A novel drying film culture method applying a natural phenomenon: Increased carotenoid production by Haematococcus sp

Low productivity and high cost remain major bottlenecks for the large-scale production of Haematococcus sp. This study explored biomass production and carotenoid accumulation in Haematococcus sp. (KCTC 12348BP) using drying film culture. The broth-cultured strain (3.2 × 106 cells/mL, 0.83 ± 0.02 mg/mL for a 21 d culture) was cultured under various conditions (different inoculum volumes and mist feeding intervals) in waterless agar plates at 28 ± 0.5 °C, under fluorescent light (12 h light-dark cycle) for 1 month. The maximum biomass obtained was 17.60 ± 0.72 g/m2, while the maximum astaxanthin concentration was 8.23 ± 1.13 mg/g in the culture using 1 mL inoculum and 3 d feeding interval. Drought stress in drying film culture effectively induced the accumulation of carotenoids from β-carotene, facilitating the production of canthaxanthin via the astaxanthin biosynthesis pathway. This cost-effective culture system can increase the biomass and carotenoid pigment production in Haematococcus sp.

Differential Responses to UV-A Stress Recorded in Carotenogenic Microalgae Haematococcus rubicundus, Bracteacoccus aggregatus, and Deasonia sp

UV-A is the main ultraviolet component of natural (solar) radiation. Despite it, its effect on phototrophs is studied less than UV-B. Effects of UV-A on photosynthetic apparatus of three carotenoid-producing microalgae were elucidated. Photosynthetic activity was studied using chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. Cell extracts were evaluated by absorbance spectroscopy. On the one hand, there were some common features of three strains. In all cases the changes involved PSII primary photochemistry and antennae size. All strains accumulated UV-absorbing polar compounds. On the other hand, some responses were different. Upregulation of non-photochemical quenching was observed only in B. aggregatus BM5/15, whereas in other cases its level was low. H. rubicundus BM7/13 and Deasonia sp. NAMSU 934/2 accumulated secondary carotenoids, whereas B. aggregatus BM5/15 accumulated primary ones. Microscopic features of the cultures were also different. H. rubicundus BM7/13 and Deasonia sp. NAMSU 934/2 were represented mostly by solitaire cells or small cell clusters, lacking their green color; the cells of B. aggregatus BM5/15 formed aggregates from green cells. Cell aggregation could be considered as an additional UV-protecting mechanism. Finally, the strains differed by their viability. B. aggregatus BM5/15 was most resistant to UV-A, whereas massive cell death was observed in two other cultures.

(Chlorophyta) Strains Exposed to Multiple Stressors

There has been increasing demands worldwide for bioactive compounds of natural origins, especially for the nutraceutical and food-supplement sectors. In this context, microalgae are viewed as sustainable sources of molecules with an array of health benefits. For instance, astaxanthin is a xanthophyll pigment with powerful antioxidant capacity produced by microalgae such as the chlorophyte Haematococcus sp., which is regarded as the most suitable organism for the mass production of this pigment. In this study, three Haematococcus sp. strains were cultivated using a batch mode under favourable conditions to promote vegetative growth. Their environment was altered in a second phase using a higher and constant illumination regime combined with either exposure to blue LED light, an osmotic shock (with NaCl addition) or supplementation with a phytohormone (gibberellic acid, GA3), a plant extract (ginger), an herbicide (molinate) or an oxidant reagent (hydrogen peroxide). The effects of these stressors were evaluated in terms of antioxidant response and astaxanthin and β-carotene accumulation. Overall, strain CCAP 34/7 returned the highest Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) response (14.1-49.1 µmoL Trolox eq. g^- 1 of DW), while the highest antioxidant response with the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) was obtained for strain RPFW01 (62.5-155 µmoL Trolox eq. g^- 1 of DW). The highest β-β-carotene content was found in strain LAFW15 when supplemented with the ginger extract (4.8 mg. g^- 1). Strain RPFW01 exposed to blue light returned the highest astaxanthin yield (2.8 mg. g^- 1), 5-fold that of strain CCAP 34/7 on average. This study documents the importance of screening several strains when prospecting for species with potential to produce high-value metabolites. It highlights that strain-specific responses can ensue from exposure of cells to a variety of stressors, which is important for the adequate tailoring of a biorefinery pipeline.

