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Chemosphere Jan 2022Depletion of non-renewable feedstock and severe wastewater pollution due to human activities have created negative impact to living organisms. The potential solution is... (Review)
Review
Depletion of non-renewable feedstock and severe wastewater pollution due to human activities have created negative impact to living organisms. The potential solution is to implement wastewater treatment and bioelectricity production through algae-based microbial fuel cell. The algae biomass produced from microbial fuel cell could be further processed to generate biofuels through their unique compositions. The consumption of nutrients in wastewater through algae cultivation and biomass produced to be utilized for energy supply have showed the potential of algae to solve the issues faced nowadays. This review introduces the background of algae and mitigation of wastewater using algae as well as the bioenergy status in Malaysia. The mechanisms of nutrient assimilation such as nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and heavy metals are included, followed by the application of algae in microbial fuel cell's chambers. Lastly, the status of algae for bioenergy production are covered.
Topics: Biofuels; Biomass; Humans; Microalgae; Phosphorus; Wastewater
PubMed: 34438210
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131944 -
Advances in Microbial Physiology 2023This chapter will discuss the diversity of algae and show that the diversity is much greater than just obligately oxygenic photosynthetic algae and that it includes many...
This chapter will discuss the diversity of algae and show that the diversity is much greater than just obligately oxygenic photosynthetic algae and that it includes many mixotrophic and heterotrophic organisms that are more similar to the major groups of microorganisms. The photosynthetic groups are seen as part of the plant kingdom, whereas the non-photosynthetic groups are not related to plants at all. The organisation of algal groups has become complex and confusing - The chapter will address the problems within this area of eukaryotic taxonomy. The metabolic diversity of algae and the ability to genetically engineer algae are key components in developing the biotechnology of algae. As more researchers become interested in exploiting algae for a number of industrial products, it is important to understand the relationships between different groups of algae and the relationships of algae with the rest of the living world.
Topics: Microalgae; Biotechnology; Plants; Eukaryota; Photosynthesis
PubMed: 36948657
DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.02.001 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2023Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Its incidence has been increasing in recent years, and it is becoming a major threat to human health. Conventional... (Review)
Review
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Its incidence has been increasing in recent years, and it is becoming a major threat to human health. Conventional cancer treatment strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have faced problems such as drug resistance, toxic side effects and unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, better development and utilization of biomaterials can improve the specificity and efficacy of tumor therapy. Algae, as a novel living material, possesses good biocompatibility. Although some reviews have elucidated several algae-based biomaterials for cancer treatment, the majority of the literature has focused on a limited number of algae. As a result, there is currently a lack of comprehensive reviews on the subject of anticancer algae. This review aims to address this gap by conducting a thorough examination of algal species that show potential for anticancer activity. Furthermore, our review will also elucidate the engineering strategies of algae and discuss the challenges and prospects associated with their implementation.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Biocompatible Materials; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
PubMed: 37727650
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S423412 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Jun 2015Algae are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, where heterotrophic bacteria grow on organics produced by algae and recycle nutrients. Ecological studies have... (Review)
Review
Algae are primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, where heterotrophic bacteria grow on organics produced by algae and recycle nutrients. Ecological studies have identified the co-occurrence of particular species of algae and bacteria, suggesting the presence of their specific interactions. Algae/bacteria interactions are categorized into nutrient exchange, signal transduction and gene transfer. Studies have examined how these interactions shape aquatic communities and influence geochemical cycles in the natural environment. In parallel, efforts have been made to exploit algae for biotechnology processes, such as water treatment and bioenergy production, where bacteria influence algal activities in various ways. We suggest that better understanding of mechanisms underlying algae/bacteria interactions will facilitate the development of more efficient and/or as-yet-unexploited biotechnology processes.
Topics: Bacteria; Biotechnology; Ecosystem
PubMed: 25744715
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.02.007 -
Nutrients Sep 2021Many species of fungi including lichenized fungi (lichens) and algae have the ability to biosynthesize biologically active compounds. They produce, among others,... (Review)
Review
Many species of fungi including lichenized fungi (lichens) and algae have the ability to biosynthesize biologically active compounds. They produce, among others, polysaccharides with anticancer and immunostimulatory properties: (1) Background: This paper presents the characteristics of the most important bioactive compounds produced by fungi and algae; (2) Methods: Based on the example of the selected species of mushrooms, lichens and algae, the therapeutic properties of the secondary metabolites that they produce and the possibilities of their use are presented; (3) Results: The importance of fungi, especially large-fruited mushrooms, lichens and algae, in nature and human life is discussed, in particular, with regard to their use in the pharmaceutical industry and their nutritional value; (4) Conclusions: The natural organisms, such as fungi, lichenized fungi and algae, could be used as supplementary medicine, in the form of pharmaceutical preparations and food sources. Further advanced studies are required on the pharmacological properties and bioactive compounds of these organisms.
