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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Blood-derived gene expression profiles associated with dietary microalgae oil intake and methane emission variation in lambs.

BACKGROUND: Minimising methane (CH4) emissions from livestock production is a global priority, and feed modifications, such as supplementing diets with microalgae, have previously been shown to help reducing enteric CH4 production. This study explored blood-derived host gene expression profiles from twenty lambs supplemented with increasing levels of microalgae oil to investigate their transcriptional responses associated with varying microalgae oil levels while also exploring the host systemic responses towards varied CH4 productions. RESULTS: Findings revealed no significant changes in CH4 production with increasing levels of microalgae oil intake through phenotypic analysis (P = 0.18). However inter-individual variations in CH4 production ranged from 27.02 to 47.86 g/day throughout the study period. Blood RNA-Sequencing identified 64 significant genes including DHCR7, DHCR24, HMGCS1, INSIG1, LSS, MSMO1, and SQLE, which were involved in lipid metabolism, and steroid biosynthesis that became enriched alongside increasing microalgae oil intake levels thereby contributing to a positive impact on lambs' metabolic functions. Additionally, seven significant blood-expressed host genes (NME4, MARCHF3, PLXNB3, LOC132657460, LOC121819234, LOC105603087, LOC101116551) functionally enriched in nucleotide metabolic pathways and immune responses were identified to have significant positive associations with increasing CH4 production. Importantly, this study found no overlap between genes associated with microalgae oil intake and those linked to CH4 emissions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that microalgae oil intake and inter-individual variations in CH₄ production are associated with distinct blood-derived transcriptional responses. Although such signals should be interpreted as proxies for systemic host responses rather than direct measures of rumen-specific processes, these results emphasise the importance of considering host-associated molecular variations alongside dietary CH₄-mitigation strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Microalgae-Mediated Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles from Indonesian Chlorella vulgaris InaCC M205 with Potential Anticancer Properties for Biomedical Application.

Sustainable nanomaterial synthesis has emerged as a critical strategy to reduce the environmental burden associated with conventional chemical synthesis method. Microalgae-derived biomolecules offer a promising platform for the green production of metal nanoparticles due to their rich bioactive compounds capable of acting as natural reducing and stabilizing agents. Here, we report the eco-friendly synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using extract of Indonesian microalga Chlorella vulgaris extract. To optimize the synthesis process, the effects of precursor-to-extract ratio, temperature, and incubation time were evaluated. Optimal synthesis of C5-AuNPs was obtained at 37 °C for 20 h with precursor to extract ratio of 6:4, resulting in moderately stable C5-AuNPs characterized by a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 541 nm. Furthermore, Fourier-transmission infra-red (FT-IR) analysis revealed the involvement of functional groups of C. vulgaris extract in the interaction with Au+ during the production of C5-AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated the formation of uniformly spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter of approximately 8.8 nm. Biological evaluation showed that the synthesized C5-AuNPs exerted pronounced dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells with an IC50 threshold of 21.17 ppm, while no toxicity appears in normal HEK293 cells. Mechanistically, the C5-AuNPs induced early apoptosis and inhibit cell-cycle progression at the stage of G0/G1. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that C. vulgaris-mediated AuNPs represent a promising preliminary in vitro findings for cancer therapy candidate.

Gold↗
PubMed1978

Inhibition of light-induced pH increase and O2 evolution of marine microalgae by water-soluble components of crude and refined oils.

Light-induced alkalinization of the extracellular medium was found to be a common feature of the primary photosynthetic process of several marine microalgae. The light-induce PH increase of suspensions of whole cells was immediately and severely inhibited by a single dose of water-soluble components from crude and fuel oils. Differential effects on the rates of microalgal photosynthetic O2 evolution and cell suspension pH increase suggest different toxicity mechanisms of the water-soluble components of no. 2 fuel oil as compared with Southern Louisiana and Jay Crude oils. These short-term studies on the nature of sublethal petroleum toxicity to microalgae indicate that the primary effect may be through direct action on the energy-yielding electron transport systems.

Eukaryota↗
PubMed2026

Recombinant bovine chymosin expression in microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast: A step towards algal biomanufacturing of dairy enzymes.

