High Lipid Content Research Articles

Abstract TP341: Longitudinal Analysis of Peripheral Blood Dynamics During the First Week after Ischemic Stroke: Biomarkers and Correlation to Functional Outcome

Introduction: Peripheral blood-based biomarker development for neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke has traditionally focused on measuring alterations in leukocyte number and composition. Deeper immunophenotyping of cells using fluorescent probes that detect alterations among organelles and structures can provide a better understanding of the biological function of leukocytes after ischemic stroke. Methods: We evaluated the utility of BODIPY 493/503 and LysoTracker as fluorogenic probes to assess cellular changes in lipid content and lysosomal burden. Flow cytometric assessments were performed on peripheral mononuclear blood cells from healthy volunteers (HV, N=31), and from ischemic stroke patients (N=43) at 3d and 7d to capture the temporal profile of these biomarkers. Results: We found decreased frequency of CD3+ T cells 3d after stroke, which was also seen at 7d after stroke. We found CD4:CD8 ratios were significantly and persistently increased in stroke patients compared to HV controls. Within the CD4 subset, we found a persistent increase in the frequency of effector CD4 T cells after stroke, this finding is consistent with previous literature. Interestingly, we noted a delayed, but profound increase in lipid content of all cell types at 7d after stroke compared controls. This difference was more pronounced among females. Lysosomal content was differentially altered by cell type, with increased levels in CD4 naïve T cells, but decreased levels in CD4 central memory, CD8 naïve, CD8 effector, CD8 central and effector memory T cells after stroke. While we did not see an association with increase in severity at admission, high lipid content at the acute phase was significantly associated with increased disability at 3 months after hospitalization. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings provide greater context to the previously documented compositional changes in the blood leukocyte compartment after stroke. Ischemic stroke causes a pervasive increase in cellular lipidosis. Lysosomal content has also been significantly positively correlated to functional disability among stroke patients. Using cell-based functional assays with flow cytometric immunophenotyping may provide meaningful insights into biological health and function of circulating leukocytes after brain injury. Understanding the effects of these compositional changes seen in the acute phase in respect to functional outcomes should be a priority for researchers moving forward.

Unlocking new electron transport routes: Insights into enhanced long-chain fatty acid conversion in valorization of lipid-rich waste.

In this study, the alkaline fermentation of combined lipid-rich waste (LRW) was explored to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). By introducing sulfate as an external electron acceptor, the long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) metabolic pathway was enhanced, achieving a VFA yield of 671.1 ± 21.9 mg COD/g VSS-an increase of 4.7 times compared to the control-under conditions of high lipid content (10 g/L). Significant conversion of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), such as oleic and linolenic acids, was achieved via the β-oxidation pathway, which also led to a synergistic enhancement of the fermentation of non-lipidic organic matter. Key functional genes from five LCFA metabolic modules were identified, revealing diverse electron transport routes, including non-syntrophic and syntrophic LCFA oxidation mediated by differentiated microbial function groups. Genome-centric metagenomics analysis further identified microbial functional groups responsible for the reconstructed pathways, offering new insights into optimizing LRW recycling and VFA production in anaerobic fermentation systems.

Turning residues into valuable compounds: organic waste conversion into odd-chain fatty acids via the carboxylate platform by recombinant oleaginous yeast

Environmental concerns are rising the need to find cost-effective alternatives to fossil oils. In this sense, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are proposed as carbon source for microbial oils production that can be converted into oleochemicals. This investigation took advantage of the outstanding traits of recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica strains to assess the conversion of SCFAs derived from real digestates into odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA). High yeast OCFAs content was aimed by using two engineered strains (Y. lipolytica JMY7780 and JMY7782). Batch and two-step batch fermentations were performed, reaching high lipid content (40.8% w/w) and lipid yield (0.07 g/g) with JMY7782, which overexpresses propionyl-CoA synthase. Fed-batch fermentation with an acetic acid pulse after 24 h was also carried out to promote SCFAs consumption and OCFAs production. In this case, SCFAs consumption rate increased and JMY7782 was able to accumulate up to 60.4% OCFAs of the total lipids produced from food waste-derived carbon sources.

