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Journal of Applied Phycology 2018Lectins are unique proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that bind specifically to carbohydrates. They recognise and interact reversibly to either free... (Review)
Review
Lectins are unique proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that bind specifically to carbohydrates. They recognise and interact reversibly to either free carbohydrates or glycoconjugates, without modifying their structure. Lectins are highly diverse and widely distributed in nature and have been extensively reported from various red algae species. Numerous red algae species have been reported to possess lectins having carbohydrate specificity towards complex glycoproteins or high-mannose -glycans. These lectin-glycan interactions further trigger many biochemical responses which lead to their extensive use as valuable tools in biomedical research. Thus, owing to their exceptional glycan recognition property, red algae lectins are potential candidate for inhibition of various viral diseases. Hence, the present report integrates existing information on the red algae lectins, their carbohydrate specificity, and characteristics of purified lectins. Further, the review also reports the current state of research into their anti-viral activity against various enveloped viruses such as HIV, hepatitis, influenza, encephalitis, coronavirus and herpes simplex virus and other biomedical activities such as anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and acaricidal activities.
PubMed: 32214665
DOI: 10.1007/s10811-017-1338-5 -
Effects of monospecific and mixed-algae culture on performance of algae-sludge membrane bioreactors.Bioresource Technology Mar 2023To increase wastewater treatment efficiency and biofuel production, seven microalgae were mixed with activated sludge in batch bioreactors. Based on batch results, two...
To increase wastewater treatment efficiency and biofuel production, seven microalgae were mixed with activated sludge in batch bioreactors. Based on batch results, two microalgae (Chlamydomonas and Selenastrum) and their mixture were inoculated into conventional-membrane-bioreactors (CMBRs) to evaluate effects of monospecific and mixed-algae culture on the performance of algae-sludge-MBRs. The best nutrient removal, highest chlorophyll-a, and lowest membrane fouling were achieved by the mixed-algae membrane bioreactor. In comparison to activated sludge, the algae-sludge mixture had fivefold higher lipid contents during batch experiments. Additionally, using confocal microscopy, autofluorescence and staining were combined to distinguish algae from bacteria on membrane surfaces, revealing a greater role for bacteria in membrane fouling. Furthermore, sequencing analysis showed that the microbial community (e.g. Nitrospira and Falavobacterium) changed by inoculating algae which benefits CMBRs. Consequently, the stimulation or inhibition of different species might be the reason that the mixed-algae-MBR achieves superior performance compared to CMBR and single-algae-MBRs.
Topics: Sewage; Wastewater; Membranes, Artificial; Bioreactors; Microbiota; Bacteria
PubMed: 36638897
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128605 -
Circular Economy and Sustainability 2021Algae are a large and diverse group of autotrophic organisms that are multicellular and single-celled and found in a variety of environments. Biofuel production and... (Review)
Review
Algae are a large and diverse group of autotrophic organisms that are multicellular and single-celled and found in a variety of environments. Biofuel production and value-added chemicals produced through a sustainable process are represented by the biorefinery of algae. Algae are important because of the production of polysaccharides, lipids, pigments, proteins, and other compounds for pharmaceutical and nutritional applications. They can also be used as raw materials for biofuel production. Moreover, they are useful for wastewater treatment. All these factors have absorbed the attentions of researchers around the world. This review focuses specifically on the potentials, properties, and applications of algae as a sustainable renewable resource, which can be a good alternative to other sources due to their high biomass production, less land required for cultivation, and the production of valuable metabolites.
PubMed: 34888572
DOI: 10.1007/s43615-021-00088-z -
BioMed Research International 2018The interest in utilizing algae for wastewater treatment has been increased due to many advantages. Algae-wastewater treatment system offers a cost-efficient and... (Review)
Review
The interest in utilizing algae for wastewater treatment has been increased due to many advantages. Algae-wastewater treatment system offers a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional treatment processes such as electrocoagulation and flocculation. In this biosystem, algae can assimilate nutrients in the wastewater for their growth and simultaneously capture the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis resulting in a decrease in the greenhouse gaseousness. Furthermore, the algal biomass obtained from the treatment process could be further converted to produce high value-added products. However, the recovery of free suspended algae from the treated effluent is one of the most important challenges during the treatment process as the current methods such as centrifugation and filtration are faced with the high cost. Immobilization of algae is a suitable approach to overcome the harvesting issue. However, there are some drawbacks with the common immobilization carriers such as alginate and polyacrylamide related to low stability and toxicity, respectively. Hence, it is necessary to apply a new carrier without the mentioned problems. One of the carriers that can be a suitable candidate for the immobilization is zeolite. To date, various types of zeolite have been used for the immobilization of cells of bacteria and yeast. If there is any possibility to apply them for the immobilization of algae, it needs to be considered in further studies. This article reviews cell immobilization technique, biomass immobilization onto zeolites, and algal immobilization with their applications. Furthermore, the potential application of zeolite as an ideal carrier for algal immobilization has been discussed.
