.0-7.5), temperature (18-25 °C), and light intensity (90-110 μmol/m<sup>2</sup>/s). Species-specific responses to OTC exposure demonstrate concentration-dependent patterns, with evidence of hormesis at low concentrations (≤1.0 mg/L) transitioning to inhibitory effects at higher levels, accompanied by significant physiological and ultrastructural changes. Critical knowledge gaps include limited understanding of transformation products, insufficient surface interaction characterization, lack of comprehensive scale-up studies, and limited kinetics and isotherms studies. The technology currently stands at TRL 4-5, with successful laboratory demonstrations but requiring further development for industrial implementation. Future research directions should focus on molecular mechanism elucidation, modified microalgal and mixed-strain systems optimization, transformation product characterization, kinetic and isotherm's models, recyclability potential of living and dead biomass, and engineering solutions for practical implementation. This review provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners working to develop sustainable solutions for antibiotic contamination in aquatic environments while highlighting the potential for resource recovery through microalgae-based treatment systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104553"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074053","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104551
Ananya Khatei , Leïla Tirichine , M. Junaid Sidiq , J. Mark Cock , Alexander Juterbock
This review provides a comparative analysis of DNA methylation patterns, enzymes, and functions in stramenopiles (diatoms, brown algae, oomycetes) and other eukaryotes. Given the ecological and evolutionary importance of stramenopiles, and the relatively limited and fragmented literature on their epigenetic regulation, a comparative synthesis of DNA methylation patterns and mechanisms in this group is both timely and necessary. By integrating current knowledge on DNA methylation in stramenopiles, this review provides a conceptual foundation for exploiting epigenetic mechanisms to enhance stress resilience, growth performance, and environmental adaptability in aquaculture species. Therefore, we synthesize genomic and epigenetic studies to examine the distribution of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and the roles of DNA methylation in adaptation, phenotypic regulation, and life cycle transitions. All DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), along with related enzymes such as the repeat-induced protein-deficient family, exhibit homology and therefore appear to share a common ancestor. Stramenopiles are reported to possess DNMT2, DNMT3, DNMT5, and DNMT1-like DNA methyltransferases. Phylogenetic analyses show that DNMT1-like enzymes in stramenopiles constitute a lineage distinct from canonical DNMT1 and DNMT4. Genomic analyses of brown algae reveal absent or very low DNA methylation levels (<3%) and the presence of DNMT2, a pattern also reported in Drosophila. Oomycetes, another significant group within the Stramenopiles, appear to lack cytosine methylation. Collectively, available evidence indicates that 5-methylcytosine represents the predominant and functionally validated DNA methylation mark in stramenopiles, whereas 6-methyladenine remains comparatively sparse and lineage-specific. Despite generally lower methylation levels compared to other eukaryotes, DNA methylation in stramenopiles appears to contribute significantly to phenotypic regulation by facilitating environmentally responsive gene expression, thus providing a mechanism for adaptive plasticity. This role of DNA methylation could be harnessed to confer desirable traits for aquaculture, and to mitigate climatic conditions in the natural populations through methods like epibreeding and priming.
Highlight: This review summarizes current knowledge on the presence and distribution of methylation within and across life cycle stages in this evolutionarily interesting and economically important group.