Phosphomolybdic acid boosts polyunsaturated fatty acid and neutral lipid production in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is considered a potential lipid production platform due to its high growth rates and elevated natural neutral lipid and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents. Furthermore, microalgae are emerging as promising sources of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In this study, phosphomolybdic acid (PMo12), as a photocatalyst, can enhance the synthesis of neutral lipids and PUFAs by influencing the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and photosynthesis in P. tricornutum. We also observed the contents of EPA and PUFA in engineered microalgae nearly doubled compared to the wild type, while neutral lipid content showed a significant increase of 69.7% in engineered microalgae. Notably, the growth rate of engineered microalgae remained comparable to that of the wild type. This work presents an effective approach to enhance the production of microalgal bioproducts, suggesting that photocatalysts such as PMo12 could serve as viable alternatives to genetic engineering technology, facilitating the commercialization of microalgal biodiesel.

Characterisation and anaerobic digestion of fat, oil and grease (FOG) waste from wastewater treatment plants.

The materials removed in the oil separation units of wastewater treatment plants can be referred to as fat, oil and grease (FOG) waste. FOG waste accumulation in treatment plants can cause clogging of pipes, production of excessive scums and foams, and negatively affect air/liquid oxygen transfer. While conventional disposal routes of this material can be limited by its water and organic content, FOG can represent a source of bio-energy other than bio-diesel production. This research determined the chemical and physical characteristics of FOG waste collected at four different wastewater treatment plants and defined the potential for energy recovery via dark fermentation and anaerobic digestion as treatment options for final disposal. The FOG samples featured markedly distinct physical aspects in connection with the oil separation technologies: solid agglomerate with a high content of lipids from vortex-type separation and semi-solid agglomerate with a low content of oils and fats from horizontal-flow chambers. All FOG waste presented high potential for methane production with values ranging from 460 to 865 Nm3CH4/tVS but low yields of biological hydrogen via dark fermentation. This study addresses a knowledge gap in the scientific literature on the characteristics of FOG waste from treatment plants and defines possible routes for sustainable management via bio-energy recovery.

Integrated biorefinery approach for sustainable production of biodiesel, bioplastics and high value bioproducts from a bloom forming alga, Botryococcus braunii.

The global shift towards sustainable energy and bioproducts has intensified research on algae. Renewable green biofuel can address and provide solutions to both energy crisis and climate change challenges. Botryococcus braunii, a bloom forming green microalga, known for its high lipid content and potential for biofuel production has been explored in the present study. The study envisages the utilisation of algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems for the production of biodiesel and high value bioproducts through an integrated biorefinery approach. During the peak bloom, the algal cell densities reached up to 3.3×106 colonies L-1 with significant shift in water quality due to high nutrient uptake. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopic analysis revealed high concentration of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, particularly hexadecanoic acid (C16:0) and 9-octadecenoic acid (C18:1) which are essential for stable, energy-rich biodiesel production. Hydrocarbons including squalene, botryococcenes, and botryococcane, produced by this alga have significant industrial applications. The high polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) content in the alga emphasises its potential for sustainable bioplastic production. Growth conditions, lipid content, and biochemical composition of B. braunii were investigated. Algal blooms can provide a sustainable and economically viable source of biofuel with high value co-products. This approach not only contributes to renewable energy solutions through valorising a waste bioresource but in combination with other mass cultivation strategies can also offer a means to sustainably manage the impact of algal blooms on aquatic ecosystems.