Sequential Continuous Mixotrophic and Phototrophic Cultivation Might Be a Cost-Effective Strategy for Astaxanthin Production From the Microalga Haematococcus lacustris

Although Haematococcus lacustris has been developed for astaxanthin production for decades, the production cost is still high. In order to modify the production processes, we proposed a novel strategy of cultivation, featured by sequential indoor continuous mixotrophic cultivation for the production of green cells followed by outdoor phototrophic induction for astaxanthin accumulation. The continuous mixotrophic cultivation was first optimized indoor, and then the seed culture of mixotrophic cultivation was inoculated into outdoor open raceway ponds for photoinduction. The results showed that mixotrophically grown cultures could efficiently grow without losing their photosynthetic efficiency and yielded higher biomass concentration (0.655 g L⁻¹) and astaxanthin content (2.2% DW), compared to phototrophically grown seed culture controls. This novel strategy might be a promising alternative to the current approaches to advance the production technology of astaxanthin from microalgae.

Two newly identified Haematococcus strains efficiently accumulated radioactive cesium over higher astaxanthin production

In this study, we investigated the morphological, genomic and bioaccumulation characteristics of two isolated Haematococcus strains (namely Goyang and Sogang), which were newly discovered in South Korea. Morphological analysis revealed that the isolated strains were unicellular and bi-flagellated green microalgae that formed thickened walls at the palmelloid or red-cyst phase. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and rbcL gDNA sequences demonstrated that both strains were taxonomically related to the genus Haematococcus. The two strains showed growth pattern that was similar to a typical Haematococcus strain, and accumulated astaxanthin within 48 h of exposure to intensive light. Both red-cyst cells effectively removed radioactive cesium to more than 50% within 48 h from low-level cesium-contaminated water of 5 Bq/ml concentration. The cesium-accumulation mechanism is largely associated with the replacement of cellular potassium in thick cell walls during biouptake, and the cesium-removal rate highly depends on the corresponding astaxanthin accumulation involving the potassium-transporting protein (P-type ATPase).

nov., isolated from the phycosphere of Haematococcus lacustris NIES 144 culture

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterial strain, designated HC2^T, was isolated from the phycosphere of Haematococcus lacustris NIES 144 culture. Strain HC2^T was able to grow at pH 4.5-8.0, at 4-32 °C and in the presence of 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain HC2^T was affiliated to the genus Mucilaginibacter and shared the highest sequence similarity with Mucilaginibacter lappiensis ANJKI2^T (98.20 %) and Mucilaginibacter sabulilitoris SMS-12^T (98.06 %). Strain HC2^T contained summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω7c and/or C_16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C_15 : 0 as the major fatty acids (>10.0 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. The respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The genomic DNA G+C content was 42.0 %. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain HC2^T represents a novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter, for which the name Mucilaginibacter inviolabilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HC2^T (=KCTC 82084^T=JCM 34116^T).

Extensive Bioactivity of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis in Human

Astaxanthin is known as a "marine carotenoid" and occurs in a wide variety of living organisms such as salmon, shrimp, crab, and red snapper. Astaxanthin antioxidant activity has been reported to be more than 100 times greater than that of vitamin E against lipid peroxidation and approximately 550 times more potent than that of vitamin E for singlet oxygen quenching. Astaxanthin doesn't exhibit any pro-oxidant nature and its main site of action is on/in the cell membrane. To date, extensive important benefits suggested for human health include anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, anti-stress, LDL cholesterol oxidation suppression, enhanced skin health, improved semen quality, attenuation of common fatigue including eye fatigue, increased sports performance and endurance, limiting exercised-induced muscle damage, and the suppression of the development of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Recently, there has been an explosive increase worldwide in both the research and demand for natural astaxanthin mainly extracted from the microalgae, Haematococcus pluvialis, in human health applications. Japanese clinicians are especially using the natural astaxanthin as add-on supplementation for patients who are unsatisfied with conventional medications or cannot take other medications due to serious symptoms. For example, in heart failure or overactive bladder patients, astaxanthin treatment enhances patient's daily activity levels and QOL. Other ongoing clinical trials and case studies are examining chronic diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, and CVD, as well as infertility, atopic dermatitis, androgenetic alopecia, ulcerative colitis, and sarcopenia. In the near future, astaxanthin may secure a firm and signature position as medical food.