Topics: Biomass; Cells, Immobilized; Greenhouse Gases; Zeolites
PubMed: 30643814
DOI: 10.1155/2018/6563196 -
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 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition) Jan 2011Published information on airborne algae and cyanobacteria worldwide and the related human health effects is scarce. Since 1844, a total of 353 morphological taxa (genera... (Review)
Review
Published information on airborne algae and cyanobacteria worldwide and the related human health effects is scarce. Since 1844, a total of 353 morphological taxa (genera or species) have been identified in aerobiological studies. However, due to diverse methodologies and different microorganisms targeted in these studies, direct comparisons on the occurrences of airborne algae and cyanobacteria in various studies are rather dubious. Thirty-eight airborne algae and cyanobacteria were shown to induce allergy, skin irritation, hay fever, rhinitis, sclerosis and respiratory problems when aerosolized and inhaled. Another 14 airborne taxa are known toxin producers posing threat to human health. Most frequently associated with health effects are the genera Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Chlorococcum, Klebsormidium (Hormidium) and Lyngbya. In the air of the Mediterranean city of Thessaloniki, we found 63 algal and cyanobacterial taxa, with 21 reported for the first time in the air. Seven taxa were potentially harmful. Algae and cyanobacteria can contribute significantly in the total air particle load, rendering them as causative agents for health issues when inhaled.
Topics: Air Microbiology; Biodiversity; Chlorophyta; Cities; Cyanobacteria; Environmental Monitoring; Greece; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Species Specificity
PubMed: 21196350
DOI: 10.2741/e285 -
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in... Oct 2014The green lineage of chlorophyte algae and streptophytes form a large and diverse clade with multiple independent transitions to produce multicellular and/or... (Review)
Review
The green lineage of chlorophyte algae and streptophytes form a large and diverse clade with multiple independent transitions to produce multicellular and/or macroscopically complex organization. In this review, I focus on two of the best-studied multicellular groups of green algae: charophytes and volvocines. Charophyte algae are the closest relatives of land plants and encompass the transition from unicellularity to simple multicellularity. Many of the innovations present in land plants have their roots in the cell and developmental biology of charophyte algae. Volvocine algae evolved an independent route to multicellularity that is captured by a graded series of increasing cell-type specialization and developmental complexity. The study of volvocine algae has provided unprecedented insights into the innovations required to achieve multicellularity.
Topics: Biological Evolution; Cell Differentiation; Chlorophyta; Phylogeny; Plant Cells; Plants; Reproduction
PubMed: 25324214
DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a016170 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2022Shellfish and algae mariculture make up an important part of the marine fishery carbon sink. Carbon sink research is necessary to ensure China achieves its goal of...
Shellfish and algae mariculture make up an important part of the marine fishery carbon sink. Carbon sink research is necessary to ensure China achieves its goal of carbon neutrality. This study used the material quality assessment method to estimate the carbon sink capacity of shellfish and algae. Product value, carbon storage value, and oxygen release value were used to calculate the economic value of shellfish and algae carbon sequestration. The results showed that the annual average shellfish and algae carbon sink in China was 1.10 million tons from 2003 to 2019, of which shellfish accounted for 91.63%, wherein , , and were the main contributors. The annual average economic value of China's shellfish and algae carbon sequestration was USD 71,303.56 million, and the product value was the main contributor, accounting for 99.11%. The carbon sink conversion ratios of shellfish and algae were 8.37% and 5.20%, respectively, thus making shellfish the aquaculture species with the strongest carbon sink capacity and the greatest carbon sink potential. The estimated growth rate in the shellfish and algae removable carbon sink was 33,900 tons/year in China, but this trend was uncertain. The capacity for carbon sequestration and exchange by aquaculture can be improved by expanding breeding space, promoting multi-level comprehensive breeding modes, and marine artificial upwelling projects.
Topics: Carbon; Carbon Dioxide; Carbon Sequestration; China; Shellfish
PubMed: 35886723
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148873 -
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 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Impetuous urbanization and population growth are driving increased demand for plastics to formulate impeccable industrial and biomedical commodities. The everlasting... (Review)
Review
Impetuous urbanization and population growth are driving increased demand for plastics to formulate impeccable industrial and biomedical commodities. The everlasting nature and excruciating waste management of petroleum-based plastics have catered to numerous challenges for the environment. However, just implementing various end-of-life management techniques for assimilation and recycling plastics is not a comprehensive remedy; instead, the extensive reliance on finite resources needs to be reduced for sustainable production and plastic product utilization. Microorganisms, such as bacteria and algae, are explored substantially for their bioplastic production repertoire, thus replacing fossil-based plastics sooner or later. Nevertheless, the utilization of pure microbial cultures has led to various operational and economical complications, opening the ventures for the usage of mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) consisting of bacteria and algae for sustainable production of bioplastic. The current review is primarily focuses on elaborating the bioplastic production capabilities of different bacterial and algal strains, followed by discussing the quintessence of MMCs. The present state-of-the-art of bioplastic, different types of bacterial bioplastic, microalgal biocomposites, operational factors influencing the quality and quantity of bioplastic precursors, embracing the potential of bacteria-algae consortia, and the current global status quo of bioplastic production has been summarized extensively.
PubMed: 35058887
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.674864