Chymosin is the major proteolytic enzyme for cheese manufacture, where it plays an important role in the co-precipitation of milk casein. Traditional extraction of chymosin from the abomasum of young ruminants is associated with high limitations, including low yield, high production cost, and ethical issues of animal slaughter. In this study, we report on a recombinant strategy towards the production of bioactive Bos taurus chymosin in the chloroplasts of the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The cym gene encoding preprocymosin was inserted into the chloroplast genome by the glass bead-mediated DNA transformation procedure. Successful integration and expression of the transgene were confirmed by spot test analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The functional activities of the recombinant enzyme were checked by the standard milk clotting assay. The engineered microalgal strains produced chymosin with an average concentration of 90 mg/kg fresh weight, i.e., 1.6% of the total soluble protein. These results show that chloroplast-engineered C. reinhardtii is a promising, sustainable, and animal-free platform for the efficient production of the industrially relevant chymosin.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

[Use of microalgae for nutritional purposes].

Mass cultures of planktonic microalgae can render large quantities of proteinaceous matter. The good nutritional quality of microalgal protein has been proven both for animals and for human. The toxicologic safety of microalgal biomasses is, however, not yet sufficiently established. This requires further toxicologic studies, before cultivated mocralgae can commercially be utilized as ingredients of animal feed, or as food additives. Both types of nutritional application may become economically feasible.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1978

Light-scatter analysis of microalgae. Correlation of scatter patterns from pure and mixed asynchronous cultures.

A method is described for the first time for rapid and accurate discrimination among several algal types by their light-scattering properties alone. Using a multiangle light-scattering flow system, we obtained light-scatter patterns for individual cells in asynchronous cultures of Chlorella, Chlamydomonas, and Anacystis. The patterns are consistent and distinct for each species. By these signatures, each algal type can be recognized within mixtures.

Chlamydomonas↗
PubMed2026

A digital PCR-based platform for rapid assessment of chloroplast stress adaptation in microalgal metabolic engineering.

Microalgae rapidly adjust their chloroplast physiology in response to environmental stress, and these adaptive responses are closely associated with cellular fitness and metabolic performance. However, conventional assessments of stress adaptation primarily rely on growth characteristics, pigment accumulation, or physiological measurements, which often require extended cultivation periods and may not capture early molecular responses. In this study, we introduce a digital PCR (dPCR)-based platform for rapid assessment of chloroplast stress adaptation in microalgae. The platform quantifies the chloroplast-to-nuclear genome copy number ratio (C/N ratio) using multiplex dPCR and utilizes this metric as a molecular indicator of chloroplast acclimation. As a proof-of-concept, the assay was applied to the halotolerant microalga Dunaliella salina cultivated under different salinity stress conditions. Distinct temporal changes in the C/N ratio were observed across salinity treatments, indicating dynamic chloroplast genome remodeling during stress adaptation. The assay enabled sensitive detection of chloroplast responses at early cultivation stages, prior to the appearance of clear phenotypic differences. These findings demonstrate that chloroplast-to-nuclear genome quantification by dPCR provides a rapid and reproducible approach for monitoring chloroplast stress adaptation in microalgae. The proposed platform offers a practical molecular tool for strain evaluation, cultivation optimization, and stress-response studies, and may support future applications in microalgal biotechnology and industrial production systems.