P0402 Preoperative body composition parameters are associated with postoperative complications and endoscopic postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn’s disease

Abstract Background Alterations in body composition are common among patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and may represent a modifiable risk factor for dismal postoperative outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association of preoperative body composition with postoperative complications and endoscopic postoperative recurrence (ePOR) in CD patients following ileocolic (re-)resection (ICR). Methods CD patients (≥16 years) scheduled for ICR with a preoperative CT or MRI scan (<12 months prior to ICR) were identified from an ongoing prospective, multicenter cohort study. Cross-sectional area normalized for body height (i.e. index) and lipid content (i.e. radiation attenuation on CT or signal intensity on MRI) of sketelal muscle (SM), subcutaneous adipose (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were analyzed at L3 level. Cut-offs were based on sex-specific tertiles. The primary outcome was postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade I-IV) within 30 days. Secondary outcomes were moderate-to-severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥II), infectious complications (intra- or extra-abdominal), and ePOR (modified Rutgeerts’ score ≥i2b) at six months postoperatively. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association of preoperative body composition with study outcomes. Results In total, 227 patients were included. Preoperative characteristiscs and postoperative outcomes are shown in Table 1. Median interval from preoperative imaging to ICR was 2.3 months (IQR 1.1–4.6). High lipid content of SM (i.e. myosteatosis) was associated with postoperative complications (aOR 2.51; 95%CI 1.21–5.22), moderate-to-severe complications (aOR 2.34; 95%CI 1.13–4.85), and infectious complications (aOR 2.20; 95%CI 1.01–4.80) (Figure 1). Low VAT-index was protective against postoperative complications (aOR 0.17; 95%CI 0.05–0.58). Low lipid content of VAT (aOR 3.98; 95%CI 1.15–13.78) and a high SAT-index (aOR 3.38; 95%CI 1.12–10.15) were associated with infectious complications. High SM-index was associated with ePOR (aOR 2.51; 95%CI 1.09–5.77). Preoperative body mass index (BMI) showed no association with study outcomes in uni- and multivariable analyses. Conclusion Preoperative myosteatosis on abdominal imaging is consistently associated with postoperative complications in patients with CD following ICR. Low VAT-index was identified as protective factor for postoperative complications, while low lipid content of VAT and a high SAT-index were associated with infectious complications. Surprisingly, high SM increased the risk of ePOR. Future research should identify strategies for preoperative improvement of body composition, rather than relying solely on BMI, and investigate if these improvements correlate with better postoperative outcomes.

Antioxidant Capacity, Lipid Oxidation, and Quality Traits of Slow- and Fast-Growing Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Fillets During Cold Storage

Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is an important species in aquaculture, with size and flesh quality playing key roles in its production and marketability. This study aimed to examine the relationship between growth and flesh quality parameters, including fatty acid content (FA), total antioxidant capacity (TOAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid oxidation (LO), muscle cellularity (MC), and filleting yield (FY) during cold storage. Fish from the same hatchery raised under identical conditions showed size variation after 12 months. Fish below 600 g were classified as slow growing (SG), while those above 1000 g were classified as fast-growing (FG). The results showed that FG fish had higher body weight, moisture, and FY but exhibited lower levels of fat and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). SG fish had higher TOAC and SOD activity, which significantly declined during cold storage in both groups but remained higher in SG fish. Despite the higher lipid content in SG fish, no significant differences in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an indicator of LO, were observed between the two groups, suggesting that the elevated antioxidant defenses in SG fish mitigated lipid peroxidation. This study underscores intrinsic antioxidants’ potential to preserve lipid quality of fish fillets during cold storage.

Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses revealed overexpression of TaMGD enhances wheat plant heat stress resistance through multiple responses.

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), as the primary lipid component of thylakoid membranes, has a significant part in plant growth and stress response. The current study employed two transgenic wheat lines (MG1516 and MG1314) overexpressing the MGDG synthase gene (TaMGD) and wild-type cv "JW1" to explore the function of TaMGD in response to high temperature stress during the anthesis stage of wheat. Under high-temperature stress, the overexpressed wheat lines exhibited higher grain weight, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and lower H2O2 and malondialdehyde contents in leaves. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that overexpression of TaMGD influenced multiple metabolic pathways in response to high-temperature stress, including carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, photosynthesis, and lipid-related metabolism. Overall, 146 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in MG1516 and wild-type (WT) under heat stress, with MG1516 exhibiting a higher number of upregulated metabolites, particularly glycolipids, organic acids, and organic oxygen compounds. Furthermore, lipid content and unsaturation analysis revealed that the overexpressing wheat line had a higher lipid content and greater saturation than WT under heat stress. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of TaMGD in wheat affects multiple metabolic pathways, including photosynthesis, carbon, and amino acid metabolism, in reply to high-temperature stress through the modification of cell membrane lipid content, fatty acid unsaturation and other factors.