Biotechnological production of astaxanthin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis

Although biotechnologies for astaxanthin production from Haematococcus pluvialis have been developed for decades and many production facilities have been established throughout the world, the production cost is still high. This paper is to evaluate the current production processes and production facilities, to analyze the R&D strategies for process improvement, and to review the recent research advances shedding light on production cost reduction. With these efforts being made, we intent to conclude that the production cost of astaxanthin from Haematococcus might be substantially reduced to the levels comparable to that of chemical astaxanthin through further R&D and the future research might need to focus on strain selection and improvement, cultivation process optimization, innovation of cultivation methodologies, and revolution of extraction technologies.

Common Repeat Elements in the Mitochondrial and Plastid Genomes of Green Algae

Despite both originating from endosymbiotic bacteria, one does not typically expect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to show strong sequence identity to plastid DNA (ptDNA). Nevertheless, a recent analysis of Haematococcus lacustris revealed exactly that. A common repeat element has proliferated throughout the mtDNA and ptDNA of this chlamydomonadalean green alga, resulting in the unprecedented situation whereby these two distinct organelle genomes are largely made up of nearly identical sequences. In this short update to the work on H. lacustris, I highlight another chlamydomonadalean species (Stephanosphaera pluvialis) for which matching repeats have spread throughout its organelle genomes (but to a lesser degree than in H. lacustris). What's more, the organelle repeats from S. pluvialis are similar to those from H. lacustris, suggesting that they have a shared origin, and perhaps existed in the mtDNA and ptDNA of the most recent common ancestor of these two species. However, my examination of organelle genomes from other close relatives of H. lacustris and S. pluvialis did not uncover further compelling examples of common organelle repeat elements, meaning that the evolutionary history of these repeats might be more complicated than initially thought.

Microbial platforms to produce commercially vital carotenoids at industrial scale: an updated review of critical issues

Carotenoids are a diverse group of isoprenoid pigments that play crucial roles in plants, animals, and microorganisms, including body pigmentation, bio-communication, precursors for vitamin A, and potent antioxidant activities. With their potent antioxidant activities, carotenoids are emerging as molecules of vital importance in protecting against chronic degenerative disease, such as aging, cancer, cataract, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Due to countless functions in the cellular system, carotenoids are extensively used in dietary supplements, food colorants, aquaculture and poultry feed, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. Moreover, the emerging demand for carotenoids in these vast areas has triggered their industrial-scale production. Currently, 80%-90% of carotenoids are produced synthetically by chemical synthesis. However, the demand for naturally produced carotenoids is increasing due to the health concern of synthetic counterparts. This article presents a review of the industrial production of carotenoids utilizing a number of diverse microbes, including microalgae, bacteria, and fungi, some of which have been genetically engineered to improve production titers.

Determination of Storage (Starch/Glycogen) and Total Saccharides Content in Algae and Cyanobacteria by a Phenol-Sulfuric Acid Method

This is a protocol for quantitative determination of storage and total carbohydrates in algae and cyanobacteria. The protocol is simple, fast and sensitive and it requires only few standard chemicals. Great advantage of this protocol is that both storage and total saccharides can be determined in the cellular pellets that were already used for chlorophyll and carotenoids quantification. Since it is recommended to perform the pigments measurement in triplicates, each pigment analysis can generate samples for both total saccharide and glycogen/starch content quantification. The protocol was applied for quantification of both storage and total carbohydrates in cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142 and Cyanobacterium sp. IPPAS B-1200. It was also applied for estimation of storage polysaccharides in Galdieria (IPPAS P-500, IPPAS P-507, IPPAS P-508, IPPAS P-513), Cyanidium caldarium IPPAS P-510, in green algae Chlorella sp. IPPAS C-1 and C-1210, Parachlorella kessleri IPPAS C-9, Nannochloris sp. C-1509, Coelastrella sp. IPPAS H-626, Haematococcus sp. IPPAS H-629 and H-239, and in Eustigmatos sp. IPPAS H-242 and IPPAS C-70.

