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Altamira-Algarra B, Lage A, Meléndez AL, Arnau M, Gonzalez-Flo E, García J. Bioplastic production by harnessing cyanobacteria-rich microbiomes for long-term synthesis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176136. [PMID: 39255940 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Departing from the conventional axenic and heterotrophic cultures, our research ventures into unexplored territory by investigating the potential of photosynthetic microbiomes for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis, a biodegradable polyester that presents a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. Our investigation focused on a cyanobacteria-enriched microbiome, dominated by Synechocystis sp. and Synechococcus sp., cultivated in a 3 L photobioreactor under non-sterile conditions, achieving significant PHB production-up to 28 % dry cell weight (dcw) over a span of 108 days through alternating cycles of biomass growth and PHB accumulation. Nile Blue staining and Transmission Electron Microscope visualization allowed to successfully confirm the presence of PHB granules within cyanobacteria cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of PHA synthase during the accumulation phase directly correlated with the increased PHB production. Also, gene expression changes revealed glycogen as the primary storage compound, but under prolonged macronutrient stress, there was a shift of the carbon flux towards favoring PHB synthesis. Finally, analysis through Raman, Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance further validated the extracted polymer as PHB. Overall, it was demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of using phototrophic microbiomes to continuous production of PHB in a non-sterile system. This study also offers valuable insights into the metabolic pathways involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Altamira-Algarra
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1., E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Artai Lage
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1., E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Lucía Meléndez
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1., E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Arnau
- IMEM-Innovation in Materials and Molecular Engineering, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C/Eduard Maristany 10-14, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Gonzalez-Flo
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1., E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan García
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/ Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Mogany T, Bhola V, Bux F. Algal-based bioplastics: global trends in applied research, technologies, and commercialization. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:38022-38044. [PMID: 38787471 PMCID: PMC11189328 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33644-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The excessive global demand for plastic materials has resulted in severe plastic waste pollution. Conventional plastics derived from non-renewable fossil fuels are non-biodegradable, leading to significant environmental problems. Algal-based bioplastics represent a more viable, renewable, and sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. They have identical properties and characteristics as conventional plastics while being naturally biodegradable. The potential of the algal biomass value chain has already been well-established by researchers. Here, we review the novel insights on research, technology, and commercialization trends of algal-based bioplastics, encompassing macroalgae and green microalgae/cyanobacteria. Data showed that within the last decade, there has been substantial interest in utilizing microalgae for biopolymer production, with more focus on using cyanobacterial species compared to green algae. Moreover, most of the research conducted has largely focused on the production of PHA or its co-polymers. Since 2011, there have been a total of 55 patents published related to algal-based bioplastics production. To date, ~ 81 entities worldwide (commercial and private businesses) produce bioplastics from algae. Overall results of this study emphasized that even with the economic and social challenges, algae possess a substantial potential for the sustainable development of bioplastics while also addressing the UN's SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha Mogany
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Virthie Bhola
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Faizal Bux
- Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
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Mudtham NA, Promariya A, Duangsri C, Maneeruttanarungroj C, Ngamkala S, Akrimajirachoote N, Powtongsook S, Salminen TA, Raksajit W. Exogenous Trehalose Improves Growth, Glycogen and Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate (PHB) Contents in Photoautotrophically Grown Arthrospira platensis under Nitrogen Deprivation. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:127. [PMID: 38392345 PMCID: PMC10886759 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Glycogen and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) are excellent biopolymer products from cyanobacteria. In this study, we demonstrate that nitrogen metabolism is positively influenced by the exogenous application of trehalose (Tre) in Arthrospira platensis under nitrogen-deprived (-N) conditions. Cells were cultivated photoautotrophically for 5 days under -N conditions, with or without the addition of exogenous Tre. The results revealed that biomass and chlorophyll-a content of A. platensis experienced enhancement with the addition of 0.003 M and 0.03 M Tre in the -N medium after one day, indicating relief from growth inhibition caused by nitrogen deprivation. The highest glycogen content (54.09 ± 1.6% (w/w) DW) was observed in cells grown for 2 days under the -N + 0.003 M Tre condition (p < 0.05), while the highest PHB content (15.2 ± 0.2% (w/w) DW) was observed in cells grown for 3 days under the -N + 0.03 M Tre condition (p < 0.05). The RT-PCR analysis showed a significant increase in glgA and phaC transcript levels, representing approximately 1.2- and 1.3-fold increases, respectively, in A. platensis grown under -N + 0.003 M Tre and -N + 0.03 M Tre conditions. This was accompanied by the induction of enzyme activities, including glycogen synthase and PHA synthase with maximal values of 89.15 and 0.68 µmol min-1 mg-1 protein, respectively. The chemical structure identification of glycogen and PHB from A. platensis was confirmed by FTIR and NMR analysis. This research represents the first study examining the performance of trehalose in promoting glycogen and PHB production in cyanobacteria under nitrogen-deprived conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nat-Anong Mudtham