{"title":"Comparative view of DNA methylation in stramenopiles and other eukaryotes: Focus on 5-methylcytosine","authors":"Ananya Khatei , Leïla Tirichine , M. Junaid Sidiq , J. Mark Cock , Alexander Juterbock","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104551","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104551","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review provides a comparative analysis of DNA methylation patterns, enzymes, and functions in stramenopiles (diatoms, brown algae, oomycetes) and other eukaryotes. Given the ecological and evolutionary importance of stramenopiles, and the relatively limited and fragmented literature on their epigenetic regulation, a comparative synthesis of DNA methylation patterns and mechanisms in this group is both timely and necessary. By integrating current knowledge on DNA methylation in stramenopiles, this review provides a conceptual foundation for exploiting epigenetic mechanisms to enhance stress resilience, growth performance, and environmental adaptability in aquaculture species. Therefore, we synthesize genomic and epigenetic studies to examine the distribution of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and the roles of DNA methylation in adaptation, phenotypic regulation, and life cycle transitions. All DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), along with related enzymes such as the repeat-induced protein-deficient family, exhibit homology and therefore appear to share a common ancestor. Stramenopiles are reported to possess DNMT2, DNMT3, DNMT5, and DNMT1-like DNA methyltransferases. Phylogenetic analyses show that DNMT1-like enzymes in stramenopiles constitute a lineage distinct from canonical DNMT1 and DNMT4. Genomic analyses of brown algae reveal absent or very low DNA methylation levels (<3%) and the presence of DNMT2, a pattern also reported in <em>Drosophila</em>. Oomycetes, another significant group within the Stramenopiles, appear to lack cytosine methylation. Collectively, available evidence indicates that 5-methylcytosine represents the predominant and functionally validated DNA methylation mark in stramenopiles, whereas 6-methyladenine remains comparatively sparse and lineage-specific. Despite generally lower methylation levels compared to other eukaryotes, DNA methylation in stramenopiles appears to contribute significantly to phenotypic regulation by facilitating environmentally responsive gene expression, thus providing a mechanism for adaptive plasticity. This role of DNA methylation could be harnessed to confer desirable traits for aquaculture, and to mitigate climatic conditions in the natural populations through methods like epibreeding and priming.</div><div>Highlight: This review summarizes current knowledge on the presence and distribution of methylation within and across life cycle stages in this evolutionarily interesting and economically important group.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104551"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074050","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104535
Jiaqi Chen , Tao Sun , Yanwei Zhao , Wei Yang , Rui Zhang , Qianzhao Sun
Phytoplankton form the foundation of aquatic ecosystems, though some taxa also pose risks by producing algal toxins. Currently, our understanding of how phytoplankton communities, particularly those dominated by small or low-abundance taxa, respond to environmental change remains limited. In this study, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and morphological surveys to characterize phytoplankton in a typical shallow lake–wetland system and identify potential toxigenic genera. eDNA metabarcoding detected 114 taxa, including 12 potential toxin producers, exceeding morphological surveys in both overall diversity and the number of toxigenic genera. Morphological analyses indicated nutrient-specific response patterns, suggesting that prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton are mainly associated with phosphorus and nitrogen, respectively. In contrast, eDNA metabarcoding captured more small-sized and low-abundance taxa, exhibiting multi-nutrient nitrogen–phosphorus synergistic effects. This pattern was also evident among potential toxin-producing genera. These findings reveal the role of heterogeneous environments in sustaining phytoplankton diversity and stability, and highlight the importance of dual nitrogen and phosphorus management to reduce ecological risks associated with toxigenic phytoplankton.