A Novel Adaptation Mechanism Underpinning Algal Colonization of a Nuclear Fuel Storage Pond

Geochemical analyses alongside molecular techniques were used to characterize the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of an outdoor spent nuclear fuel storage pond at Sellafield, United Kingdom, that is susceptible to seasonal algal blooms that cause plant downtime. 18S rRNA gene profiling of the filtered biomass samples showed the increasing dominance of a species closely related to the alga Haematococcus pluvialis, alongside 16S rRNA genes affiliated with a diversity of freshwater bacteria, including Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria High retention of 137Cs and 90Sr on pond water filters coincided with high levels of microbial biomass in the pond, suggesting that microbial colonization may have an important control on radionuclide fate in the pond. To interpret the unexpected dominance of Haematococcus species during bloom events in this extreme environment, the physiological response of H. pluvialis to environmentally relevant ionizing radiation doses was assessed. Irradiated laboratory cultures produced significant quantities of the antioxidant astaxanthin, consistent with pigmentation observed in pond samples. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy suggested that radiation did not have a widespread impact on the metabolic fingerprint of H. pluvialis in laboratory experiments, despite the 80-Gy dose. This study suggests that the production of astaxanthin-rich encysted cells may be related to the preservation of the Haematococcus phenotype, potentially allowing it to survive oxidative stress arising from radiation doses associated with the spent nuclear fuel. The oligotrophic and radiologically extreme conditions in this environment do not prevent extensive colonization by microbial communities, which play a defining role in controlling the biogeochemical fate of major radioactive species present.IMPORTANCE Spent nuclear fuel is stored underwater in large ponds prior to processing and disposal. Such environments are intensively radioactive but can be colonized by microorganisms. Colonization of such inhospitable radioactive ponds is surprising, and the survival mechanisms that microbes use is of fundamental interest. It is also important to study these unusual ecosystems, as microbes growing in the pond waters may accumulate radionuclides present in the waters (for bioremediation applications), while high cell loads can hamper management of the ponds due to poor visibility. In this study, an outdoor pond at the U.K. Sellafield facility was colonized by a seasonal bloom of microorganisms, able to accumulate high levels of 137Cs and 90Sr and dominated by the alga Haematococcus This organism is not normally associated with deep water bodies, but it can adapt to radioactive environments via the production of the pigment astaxanthin, which protects the cells from radiation damage.

Media Screening for Obtaining Haematococcus pluvialis Red Motile Macrozooids Rich in Astaxanthin and Fatty Acids

Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis is commercially produced in a two-stage process, involving green vegetative (macrozooid) and red aplanospore stages. This approach has been scaled up to an industrial process but constraints limit its commercial success and profitability, including: contamination issues, high pigment extraction costs, requirements for high light levels and photo-bleaching in the red stage. However, in addition to the aplanospore stage, this alga can produce astaxanthin in vegetative palmelloid and motile macrozooid cells. In this study, a two-stage process utilising different media in the green stage, with subsequent re-suspension in medium without nitrate was employed to optimise the formation of red motile macrozooids. Optimal growth in the green phase was obtained on cultivation under mixotrophic conditions in EG:JM media followed by re-suspension in medium without nitrate resulting in red motile macrozooids with an astaxanthin content of 2.74% (78.4% of total carotenoids) and a lipid content of 35.3% (rich in unsaturated fatty acids. It is envisaged that the red motile macrozooids could be harvested and fed as a whole-cell product directly in the animal feed and aquaculture sectors, or used as a blend of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in nutraceutical products.