Enhancing biomass and lipid productivities of Haematococcus pluvialis for industrial raw materials products

For biofuels and nutraceuticals, the green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (Chlorophyceae) is a prospective source of biomass and lipids. This study examined how biomass production and lipid accumulation were affected by temperature (10 °C, 20 °C, and 30 °C) and potassium nitrate (KNO₃) concentrations (0.41 g/L, 0.31 g/L, 0.21 g/L, 0.10 g/L, and 0). The findings showed that the largest biomass (0.665 ± 0.200 g/L) was produced at a potassium nitrate concentration of 0.21 g/L at 20 °C, whereas the highest lipid content (46.31 ± 0.026% dry weight) was produced at a temperature without nitrate. Notably, a balanced result was obtained with a modest nitrate content (0.10 g/L) at 20 °C, yielding significant biomass (0.560 ± 0.136 g/L) and lipids (40.30 ± 0.012% dry weight). These results highlight how crucial it is to optimize cultivation settings in order to increase H. pluvialis's dual productivity, offering important new information for its industrial-scale use. By adjusting growing conditions, this research helps meet the need for renewable resources worldwide by promoting the production of high-value bioproducts and sustainable, commercially viable algae-based biofuels.

Compositions of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) from different culture systems

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of seasons (summer and winter) on the proximate, amino acid and fatty acid compositions of gilthead sea bream fish fed with commercial diets in sea cages and earthen ponds in the Aegean Sea in Türkiye. In general, the nutrient composition of the diets met the nutritional needs of the fish. Proximate analysis of fish fillets revealed that fish reared in earthen ponds had the lowest moisture and highest lipid content in the winter season (p < 0.05). Although fillet protein contents were comparatively higher in the winter (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference between systems in the same season (p > 0.05). Growing gilthead sea bream in marine cages produced fillets with high contents of the essential fatty acids (EFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3). On the other hand, the 18:1n-9 and 18:3n-3 contents of fish reared in earthen ponds increased by 25.64 and 18.80% respectively, compared to those in marine cages. Fillet content of total n-3 fatty acid were comparatively higher (p < 0.05) in gilthead sea bream from marine cages, and this increase was even more evident in the winter months. The n-3/n-6 ratios of fillets were significantly high in gilthead sea bream from marine cages in the summer. The levels of the essential amino acids (EAAs) arginine and leucine were higher in fillets from both systems in the winter. On the other hand, fillet contents of lysine were higher in the summer. In general, the total EAA content of fillets was higher in fish from the sea cages in summer. EAA/NEAA ratios in both systems in summer and winter were found to be at good levels in terms of fish fillet quality. Fillet contents of EFA and EAA from both systems and seasons were found to be good for human consumption and will have positive effects on human nutrition. In conclusion, commercial diets used in feeding gilthead sea bream improved the proximate, fatty acid and amino acid compositions of fillets to a good extent. Different seasons and culture systems may affect the nutritional composition of fish fillets, especially on fillet EFA contents. Results of fillet samples in marine cages and earthen ponds in summer and winter showed that the fish were of good quality for human health. Evaluation of the results in the present study shows that that gilthead sea bream can also be successfully cultured in earthen ponds in areas unsuitable for agriculture.