{"title":"Phytoplankton communities enriched with small-sized and low-abundance taxa respond to multi-nutrient synergies","authors":"Jiaqi Chen , Tao Sun , Yanwei Zhao , Wei Yang , Rui Zhang , Qianzhao Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104535","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104535","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytoplankton form the foundation of aquatic ecosystems, though some taxa also pose risks by producing algal toxins. Currently, our understanding of how phytoplankton communities, particularly those dominated by small or low-abundance taxa, respond to environmental change remains limited. In this study, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and morphological surveys to characterize phytoplankton in a typical shallow lake–wetland system and identify potential toxigenic genera. eDNA metabarcoding detected 114 taxa, including 12 potential toxin producers, exceeding morphological surveys in both overall diversity and the number of toxigenic genera. Morphological analyses indicated nutrient-specific response patterns, suggesting that prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton are mainly associated with phosphorus and nitrogen, respectively. In contrast, eDNA metabarcoding captured more small-sized and low-abundance taxa, exhibiting multi-nutrient nitrogen–phosphorus synergistic effects. This pattern was also evident among potential toxin-producing genera. These findings reveal the role of heterogeneous environments in sustaining phytoplankton diversity and stability, and highlight the importance of dual nitrogen and phosphorus management to reduce ecological risks associated with toxigenic phytoplankton.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104535"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074054","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}
This study investigated the potential of an innovative indoor hydroponic co-cultivation system for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) and Chlorella sp. G049 microalga, addressing the growing demand for sustainable food production and renewable bioresources. The primary aim was to optimize the growth and biochemical profiles of both organisms by systematically evaluating various LED light wavelengths. In this integrated system, lettuce and Chlorella sp. G049 were co-cultivated under controlled white, red, green, and blue LED lights for 21 days across three successive cycles (7 days for each cycle). Comprehensive assessments included lettuce growth parameters, microalgal biomass accumulation, total lipid content, and the quality of the extracted lipids. Results distinctly showed that red LED light significantly enhanced lettuce growth, promoting robust development and increased photosynthetic pigment production. Conversely, blue LED light maximized microalgal biomass (0.41–0.57 g/L) and total lipid yield (80.67–98.00 mg/L) across all cultivation cycles. The microalgal lipids produced under blue light exhibited notably improved nutritional quality, characterized by a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; >53%) and favorable health indices. Furthermore, these lipids largely met international biodiesel standards, demonstrating promising cold flow properties (>1.6 °C) and high energy content (>39 MJ/kg). In conclusion, this integrated system offers a highly sustainable and resource-efficient approach for concurrent food and bioresource production, underscoring the significant role of tailored light quality in optimizing output for a circular bioeconomy model. Based on the findings, blue LED light is recommended as the most effective option for simultaneously enhancing lettuce growth and microalgal lipid production, offering substantial benefits for nutritional, bioenergy, and broader sustainable applications.
本研究探讨了莴苣（Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia）和小球藻（Chlorella sp. G049）室内水培共生系统的潜力，以满足可持续粮食生产和可再生生物资源日益增长的需求。主要目的是通过系统地评估各种LED光波长来优化这两种生物的生长和生化特征。在该综合系统中，生菜和小球藻G049在白、红、绿、蓝4种LED灯控制下共培养21 d，连续3个周期（每个周期7 d）。综合评价包括生菜生长参数、微藻生物量积累、总脂质含量和提取的脂质质量。结果表明，红色LED光显著促进了生菜的生长，促进了生菜的旺盛发育，增加了光合色素的产量。相反，蓝色LED光在所有培养周期中均使微藻生物量（0.41-0.57 g/L）和总脂质产量（80.67-98.00 mg/L）最大化。在蓝光照射下制备的微藻脂质营养品质显著改善，多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA; >53%）含量较高，健康指数良好。此外，这些脂质在很大程度上符合国际生物柴油标准，表现出良好的冷流动特性（>1.6°C）和高能量含量（>39 MJ/kg）。综上所述，该综合系统为粮食和生物资源同步生产提供了一种高度可持续和资源高效的方法，强调了定制光质量在优化循环生物经济模式产出中的重要作用。基于这些发现，蓝色LED灯被推荐为同时促进生菜生长和微藻脂质产生的最有效选择，在营养、生物能源和更广泛的可持续应用方面提供了实质性的好处。
{"title":"Innovative indoor hydroponic co-cultivation: Light-driven optimization of lettuce growth and microalgal Chlorella sp. G049 biomass with nutritional and biodiesel potentials","authors":"Jeeraporn Pekkoh , Kansinee Nuchtako , Wageeporn Maneechote , Apiwit Kamngoen , Antira Wichaphian , Wasu Pathom-aree , Yupa Chromkaew , Benjamas Cheirsilp , Kuan Shiong Khoo , Shuhao Huo , Piroonporn Srimongkol , Sirasit Srinuanpan","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the potential of an innovative indoor hydroponic co-cultivation system for lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em> L. var. <em>longifolia</em>) and <em>Chlorella</em> sp. G049 microalga, addressing the growing demand for sustainable food production and renewable bioresources. The primary aim was to optimize the growth and biochemical profiles of both organisms by systematically evaluating various LED light wavelengths. In this integrated system, lettuce and <em>Chlorella</em> sp. G049 were co-cultivated under controlled white, red, green, and blue LED lights for 21 days across three successive cycles (7 days for each cycle). Comprehensive assessments included lettuce growth parameters, microalgal biomass accumulation, total lipid content, and the quality of the extracted lipids. Results distinctly showed that red LED light significantly enhanced lettuce growth, promoting robust development and increased photosynthetic pigment production. Conversely, blue LED light maximized microalgal biomass (0.41–0.57 g/L) and total lipid yield (80.67–98.00 mg/L) across all cultivation cycles. The microalgal lipids produced under blue light exhibited notably improved nutritional quality, characterized by a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; >53%) and favorable health indices. Furthermore, these lipids largely met international biodiesel standards, demonstrating promising cold flow properties (>1.6 °C) and high energy content (>39 MJ/kg). In conclusion, this integrated system offers a highly sustainable and resource-efficient approach for concurrent food and bioresource production, underscoring the significant role of tailored light quality in optimizing output for a circular bioeconomy model. Based on the findings, blue LED light is recommended as the most effective option for simultaneously enhancing lettuce growth and microalgal lipid production, offering substantial benefits for nutritional, bioenergy, and broader sustainable applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104548"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074052","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}
Paramylon, a unique linear β-1,3-glucan from the novel food ingredient Euglena gracilis, is a promising functional polysaccharide, yet the systemic network through which it orchestrates host physiology remains elusive. This study aimed to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which dietary paramylon modulates the interconnected gut-immunity-metabolism axis in vivo. We employed an integrative multi-omics approach, combining transcriptomics, non-targeted metabolomics, and 16S rRNA sequencing in a zebrafish model fed with 1% paramylon. The results demonstrate that paramylon fundamentally remodeled the gut, enhancing the intestinal physical barrier while shifting the microbiota toward a beneficial state dominated by the probiotic genus Bacillus. This foundational improvement was coupled with a sophisticated systemic immune response. Multi-omics integration uncovered a novel “zoned regulation” mechanism: within the primary immune organ (head kidney), transcriptomics revealed potent activation of the complement system alongside the inhibition of apoptosis, preserving immune cell longevity. Concurrently, serum metabolomics indicated an activation of systemic clearance pathways, such as necroptosis and autophagy. This apparent paradox suggests paramylon acts to internally protect core immune organs while externally enhancing the body's overall capacity to clear pathogens and cellular debris. Our findings reveal that paramylon's efficacy stems from a multi-layered regulatory network, not a single pathway. The proposed “zoned regulation” model provides a new paradigm for understanding how dietary bioactive compounds exert complex health benefits and solidifies paramylon's potential as a next-generation functional food ingredient.