Microalgae↗
PubMed2026

Influence of microplastics on microalgal performance during wastewater polishing.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that are increasingly accumulating in aquatic ecosystems due to excessive anthropogenic activity and insufficient mitigation strategies, posing serious environmental and public health risks. Their impact on wastewater (WW) treatment processes remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of five MPs commonly found in WW - polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, low-density polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene - on the physiology and bioremediation performance of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris in synthetic WW (SWW). Metabolic responses were assessed via esterase activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), while nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and glucose removal were monitored to evaluate bioremediation efficiency. MPs inhibited esterase activity and elevated ROS levels, indicating oxidative stress. Nevertheless, C. vulgaris maintained a high bioremediation capacity (> 75 % N, > 60 % P, and > 70 % for glucose). Environmental conditions modulated microalga response to MPs exposure. Under N-limited conditions, C. vulgaris exhibited enhanced nutrient uptake and biomass production, but a 12 h/12 h light/dark photoperiod reduced N removal but stimulated glucose consumption via heterotrophic metabolism. In contrast, C-limited conditions exacerbated oxidative stress and compromised nutrient removal, resulting in residual concentrations exceeding legal limits. These findings highlight that environmental factors can either mitigate or exacerbate the physiological stress induced by MPs, ultimately affecting WW polishing. This work provides a comprehensive insight into the cellular and metabolic effects of MPs on microalgae and supports C. vulgaris as a resilient and sustainable approach for nutrient and carbon removal in MP-contaminated WW systems.

Microalgae↗
PubMed2026

Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles from the Cell-Free Supernatant of Mychonastes sp. B1: Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects, and Wound Healing Activity Supported by Gene and Protein Expression Analysis.

The biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using microalgae provides a sustainable alternative to conventional physicochemical methods. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized from the cell-free supernatant of the freshwater microalga Mychonastes sp. B1 and characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM/EDS). The nanoparticles were predominantly spherical (15-55&#xa0;nm), highly stable (&#x3b6;&#x2009;=&#x2009;&#x2009;-&#x2009;42.8&#xa0;mV), and appeared to be capped by extracellular polymeric substances. The biogenic AgNPs (GS-AgNPs) exhibited potent antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2.0&#xa0;&#xb5;g/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and 2.5&#xa0;&#xb5;g/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and significantly (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05) inhibited biofilm formation. Fibroblast viability remained at or above 80% at AgNP concentrations up to 1.5&#xa0;&#xb5;g/mL, which promoted cell migration and increased wound closure by 8.1% at 24&#xa0;h (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Exposure to 1.5&#xa0;&#xb5;g/mL AgNPs significantly upregulated extracellular matrix markers (Col1a1 2.3-fold, Fn1 3.3-fold at mRNA level; COL1A1 2.1-fold, FN1 2.7-fold at the protein level). These findings indicate that GS-AgNPs possess antimicrobial and wound healing properties, highlighting their potential as biocompatible nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Silver↗
PubMed2025

Epitranscriptomic reprogramming in response to low CO2 stress and m6A engineering to enhance biomass production in Nannochloropsis oceanica.

N6-adenine methylation (m6A) as an epitranscriptomic mark is the most abundant modification in eukaryotic RNA and plays a dynamically regulated role. However, m6A dynamics, deposition and engineering in microalgae remain largely unknown. Here, in Nannochloropsis oceanica, the dynamic alterations and reprogramming in m6A RNA modifications after the shift from high to low CO2 conditions were first investigated using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. The m6A peaks in N. oceanica were mainly enriched in 3'UTR. A positive association between m6A abundance and mRNA transcription of CO2-responsive genes was observed; moreover, N. oceanica cells adopted versatile strategies in a dynamic reprogramming of m6A in response to low CO2 stress. Secondly, knockout of two putative m6A methylases including NoMTA (NO04G02990) and NoMTB (NO07G02450) by genome editing induced methylation reprogramming, which was associated with expression changes of low-CO2 responsive genes such as carbon/nitrogen metabolism, and photorespiration genes that underlie reductions in growth and biomass. Lastly, m6A modification reprogramming was first engineered to increase low-CO2 stress tolerance and biomass productivity by the CRISPR/dCas13 system combined with MTA and NoMTB under low CO2 in N. oceanica. Therefore, these strides would pave the way for microalgal epigenetics and future industrial applications.