Effect of vacuum frying on changes in the quality attributes of three varieties of maize

Abstract In this study, two vacuum frying (VF) conditions were evaluated for their impact on the chemical characteristics, acrylamide content, starch digestibility, and instrumental and sensory texture of three corn varieties (local maize, INIAP-193, INIAP-122). In addition, INIAP-193 was fried under deep-fat frying (DF) because it is the most widely used preparation technique for saccharate variety, and the effect on nutritional and colour components was assessed. The lowest moisture content and the highest lipid content were found in fried INIAP-193 under DF. Frying led to an increase in total starch and resistant starch, while amylose, slow digestible starch, and total sugars decreased in fried kernels under VF, compared to raw grains. Fried INIAP-193 under DF had a higher acrylamide content, which correlated with its higher reducing sugar content. However, this fried variety under VF (140 °C, 11.3 kPa) received the highest sensory rating due to its lower hardness, reduced adhesion, and increased fracturability. Vacuum-fried kernels showed less nutritional degradation than their deep-fried counterparts. The correlogram showed significant positive correlations between the following attributes: hardness—sensory fracturability, instrumental—sensory fracturability, and instrumental fracturability—sensory hardness.

Combination of Two-Stage Continuous Feeding and Optimized Synthetic Medium Increases Lipid Production in Lipomyces starkeyi.

The oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi is recognized for its remarkable lipid accumulation under nitrogen-limited conditions. However, precise control of microbial lipid production in L. starkeyi remains challenging due to the complexity of nutrient media. We developed a two-stage fed-batch fermentation process using a well-defined synthetic medium in a 5-L bioreactor. In the first stage, the specific growth rate was maintained at a designated level by maximizing the cell density through optimizing the feeding rate, molar carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and phosphate concentration in feeding media, achieving a high cell density of 213 ± 10 ×107 cellsmL-1. In the second stage, we optimized the molar C/N ratio in the feeding medium for lipid production and achieved high biomass (130 ± 5 gL-1), lipid titer (88 ± 6 gL-1), and lipid content (67% ± 2% of dry cellular weight). Our approach yielded a high lipid titer, comparable to the highest reported value of 68 gL-1 achieved in a nutrient medium, by optimizing cultivation conditions with a synthetic medium in L. starkeyi. This highlights the importance of well-established yet powerful bioprocess approaches for the precise control of microbial cultivation.

Enhanced biomass production and bioelectricity generation in microalgae culture medium using electrode pairings

Microalgae-based biofuel production offers promising avenues for sustainable energy generation. However, optimizing microalgae culture conditions for enhanced biomass production and bioelectricity generation remains challenging. This study addresses this problem by investigating the efficacy of different electrode pairings immersed in a microalgae culture medium. Two electrode pairs, Al-Fe and Cu-Zn were evaluated for their impact on microalgae growth and bioelectricity production. The optimum biomass concentration obtained was 1.204 g/L of Al-Fe electrodes with a lipid content of 15.1% and bioelectricity generation of 0.36V. The results demonstrated that Al-Fe electrodes induced high biomass concentration and lipid content in microalgae culture, facilitating biodiesel production. Conversely, Cu paired with Zn electrode promoted microalgae growth with elevated bioelectricity generation with 0.95V. This research sheds light on the potential of tailored electrode pairings to optimize microalgae culture conditions for dual-purpose biofuels and bioelectricity production, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies. It was recommended, among others, that further exploration of diverse electrode pairings within microalgae cultured medium could unveil additional effective strategies for optimizing biomass production and bioelectricity generation.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone-loaded coaxial nanofibers prevent oxidative stress after spinal cord injury.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in the secondary injury of the spinal cord tissue due to the high lipid content of nervous tissue. In the present study, coaxial nanofibers were loaded with the natural antioxidant pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and used as an implantable drug-delivery system and a scaffold post-SCI. The obtained data show that the concentration of NO and the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the spinal cord injury (SCI) group. These levels were significantly decreased following treatment with nanofibers/PQQ. Implantation of nanofibers/PQQ resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) drop in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the SCI group. The application of nanofibers loaded with PQQ after SCI caused a significant (P < 0.05) elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in the spinal cord tissue. The present work shows the protective role of coaxial nanofibers loaded with PQQ against oxidative stress in spinal cord injury. The reversal of oxidative stress with PQQ can lead to better outcomes following spinal cord injury.