{"title":"Systematic evaluation and multi-omics profiling of Euglena gracilis paramylon's effects on growth, immunity, and gut health in zebrafish through modulation of the gut-immunity-metabolism axis","authors":"Guichun Wu , Guimei Wu , Yinglou Wu , Yongfu Nong , Mingcan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Paramylon, a unique linear β-1,3-glucan from the novel food ingredient <em>Euglena gracilis</em>, is a promising functional polysaccharide, yet the systemic network through which it orchestrates host physiology remains elusive. This study aimed to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which dietary paramylon modulates the interconnected gut-immunity-metabolism axis in vivo. We employed an integrative multi-omics approach, combining transcriptomics, non-targeted metabolomics, and 16S rRNA sequencing in a zebrafish model fed with 1% paramylon. The results demonstrate that paramylon fundamentally remodeled the gut, enhancing the intestinal physical barrier while shifting the microbiota toward a beneficial state dominated by the probiotic genus <em>Bacillus</em>. This foundational improvement was coupled with a sophisticated systemic immune response. Multi-omics integration uncovered a novel “zoned regulation” mechanism: within the primary immune organ (head kidney), transcriptomics revealed potent activation of the complement system alongside the inhibition of apoptosis, preserving immune cell longevity. Concurrently, serum metabolomics indicated an activation of systemic clearance pathways, such as necroptosis and autophagy. This apparent paradox suggests paramylon acts to internally protect core immune organs while externally enhancing the body's overall capacity to clear pathogens and cellular debris. Our findings reveal that paramylon's efficacy stems from a multi-layered regulatory network, not a single pathway. The proposed “zoned regulation” model provides a new paradigm for understanding how dietary bioactive compounds exert complex health benefits and solidifies paramylon's potential as a next-generation functional food ingredient.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104544"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023295","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}
Heterotrophic fermentation of microalgae is a key route for biodiesel commercialization, but its economic viability is hampered by high carbon source costs and the intrinsic “carbon partitioning” problem, where carbon is preferentially converted into starch rather than the target product, lipids. Although studies have blocked starch synthesis to enhance lipid yield, this work has been largely confined to the laboratory flask scale, leaving performance and molecular mechanisms under simulated industrial high-density fermentation conditions as a critical knowledge gap. In this study, a starch-synthesis-deficient Chlorella vulgaris mutant SDM4 was screened via chemical mutagenesis. It was systematically compared with the wild-type (WT) in a 7-L bioreactor using a fed-batch heterotrophic strategy to evaluate its growth characteristics, biochemical composition, and substrate conversion efficiency. Finally, comparative transcriptomics was employed to dissect the underlying molecular regulatory network of its high-lipid phenotype. A stable mutant, SDM4, with nearly complete blockage of starch synthesis, was successfully obtained. In the 7-L bioreactor, SDM4 exhibited a final triacylglycerol (TAG) content of 16.9% of dry weight, 1.8-fold higher than that of the WT. More importantly, the glucose-to-TAG conversion yield increased from 0.038 g g−1 in the WT to 0.059 g g−1 in SDM4. Consequently, the substrate conversion cost was reduced by 36.64%, demonstrating significant economic potential. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a sophisticated synergistic “Push-Pull” mechanism: the starch synthesis pathway was significantly suppressed (the “Pull”), while the glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, and TAG assembly pathways were systematically activated (the “Push”), thereby efficiently reprogramming the carbon metabolic flux towards lipid synthesis. This study not only presents a promising microalgal mutant, SDM4, with excellent production performance and economic benefits under simulated industrial conditions but also, for the first time, systematically unveils the global metabolic reprogramming of such a mutant in a high-density heterotrophic environment. These findings provide a critical theoretical basis and key genetic targets for the future rational design of efficient microalgal cell factories.
微藻的异养发酵是生物柴油商业化的关键途径，但其经济可行性受到高碳源成本和内在的“碳分配”问题的阻碍，其中碳优先转化为淀粉而不是目标产品脂质。虽然研究已经阻止了淀粉合成以提高脂质产量，但这项工作主要局限于实验室烧瓶规模，在模拟工业高密度发酵条件下的性能和分子机制是一个关键的知识空白。本研究通过化学诱变技术筛选了一株淀粉合成缺陷小球藻（Chlorella vulgaris）突变体SDM4。在7-L生物反应器中，采用分批补料异养策略，系统地将其与野生型（WT）进行比较，以评估其生长特性、生化组成和底物转化效率。最后，比较转录组学被用来剖析其高脂表型的潜在分子调控网络。成功地获得了一个稳定的突变体SDM4，几乎完全阻断了淀粉的合成。在7 l的生物反应器中，SDM4的最终TAG含量为干重的16.9%，是WT的1.8倍。更重要的是，葡萄糖到TAG的转化率从WT的0.038 g g−1提高到SDM4的0.059 g g−1。因此，基材转化成本降低了36.64%，显示出巨大的经济潜力。转录组学分析揭示了一个复杂的协同“推-拉”机制：淀粉合成途径被显著抑制（“拉”），而糖酵解、脂肪酸合成和TAG组装途径被系统激活（“推”），从而有效地将碳代谢通量重编程为脂质合成。本研究不仅展示了一种在模拟工业条件下具有优异生产性能和经济效益的微藻突变体SDM4，而且首次系统揭示了该突变体在高密度异养环境下的全局代谢重编程。这些发现为今后合理设计高效的微藻细胞工厂提供了重要的理论依据和关键的遗传靶点。
