Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Microorganisms and Their Use in Biotechnological Production, 2nd Edition

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 3293

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dirk Tischler

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
Interests: microbial biotechnology; oxidoreductases; functional genomics; secondary metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Giovanni Barone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
Interests: environmentally sustainable biotechnology; bioremediation; microbial chemistry; photosynthetic microorganisms; methylotrophic yeasts; heterotrophic bacteria
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in biotechnological processes, shaping industries across diverse domains. From pharmaceuticals to environmental remediation, their versatility is unmatched.

Microorganisms have been used in different applications for thousands of years, especially in foods such as bread or in beer production. In recent decades, their uses have increased in chemical and biofuel production. Especially in the case of phototrophic microorganisms, their capability to capture CO₂ and utilize light has been exploited to produce different compounds. Furthermore, the applications of yeasts and bacteria in waste treatment, bioremediation of environmental pollutants, or as ameliorants against biotic and abiotic stressors have also increased. However, we still require knowledge regarding their mechanisms of action during their applications and regarding the potential use of new microorganisms.

This Special Issue aims to explore the intricate interplay between microorganisms and biotechnological production. We invite contributions that delve into microbial physiology, metabolic engineering, fermentation, and novel applications, among others.

By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, we aspire to unravel new frontiers in biotechnology.

We look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Dirk Tischler
Dr. Giovanni Barone
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

environmentally sustainable biotechnology
industrial and agro-environmental biotechnologies
microbial metabolites and bioprocessing
yeasts, bacteria, and microalgae
genetic and metabolic engineering

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 689 KB

Open AccessArticle

Immobilized Dehydrogenases for the Biosynthesis of Phenylacetic Acids

by Selvapravin Kumaran, Juliane Zimmerling, Matthias Voitel, Michel Oelschlägel, Katarzyna Szymańska, Michael Schlömann and Dirk Tischler

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 4008; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16084008 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 273

Abstract

Two phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenases, originating from Escherichia coli K-12 (FeaB-K-12) and Sphingopyxis fribergensis Kp5.2 (FeaB-Kp5.2), were immobilized on powdery silica carrier with various functionalization. First, the suitability of these carriers for application in combination with phenylacetaldehydes and phenylacetic acids was studied. Out of two carriers functionalized differently, mesoporous cellular foam, whose surface was modified with 3-glycidyloxypropyl groups (MCF-G), showed promising results. Hence, this carrier was further tested at 17 different immobilization conditions. Despite both enzymes showing high immobilization efficiency, the initial activities were relatively low compared to the free enzymes. Interestingly, the immobilized FeaB-Kp5.2 on MCF-G-Kw showed about 80% of retained activity after two months of incubation at 0 °C, indicating that the immobilization enhances the stability of this enzyme. In contrast, no changes in the temperature stability of FeaB-Kp5.2 due to immobilization could be noted. However, relative enzyme activities towards all three substituted phenylacetaldehydes could be increased by the immobilization to approximately 130%. The most active and stable powdery immobilizate was MCF-G-Kw-FeaB-Kp5.2 at pH 8. In addition, FeaB-Kp5.2 was also immobilized and tested on monolith silica carrier for continuous catalysis to produce phenylacetic acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Their Use in Biotechnological Production, 2nd Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1609 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biotechnological Potential of Metschnikowia pulcherrima Yeasts for Biomass Production in Agricultural Biocontrol

by Zofia Perek, Tomasz Boruta, Anna Ścigaczewska, Marcin Bizukojć and Beata Gutarowska

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(24), 13236; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413236 - 17 Dec 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 757

Abstract

This study aimed to select Metschnikowia pulcherrima strains with antimicrobial potential and high biomass content, optimize their cultivation conditions, evaluate growth characteristics at different scales, and assess antimicrobial activity on apple plants (Malus domestica cv. Golden Delicious) infected with phytopathogens. Of the nine tested strains, M. pulcherrima D2 was selected for its strong inhibitory activity against all tested phytopathogenic molds: Venturia inaequalis, Botrytis cinerea, Phoma exigua, Colletotrichum coccodes, Monilia laxa, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium sambucinum, and Fusarium oxysporum, both in vitro on laboratory media (inhibition zones from 13.5 to 35.0 mm) and in vivo on stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of apple. Morphological observations of treated plants showed the complete absence or significant delays of disease symptoms for up to 10 days. Disease symptoms for several pathogens (V. inaequalis, A. alternata, A. tenuissima, B. cinerea, F. sambucinum) remained reduced by ≥50% for up to 31 days post-treatment compared to the untreated control. Optimal cultivation conditions for M. pulcherrima D2 were established: a complex medium containing yeast extract (5.0 g/L), soy peptone (5.0 g/L), and glucose (2.6 g/L), at pH 5 and 25 °C, with shaking at 180 rpm, resulted in high biomass contents (10⁷–10⁸ CFU/mL). Scale-up in 5 L bioreactors confirmed efficient biomass production (10⁸ CFU/mL and from 3.1 to 3.9 g/L of dry biomass). These findings highlight the strong biotechnological potential of M. pulcherrima D2 for the development of a biocontrol agent to protect apple fruits and trees against fungal phytopathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Their Use in Biotechnological Production, 2nd Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2421 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Determinants of Storage Stability in Spore-Based Bacterial Biopreparations for Agricultural Use

by Patrycja Rowińska, Beata Gutarowska, Marta Wasilewska, Szymon Powałowski and Justyna Szulc

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11856; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211856 - 7 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1889

Abstract

The stability of spore-forming soil bacteria is crucial for their effective use in agricultural biopreparations. This study evaluated the long-term survivability of selected strains (Paenibacillus amylolyticus, Priestia megaterium, Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) with potential applications in biopreparations for crop residue decomposition. The effects of different storage and preservation conditions on vegetative cells and bacterial spores were studied over 12 months. Bacteria were stored at different temperatures (15 °C, 21 °C, 30 °C), pH levels (5, 9, and post-cultivation liquid pH), and osmotic pressures (2%, 5%, and 10% of carbamide, calcium chloride, and multicomponent fertilizer). Additionally, freeze-drying, spray-drying and freezing were performed using cryoprotectants (skimmed milk, trehalose, and glycerol). The results showed that bacterial stability depended on both the strain and storage conditions. Vegetative cells of P. amylolyticus and B. velezensis were most sensitive to temperatures of 30 °C, whereas the spores of most strains demonstrated high temperature resistance. The tested strains exhibited better survivability at pH 5 than pH 9. The addition of calcium chloride, carbamide, or multicomponent fertilizer proved beneficial for maintaining viability, especially increasing spore numbers. Trehalose and skimmed milk were the most effective cryoprotectants overall, though efficacy varied by strain and cell form. These findings provide insight into the optimal conditions for preserving the bacterial viability of spore-producing bacteria in bioformulations, which is crucial for maintaining their effectiveness in agricultural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Their Use in Biotechnological Production, 2nd Edition)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Microorganisms and Their Use in Biotechnological Production, 2nd Edition

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI