Production of Biosurfactants by Ascomycetes.

Harish Kumar Chopra,Patrícia Melchionna Albuquerque,Ana Cláudia Alves Cortez,Érica Simplício de Souza,Carlo Genovese,João Vicente Braga de Souza,Michele Alves Sanches,Isabella Galvão Luzeiro

doi:10.1155/2021/6669263

Abstract

Surfactants are utilized to reduce surface tension in aqueous and nonaqueous systems. Currently, most synthetic surfactants are derived from petroleum. However, these surfactants are usually highly toxic and are poorly degraded by microorganisms. To overcome these problems associated with synthetic surfactants, the production of microbial surfactants (called biosurfactants) has been studied in recent years. Most studies investigating the production of biosurfactants have been associated mainly with bacteria and yeasts; however, there is emerging evidence that those derived from fungi are promising. The filamentous fungi ascomycetes have been studied for the production of biosurfactants from renewable substrates. However, the yield of biosurfactants by ascomycetes depends on several factors, such as the species, nutritional sources, and environmental conditions. In this review, we explored the production, chemical characterization, and application of biosurfactants by ascomycetes.

Highlights

Biosurfactants are compounds that are produced by plants and animals, but are largely produced by microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. e combination of several properties including biomolecules reduces surface tension to act as an an emulsifier [1]
The combination of microorganisms and culture media used for production directly influences the recovery of biosurfactants during downstream processes
Studies indicate that globally distributed fungi include genera such as Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Fusarium, Chaetomium, Acremonium, and Curvularia, which are anemophilous fungi that can be dispersed through air

Summary

Introduction

Biosurfactants are compounds that are produced by plants and animals, but are largely produced by microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. e combination of several properties including biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) reduces surface tension to act as an an emulsifier [1]. The interest by the scientific community in studying the potential of biosurfactants has increased substantially [2] Issues such as high production costs and difficulties in the recovery of the pure products must be addressed before large-scale production at an industrial level can commence, allowing for their synthetic counterparts to have a competitive advantage [3, 4]. Biosurfactants derived from microbes exhibit surfactant properties as they decrease surface tension and have high emulsifying capacity [11] These biosurfactants are structurally more complex than synthetic surfactants as they are formed from combinations of biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids). Several studies have demonstrated the potential of fungi as producers of tension-active molecules [33] and with even greater yields in comparison to biosurfactants produced from bacteria [34]

Biosurfactant Production by Ascomycetes

Biosynthesis of Biosurfactants

Findings

Conclusions