Reduced Numbers of Returning Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Thiamine Deficiency Are Both Associated with the Consumption of High-Lipid Prey Fish

In 2023, exceptionally few salmon (Salmo salar) ascended from the Baltic Sea to spawn in the Rivers Tornionjoki and Simojoki, regardless of the proper number of smolts descending to the sea in preceding years. We investigated how the numbers of age-0 and young herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus), which are the principal prey species of salmon in the Baltic Proper, the main feeding area of these salmon, as well as the amount of lipid obtained from them and their protein-to-lipid ratio, correlated with the number of returning salmon and the thiamine (vitamin B1) status of spawning salmon. The fewer the 0-year-old herring were and the more abundant were the youngish sprat in the Baltic Proper when the post-smolts arrived there, and the greater the lipid content and lower the protein-to-lipid ratio of the prey fish, the fewer salmon returned to the Rivers Tornionjoki and Simojoki to spawn two years later. The number of returning salmon was lowest with a high ratio of youngish sprat, 1–3 years old, regarding the River Tornionjoki and 1–2 years old regarding the River Simojoki post-smolts, to 0-year-old herring, which were of a suitable size to be the prey for the post-smolts upon their arrival in the Baltic Proper. In 2021, the ratios were lowest due to the record-low number of 0-year-old herring. The poor thiamine status of spawning salmon was also associated with the high lipid content of available prey fish and with the abundance of youngish sprat, which have twice the lipid content of age-0 herring. Our findings parallel the observations in the early 1990s when post-smolt survival declined concurrently with the outbreak of thiamine deficiency, M74. We conclude that consuming high-lipid marine fish reduces the survival of post-smolts and, thus, the number of returning salmon, in addition to causing thiamine deficiency.

Comparative Analysis of the Biochemical and Molecular Responses of Nannochloropsis gaditana to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Limitation: Phosphorus Limitation Enhances Carotenogenesis.

Nannochloropsis gaditana is well known for its potential for biofuel production due to its high lipid content. Numerous omics and biochemical studies have explored the overall molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of Nannochloropsis sp. to nutrient availability, primarily focusing on lipid metabolism. However, N. gaditana is able to synthesize other valuable products such as carotenoids, including violaxanthin, which has various biological functions and applications. In this study, we comparatively investigated the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of N. gaditana to nitrogen and phosphorus limitation, examining biomass production, photosynthetic activity, lipid, chlorophyll, and carotenoids content, and RNA-seq data. Nitrogen limitation decreased photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, and biomass production but increased lipid content. Phosphorus limitation substantially increased carotenoids content, with violaxanthin productivity of 10.24 mg/L, 3.38-fold greater than under the control condition, with little effect on biomass production or photosynthetic function. These results were generally consistent with the gene expression pattern observed in transcriptomic analysis. This integrated analysis shows that phosphorus limitation can be an economically competitive solution by enhancing valuable carotenoids while maintaining lipid and biomass production in N. gaditana.

Microalgae bioprospecting for the food industry: insights into the autotrophic biomass production and macromolecular accumulation of four microalgal species.