A Combination of Soybean and Haematococcus Extract Alleviates Ultraviolet B-Induced Photoaging

Soybean-derived isoflavones have been investigated for their preventative effects against UV-induced symptoms of skin damage including wrinkle formation and inflammation. Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater species of Chlorophyta that contains high concentrations of the natural carotenoid pigment astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is known to be involved in retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signaling and previously been associated with the inhibition of activator protein (AP)-1 dependent transcription. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that a combination of soy extract (SE) and Haematococcus extract (HE) may prevent UVB-induced photoaging through specific signaling pathways, as measured by UVB-induced wrinkling on hairless mice skin and expression changes in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The 1:2 ratio of SE and HE mixture (SHM) showed the optimal benefit in vivo. SHM was found to inhibit wrinkle formation via the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 mRNA and protein expression. SHM also inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and the transactivation of AP-1 which plays an important role in regulating MMP expression. These results highlight the potential for SHM to be developed as a therapeutic agent to prevent UVB-induced skin wrinkling.

Enhancing Photon Utilization Efficiency for Astaxanthin Production from Haematococcus lacustris Using a Split-Column Photobioreactor

A split-column photobioreactor (SC-PBR), consisting of two bubble columns with different sizes, was developed to enhance the photon utilization efficiency in an astaxanthin production process from Haematococcus lacustris. Among the two columns, only the smaller column of SC-PBR was illuminated. Astaxanthin productivities and photon efficiencies of the SC-PBRs were compared with a standard bubble-column PBR (BC-PBR). Astaxanthin productivity of SC-PBR was improved by 28%, and the photon utilization efficiencies were 28-366% higher than the original BC-PBR. The results clearly show that the effective light regime of SC-PBR could enhance the production of astaxanthin.

Cell-wall disruption and lipid/astaxanthin extraction from microalgae: Chlorella and Haematococcus

Recently, biofuels and nutraceuticals produced from microalgae have emerged as major interests, resulting in intensive research of the microalgal biorefinery process. In this paper, recent developments in cell-wall disruption and extraction methods are reviewed, focusing on lipid and astaxanthin production from the biotechnologically important microalgae Chlorella and Haematococcus, respectively. As a common, critical bottleneck for recovery of intracellular components such as lipid and astaxanthin from these microalgae, the composition and structure of rigid, thick cell-walls were analyzed. Various chemical, physical, physico-chemical, and biological methods applied for cell-wall breakage and lipid/astaxanthin extraction from Chlorella and Haematococcus are discussed in detail and compared based on efficiency, energy consumption, type and dosage of solvent, biomass concentration and status (wet/dried), toxicity, scalability, and synergistic combinations. This report could serve as a useful guide to the implementation of practical downstream processes for recovery of valuable products from microalgae including Chlorella and Haematococcus.

LIGHT-INDUCED OIL GLOBULE MIGRATION IN HAEMATOCOCCUS PLUVIALIS (CHLOROPHYCEAE)

Astaxanthin-rich oil globules in Haematococcus pluvialis display rapid light-induced peripheral migration that is unique to this organism and serves to protect the photosynthetic system from excessive light. We observed rapid light-induced peripheral migration that is associated with chlorophyll fluorescence quenching, whereas the recovery was slow. A simple assay to follow globule migration, based on chlorophyll fluorescence level has been developed. Globule migration was induced by high intensity blue light, but not by high intensity red light. The electron transport inhibitor dichlorophenyl-dimethylurea did not inhibit globule migration, whereas the quinone analog (dibromo-methyl-isopropylbenzoquinone), induced globule migration even at low light. Actin microfilament-directed toxins, such as cytochalasin B and latrunculin A, inhibited the light-induced globule migration, whereas toxins against microtubules were ineffective. Electron microscopic (EM) imaging confirmed the cytoplasmic localization and peripheral migration of globules upon exposure to very high light (VHL). Scanning EM of freeze-fractured cells also revealed globules within cytoplasmic bridges traversing the chloroplast, presumably representing the pathway of migration. Close alignments of globules with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes were also observed following VHL illumination. We propose that light-induced globule migration is regulated by the redox state of the photosynthetic electron transport system. Possible mechanisms of actin-based globule migration are discussed.