Microalgae↗
PubMed2026

Integration of domestic wastewater and native Tetradesmus obliquus for bioremediation and production of biomass rich in protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The large-scale deployment of microalgae-based bioprocesses is often limited by high freshwater and nutrient demands. Domestic wastewater represents a sustainable alternative, enabling simultaneous pollutant removal and biomass production. In this study, a native strain of Tetradesmus obliquus, isolated in southern Brazil, was cultivated in raw domestic wastewater (RDW) and primary-treated domestic wastewater (TDW) at three initial inoculum densities (10%, 20%, and 30% v/v) for 14&#xa0;days. Tetradesmus obliquus in TDW inoculated at 10% (v/v) removed 62.46% of ammonium and 98.56% of phosphate, simultaneously exhibiting the highest specific growth rate (0.16 d&#x207b;1) and the highest biomass productivity (42.54&#xa0;mg L&#x207b;1 d&#x207b;1). Iron and manganese concentrations decreased significantly with a native strain in TDW, indicating effective removal of them under the evaluated conditions. RDW was associated with higher carbohydrate accumulation (32.68%) and pigment production, whereas TDW was associated with higher protein content (45.83%) and a lipid fraction with a high relative proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (72.70-78.90%), primarily represented by &#x3b1;-linolenic and linoleic acids. The combined assessment of wastewater condition and initial inoculum density revealed distinct effects on the cultivation system. These aspects influence the biochemical composition of biomass, initial inoculum density, nutrient removal, specific growth rate, and biomass productivity. Thus, the present study supports the potential to integrate domestic wastewater treatment with the cultivation of a native Tetradesmus obliquus strain and indicates that, under the evaluated conditions, both the wastewater treatment conditions and the initial inoculum density influenced bioremediation performance and the biochemical composition of biomass.

Biochemical composition↗
PubMed2026

Genome analysis of the glycosphingolipid-producing green alga tetraselmis sp. NKG400013.

Microalgae are gaining attention as sustainable resources for the production of valuable compounds, including biofuels, pigments, and bioactive metabolites. To support metabolic engineering and genome editing approaches aimed at enhancing these traits, high-quality genome assemblies are essential; however, genomic information remains limited for many microalgal lineages. Tetraselmis sp. NKG400013 is a green alga known for high glycosphingolipid accumulation with distinctive structural features. Here, we report a draft genome assembly of this strain generated using PacBio HiFi sequencing and transcriptome-supported annotation. The assembled genome spans 423.7&#x2005;Mbp, with 74.5% repetitive sequences and 15,322 predicted protein-coding genes. Comparative analyses across 11 green algal species revealed a positive correlation between genome sizes and repeat contents, indicating that transposable element expansion, particularly long terminal repeat retrotransposons, has substantially contributed to genome enlargement in Tetraselmis. Genome-wide functional annotation and ortholog inference identified core enzymes required for glycosylceramide biosynthesis. Both sphingolipid &#x394;4 and &#x394;8 desaturases were identified in Tetraselmis and their coexistence suggests an expanded capacity for long-chain base modification that may underlie its distinctive glycosphingolipid profile. These results establish a genomic framework for understanding the high glycosphingolipid-producing capacity of NKG400013 and provide insights into the evolutionary diversification of sphingolipid metabolism in green algae.

Chlorophyta↗
PubMed2026

From isolation to insights: mitochondrial complex I in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Diatoms are among the most ecologically successful microalgae, contributing significantly to marine primary production and global carbon cycling. Their distinctive metabolic architecture, shaped by a complex evolutionary history involving secondary endosymbiosis, includes a highly compartmentalized cell organization and unique metabolic pathways. In Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a model pennate diatom, chloroplasts with four membranes and mitochondria of likely exosymbiotic origin exhibit intricate physical and metabolic interactions that support integrated carbon and nitrogen metabolism. The mitochondrial electron transport chain, essential for ATP synthesis, shows clade-specific structural and compositional adaptations. Despite its importance, detailed proteomic characterization has remained limited. Here, we report a method for the isolation of mitochondrial complex I from P. tricornutum and present a comprehensive proteomic analysis. Our results confirm the presence of carbonic anhydrase and bridge modules, both previously proposed as ancestral features of mitochondrial complex I, and identify at least one novel, clade-specific subunit that resembles NAD(P)H-dependent trans-2-enoyl-CoA/ACP reductases (TER) from other species. The subunit is similar to proteins involved in mitochondrial fatty acid biosynthesis. Our findings provide new insights into the composition, evolutionary conservation, and potential biotechnological relevance of this essential respiratory protein complex in diatoms.

Diatoms↗