In this study, four microalgal strains were evaluated for their biomass production capacity and macromolecule biosynthesis. These include three strains from the phylum Chlorophyta: Monoraphidium sp. LB2PC 0120, Stichococcus sp. LB2PC 0117, and Tetraselmis sp. LB2PC 0320, and one strain from the phylum Haptophyta: Isochrysis sp. LB2PC 0220. The experiments were conducted under typical laboratory-scale setups. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis based on the 18-28S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was performed to validate the taxonomic identity of the strains. Each strain was exposed to four different cultivation conditions based on two levels of illumination intensity [25-(LI) and 50-(HI) µmol m- 2 s- 1] and nitrogen loading [100-(LΝ) and 300-(HΝ) mg NaNO3 L- 1] in a full factorial design. All the microalgae achieved maximum biomass production under HI-HN conditions, which amounted to 1495, 919, 844, and 708mg/L for Monoraphidium sp. LB2PC 0120, Stichococcus sp. LB2PC 0117, Tetraselmis sp. LB2PC 0320 and Isochrysis sp. LB2PC 0220, respectively, after 16 days of cultivation. Among them, Stichococcus sp. LB2PC 0117 had the highest protein content (49.9% wt.) under LI-HN conditions and Monoraphidium sp. LB2PC 0120 had the highest lipid content (44.3% wt.) under HI-LN conditions. Both Monoraphidium sp. LB2PC 0120 and Tetraselmis sp. LB2PC 0320 accumulated the highest carbohydrate content (~ 37% wt.) under LI-LN and HI-LN conditions, respectively. Based on biomass and macromolecule production, Monoraphidium sp. LB2PC 0120 was identified as the most promising candidate for upscaling studies, expecting its highly manipulatable compositional profile to support multiple applications in the food industry, rendering this microalga a valuable resource.

Feasible cultivation of Verrucodesmus verrucosus on sterile raw wastewater for energy purposes: a case study in Mexico.

In this study, wastewater from a sewage treatment plant was used to culture the microalga, Verrucodesmus verrucosus. The ability of microalgae to adapt to adverse environments and produce high lipid concentrations was evaluated using different media, including sterile and non-sterile media and a control medium. The analysis showed that the control medium (distilled water sample enriched with fertilizer) removed 80.35% ammonium, 32.71% phosphate, and 83.86% nitrate. The sterile raw effluent removed 78.91% of ammonium, 83.44% of phosphate, and 98.82% of nitrate. The optimal conditions for biomass production were sterile raw wastewater, which produced 383.3mg L-1 of biomass, 2.5% of total lipids, and an average lipid production of 9.31mg L-1. Microalgae can grow and consume inorganic nutrients under adverse environmental conditions such as in raw wastewater, which is of great importance because it is a pollutant that negatively affects the environment and society. However, wastewater may represent a viable alternative substrate, allowing the generation of high-value products, such as lipids. Furthermore, the specificity of microalgal morphotypes must be evaluated, because each has specific metabolic plasticity. Verrucodesmus verrucosus is a microalga that has not been evaluated in bioremediation processes of wastewater with and without the presence of biotic factors. Therefore, the present study provides a viable alternative for this biological process, with the potential to store metabolites of interest in the industry.

Sustainable Microalgal Biomass for Efficient and Scalable Green Energy Solutions: Fueling Tomorrow

The urgent need to address environmental issues associated with the use of conventional fossil fuels has driven the rapid evolution of the global energy landscape. This review explores the background and significance of 3-G biofuel production, emphasizing the shift towards sustainable alternatives amidst escalating greenhouse gas emissions. While various renewable energy sources have gained prominence, biofuels have emerged as a promising solution for the transportation and industrial sectors, particularly from microalgal biomass. The rationale for focusing on microalgal biomass is based on its technical and environmental advantages. Unlike traditional feedstocks, microalgae boast a high lipid content, enhancing biofuel production efficiency. Their rapid growth rates and efficient carbon dioxide sequestration make microalgae frontrunners in scalable and sustainable biofuel production. This review aims to comprehensively analyze recent breakthroughs in 3-G biofuel production from microalgal biomass, filling gaps in the existing literature. The topics covered included species diversity, cultivation techniques, harvesting, pretreatment, lipid extraction methods, and biofuel production pathways. Genetic engineering, downstream processing, energy-efficient practices, and emerging trends, such as artificial intelligence and cross-disciplinary collaboration, will be explored. This study aims to consolidate recent research findings, identify challenges and opportunities, and guide future directions in microalgal biomass-based biofuel production. By synthesizing unpublished research, this review seeks to advance our knowledge and provide insights for researchers to foster sustainable and efficient 3-G biofuel production.