- Program of Animal Health Technology, Department of Veterinary Nursing, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Authen Promariya
- Program of Animal Health Technology, Department of Veterinary Nursing, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Chanchanok Duangsri
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Agro-Industry, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
| | - Cherdsak Maneeruttanarungroj
- Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
| | - Suchanit Ngamkala
- Program of Animal Health Technology, Department of Veterinary Nursing, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Sorawit Powtongsook
- Center of Excellence for Marine Biotechnology, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Tiina A Salminen
- Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory, Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6 A, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Wuttinun Raksajit
- Program of Animal Health Technology, Department of Veterinary Nursing, Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
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Altamira-Algarra B, Rueda E, Lage A, San León D, Martínez-Blanch JF, Nogales J, García J, Gonzalez-Flo E. New strategy for bioplastic and exopolysaccharides production: Enrichment of field microbiomes with cyanobacteria. N Biotechnol 2023; 78:141-149. [PMID: 37852438 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Seven photosynthethic microbiomes were collected from field environmental samples to test their potential in polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production, both alternatives to chemical-based polymers. Microscope observations together with microbial sequence analysis revealed the microbiome enrichment in cyanobacteria after culture growth under phosphorus limitation. PHB and EPS production were studied under three culture factors (phototrophy, mixotrophy and heterotrophy) by evaluating and optimizing the effect of three parameters (organic and inorganic carbon and days under light:dark cycles) by Box-Behnken design. Results showed that optimal conditions for both biopolymers synthesis were microbiome-dependent; however, the addition of organic carbon boosted PHB production in all the tested microbiomes, producing up to 14 %dcw PHB with the addition of 1.2 g acetate·L-1 and seven days under light:dark photoperiods. The highest EPS production was 59 mg·L-1 with the addition of 1.2 g acetate·L-1 and four days under light:dark photoperiods. The methodology used is suitable for enriching microbiomes in cyanobacteria, and for testing the best conditions for bioproduct synthesis for further scale up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Altamira-Algarra
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estel Rueda
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Artai Lage
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David San León
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy-Spanish National Research Council (SusPlast-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan F Martínez-Blanch
- Department of preventive medicine, public health, food sciences, toxicology and forensic medicine, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Biopolis S.L., ADM, Parc Cientifc Universidad De Valencia, Edif. 2, C/ Catedrático Agustín Escardino Benlloch, 9, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Juan Nogales
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy-Spanish National Research Council (SusPlast-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan García
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, c/ Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D1, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Gonzalez-Flo
- GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, Av. Eduard Maristany 16, Building C5.1, E-08019 Barcelona, Spain.
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Vicente D, Proença DN, Morais PV. The Role of Bacterial Polyhydroalkanoate (PHA) in a Sustainable Future: A Review on the Biological Diversity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2959. [PMID: 36833658 PMCID: PMC9957297 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Environmental challenges related to the mismanagement of plastic waste became even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for new solutions regarding the use of plastics came to the forefront again. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have demonstrated their ability to replace conventional plastics, especially in packaging. Its biodegradability and biocompatibility makes this material a sustainable solution. The cost of PHA production and some weak physical properties compared to synthetic polymers remain as the main barriers to its implementation in the industry. The scientific community has been trying to solve these disadvantages associated with PHA. This review seeks to frame the role of PHA and bioplastics as substitutes for conventional plastics for a more sustainable future. It is focused on the bacterial production of PHA, highlighting the current limitations of the production process and, consequently, its implementation in the industry, as well as reviewing the alternatives to turn the production of bioplastics into a sustainable and circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diogo Neves Proença
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
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Isolation, identification, and chemical composition analysis of nine microalgal and cyanobacterial species isolated in lagoons of Western Greece. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Mastropetros SG, Pispas K, Zagklis D, Ali SS, Kornaros M. Biopolymers production from microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivated in wastewater: Recent advances. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:107999. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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