{"title":"High substrate conversion efficiency of a starch-deficient Chlorella vulgaris mutant under fed-batch heterotrophic fermentation","authors":"Guimei Wu , Guichun Wu , Fang Liu , Xinglong Jiang , Mingcan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heterotrophic fermentation of microalgae is a key route for biodiesel commercialization, but its economic viability is hampered by high carbon source costs and the intrinsic “carbon partitioning” problem, where carbon is preferentially converted into starch rather than the target product, lipids. Although studies have blocked starch synthesis to enhance lipid yield, this work has been largely confined to the laboratory flask scale, leaving performance and molecular mechanisms under simulated industrial high-density fermentation conditions as a critical knowledge gap. In this study, a starch-synthesis-deficient <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> mutant SDM4 was screened via chemical mutagenesis. It was systematically compared with the wild-type (WT) in a 7-L bioreactor using a fed-batch heterotrophic strategy to evaluate its growth characteristics, biochemical composition, and substrate conversion efficiency. Finally, comparative transcriptomics was employed to dissect the underlying molecular regulatory network of its high-lipid phenotype. A stable mutant, SDM4, with nearly complete blockage of starch synthesis, was successfully obtained. In the 7-L bioreactor, SDM4 exhibited a final triacylglycerol (TAG) content of 16.9% of dry weight, 1.8-fold higher than that of the WT. More importantly, the glucose-to-TAG conversion yield increased from 0.038 g g<sup>−1</sup> in the WT to 0.059 g g<sup>−1</sup> in SDM4. Consequently, the substrate conversion cost was reduced by 36.64%, demonstrating significant economic potential. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a sophisticated synergistic “Push-Pull” mechanism: the starch synthesis pathway was significantly suppressed (the “Pull”), while the glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, and TAG assembly pathways were systematically activated (the “Push”), thereby efficiently reprogramming the carbon metabolic flux towards lipid synthesis. This study not only presents a promising microalgal mutant, SDM4, with excellent production performance and economic benefits under simulated industrial conditions but also, for the first time, systematically unveils the global metabolic reprogramming of such a mutant in a high-density heterotrophic environment. These findings provide a critical theoretical basis and key genetic targets for the future rational design of efficient microalgal cell factories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104545"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074058","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104546
Kyarii Ramarui , Jie Wang , Gary H. Wikfors , Yantao Li
Haematococcus pluvialis is a natural producer of astaxanthin, but efforts to grow it for industrial production are limited by the low biomass yield and modest astaxanthin productivity. Strain engineering to improve growth and astaxanthin production is limited by the incomplete understanding of astaxanthin biosynthesis in this microalga. This work aims to overcome this by generating a Haematococcus mutant with improved growth and astaxanthin production, and by exploring the stress response of this alga during transition from heterotrophy to high light stress conditions. A physical radiation mutagenesis approach was applied to generate Haematococcus mutants with higher cell division rates under heterotrophic conditions. The mutant JWHIB 27–38 was identified with a 25% higher growth rate than the wild type under heterotrophic conditions. Mutant JWHIB 27–38 also achieved a 69.61% higher lipid content and 86.17% higher astaxanthin content per cell than the wild type under high light stress. Comparative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of the mutant JWHIB 27–38 and wild type revealed that the mutant maintained higher expression of chlorophyll biosynthesis proteins and phosphoproteins, including coproporphyrinogen oxidase, in response to high light stress. Upregulation of fatty acid biosynthetic proteins such as biotin carboxyl carrier protein in the mutant suggests that fixed carbon is diverted towards lipid biosynthesis. Upregulation of the key astaxanthin biosynthesis protein phytoene synthase and a putative astaxanthin-trafficking protein, AstaP, may enable increased astaxanthin accumulation and trafficking in the mutant. These and other significantly differentially expressed proteins provide promising targets for future strain engineering to improve astaxanthin productivity in microalgae.