Topics: Agaricales; Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Chlorophyta; Diet; Flavonoids; Fungi; Humans; Lichens; Nutritive Value; Phytochemicals; Polyphenols; Polysaccharides
PubMed: 34579055
DOI: 10.3390/nu13093178 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Diabetes poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Natural products and their derivatives have emerged as promising... (Review)
Review
Diabetes poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Natural products and their derivatives have emerged as promising candidates for diabetes management due to their diverse compositions and pharmacological effects. Algae, in particular, have garnered attention for their potential as a source of bioactive compounds with anti-diabetic properties. This review offers a comprehensive overview of algae-derived natural products for diabetes management, highlighting recent developments and future prospects. It underscores the pivotal role of natural products in diabetes care and delves into the diversity of algae, their bioactive constituents, and underlying mechanisms of efficacy. Noteworthy algal derivatives with substantial potential are briefly elucidated, along with their specific contributions to addressing distinct aspects of diabetes. The challenges and limitations inherent in utilizing algae for therapeutic interventions are examined, accompanied by strategic recommendations for optimizing their effectiveness. By addressing these considerations, this review aims to chart a course for future research in refining algae-based approaches. Leveraging the multifaceted pharmacological activities and chemical components of algae holds significant promise in the pursuit of novel antidiabetic treatments. Through continued research and the fine-tuning of algae-based interventions, the global diabetes burden could be mitigated, ultimately leading to enhanced patient outcomes.
PubMed: 37763235
DOI: 10.3390/life13091831 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2022Current agricultural and food production practices are facing extreme stress, posed by climate change and an ever-increasing human population. The pressure to feed... (Review)
Review
Current agricultural and food production practices are facing extreme stress, posed by climate change and an ever-increasing human population. The pressure to feed nearly 8 billion people while maintaining a minimal impact on the environment has prompted a movement toward new, more sustainable food sources. For thousands of years, both the macro (seaweed and kelp) and micro (unicellular) forms of algae have been cultivated as a food source. Algae have evolved to be highly efficient at resource utilization and have proven to be a viable source of nutritious biomass that could address many of the current food production issues. Particularly for microalgae, studies of their large-scale growth and cultivation come from the biofuel industry; however, this knowledge can be reasonably translated into the production of algae-based food products. The ability of algae to sequester CO lends to its sustainability by helping to reduce the carbon footprint of its production. Additionally, algae can be produced on non-arable land using non-potable water (including brackish or seawater), which allows them to complement rather than compete with traditional agriculture. Algae inherently have the desired qualities of a sustainable food source because they produce highly digestible proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, and are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Although algae have yet to be fully domesticated as food sources, a variety of cultivation and breeding tools exist that can be built upon to allow for the increased productivity and enhanced nutritional and organoleptic qualities that will be required to bring algae to mainstream utilization. Here we will focus on microalgae and cyanobacteria to highlight the current advancements that will expand the variety of algae-based nutritional sources, as well as outline various challenges between current biomass production and large-scale economic algae production for the food market.
PubMed: 36742010
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1029841 -
Annual Review of Microbiology Sep 2019Algae are photosynthetic eukaryotes whose taxonomic breadth covers a range of life histories, degrees of cellular and developmental complexity, and diverse patterns of... (Review)
Review
Algae are photosynthetic eukaryotes whose taxonomic breadth covers a range of life histories, degrees of cellular and developmental complexity, and diverse patterns of sexual reproduction. These patterns include haploid- and diploid-phase sex determination, isogamous mating systems, and dimorphic sexes. Despite the ubiquity of sexual reproduction in algae, their mating-type-determination and sex-determination mechanisms have been investigated in only a limited number of representatives. These include volvocine green algae, where sexual cycles and sex-determining mechanisms have shed light on the transition from mating types to sexes, and brown algae, which are a model for UV sex chromosome evolution in the context of a complex haplodiplontic life cycle. Recent advances in genomics have aided progress in understanding sexual cycles in less-studied taxa including ulvophyte, charophyte, and prasinophyte green algae, as well as in diatoms.
Topics: Chlorophyta; Diatoms; Phaeophyceae; Recombination, Genetic; Reproduction; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 31150584
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-020518-120011 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2023Algae play a crucial role in the earth's primary productivity by producing not only oxygen but also a variety of high-value nutrients. One such nutrient is... (Review)
Review
Algae play a crucial role in the earth's primary productivity by producing not only oxygen but also a variety of high-value nutrients. One such nutrient is polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are accumulated in many algae and can be consumed by animals through the food chain and eventually by humans. Omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs are essential nutrients for human and animal health. However, compared with plants and aquatic sourced PUFA, the production of PUFA-rich oil from microalgae is still in the early stages of exploration. This study has collected recent reports on algae-based PUFA production and analyzed related research hotspots and directions, including algae cultivation, lipids extraction, lipids purification, and PUFA enrichment processes. The entire technological process for the extraction, purification and enrichment of PUFA oils from algae is systemically summarized in this review, providing important guidance and technical reference for scientific research and industrialization of algae-based PUFA production.
PubMed: 37064250
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1146881 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022Glyceroglycolipids are major metabolites of marine algae and have a wide range of applications in medicine, cosmetics, and chemistry research fields. They are located on... (Review)
Review
Glyceroglycolipids are major metabolites of marine algae and have a wide range of applications in medicine, cosmetics, and chemistry research fields. They are located on the cell surface membranes. Together with glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans, known as the glycocalyx, they play critical roles in multiple cellular functions and signal transduction and have several biological properties such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, anti-viral activity, and anti-tumor immunity. This article focused on the sources and pharmacological effects of glyceroglycolipids, which are naturally present in various marine algae, including planktonic algae and benthic algae, with the aim to highlight the promising potential of glyceroglycolipids in clinical treatment.
PubMed: 36339569
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1008797