{"title":"Exploring the transition from heterotrophy to high light stress using a proteomic and phosphoproteomic approach reveals altered chlorophyll biosynthesis, carbon partitioning, and astaxanthin biosynthesis and trafficking in a Haematococcus pluvialis (Chlorophyceae) mutant","authors":"Kyarii Ramarui , Jie Wang , Gary H. Wikfors , Yantao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Haematococcus pluvialis</em> is a natural producer of astaxanthin, but efforts to grow it for industrial production are limited by the low biomass yield and modest astaxanthin productivity. Strain engineering to improve growth and astaxanthin production is limited by the incomplete understanding of astaxanthin biosynthesis in this microalga. This work aims to overcome this by generating a <em>Haematococcus</em> mutant with improved growth and astaxanthin production, and by exploring the stress response of this alga during transition from heterotrophy to high light stress conditions. A physical radiation mutagenesis approach was applied to generate <em>Haematococcus</em> mutants with higher cell division rates under heterotrophic conditions. The mutant JWHIB 27–38 was identified with a 25% higher growth rate than the wild type under heterotrophic conditions. Mutant JWHIB 27–38 also achieved a 69.61% higher lipid content and 86.17% higher astaxanthin content per cell than the wild type under high light stress. Comparative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of the mutant JWHIB 27–38 and wild type revealed that the mutant maintained higher expression of chlorophyll biosynthesis proteins and phosphoproteins, including coproporphyrinogen oxidase, in response to high light stress. Upregulation of fatty acid biosynthetic proteins such as biotin carboxyl carrier protein in the mutant suggests that fixed carbon is diverted towards lipid biosynthesis. Upregulation of the key astaxanthin biosynthesis protein phytoene synthase and a putative astaxanthin-trafficking protein, AstaP, may enable increased astaxanthin accumulation and trafficking in the mutant. These and other significantly differentially expressed proteins provide promising targets for future strain engineering to improve astaxanthin productivity in microalgae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104546"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074056","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104540
Adalid Chairez-García , Gerardo Flores-Iga , Javier Ulises Hernández-Beltrán , Arely López-Gámez , Krishla Cortes-Meraz , Lourdes Morales-Oyervides , Julio Montañez , Carlos López-Ortiz , Padma Nimmakayala , Umesh K. Reddy , Nagamani Balagurusamy
Microalgae seem a promising cell factory for producing value-added metabolites due to their metabolic capacity and productivity, as well as their adaptive and specific responses to stressors, which can induce the production of primary and secondary metabolites or their simultaneous accumulation. To better understand the key role of each cell component, the integration of multi-omics screening with process parameters and conventional bioprocess design, alongside the application of high-scale multidimensional reduction methods and machine learning, appears to be a promising strategy to discover, define, predict, and associate the role of each cellular component and its derivatives within large-scale datasets. Therefore, we aim to provide an understanding of how different stressors evaluated under controlled culture conditions, together with the key molecular signatures identified by omics approaches, can inform the use of this data to engineer microalgae more effectively. This can be achieved either through genetic modification or by designing optimized environments to enhance the efficient production of metabolic products in targeted strains.
{"title":"Stress-induced multi-omics signatures in microalgae for metabolite harvesting","authors":"Adalid Chairez-García , Gerardo Flores-Iga , Javier Ulises Hernández-Beltrán , Arely López-Gámez , Krishla Cortes-Meraz , Lourdes Morales-Oyervides , Julio Montañez , Carlos López-Ortiz , Padma Nimmakayala , Umesh K. Reddy , Nagamani Balagurusamy","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microalgae seem a promising cell factory for producing value-added metabolites due to their metabolic capacity and productivity, as well as their adaptive and specific responses to stressors, which can induce the production of primary and secondary metabolites or their simultaneous accumulation. To better understand the key role of each cell component, the integration of multi-omics screening with process parameters and conventional bioprocess design, alongside the application of high-scale multidimensional reduction methods and machine learning, appears to be a promising strategy to discover, define, predict, and associate the role of each cellular component and its derivatives within large-scale datasets. Therefore, we aim to provide an understanding of how different stressors evaluated under controlled culture conditions, together with the key molecular signatures identified by omics approaches, can inform the use of this data to engineer microalgae more effectively. This can be achieved either through genetic modification or by designing optimized environments to enhance the efficient production of metabolic products in targeted strains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023338","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}
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