Algae-Derived Bioactives: Key Molecular Interactions Govern High-Value Applications
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 27
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biotechnology; advanced nutrition science; research translation and commercialisation; bioeconomy and circular economy; sustainability sciences; AgTech
Interests: algal production; health and nutrition; biorefining of bioactive compounds; circular economy; environmental sustainability; soil and plant health product development
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The loss of arable land and effects of climate change challenge the sustainable agricultural production of agri-food for the rapidly growing human population. Balanced nutrition, however, plays a large role in the management of health and diseases. Based on the extent of global malnutrition provided by the World Health Organisation and the impact of climate change on agricultural production, traditional food production through agriculture and aquaculture alone is unlikely to be able to alleviate the increase in the global disease burden brought on or escalated by malnutrition. Algae, that is macro- and micro-algae, including cyanobacteria, are rich sources of essential nutrients, such as lipids, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, complex polysaccharides, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, yet global commercial algal production is still an emerging industry. This Special Issue aims to provide a fruitful synthesis of information on the key components of algal biomass, their molecular mode of action, the amounts required to alleviate nutritional shortcomings, and their market potential. This synthesis of information is targeted to be used by commercial producers and international research groups to harness the investment required for increasing global production volumes of algal species to supply the market with high-value bioactive products.
Malnutrition and inflammation are recognised as significantly contributing to the non-communicable chronic disease burden globally, affecting more than 2.5 billion people. Lifestyle choices and inadequate diets are recognised drivers for global declines in cardiovascular health, and inadequately formulated diets exacerbate proneness to muscle and weight loss, escalate the progression of physical and mental dysfunction, and negatively affect the quality of life and clinical outcomes of older people. Considering the growing human population, climate change, and loss of arable land, a key question is how can diets be fortified economically and sustainably with essential nutrients to kerb the impact malnutrition has on the global disease burden?
Many algae species are rich in nutrients such as lipids and omega-3 fatty acids, protein, beneficial complex polysaccharides, and other health-promoting bioactives, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants and have been used in Asian diets for thousands of years. The health benefits of many algal bioactive molecules have also been recognised. Despite this, the general inclusion of algae or algae-derived molecules is currently not realised due to knowledge gaps concerning dietary guidelines, the underpinning molecular mechanisms of algal bioactive compounds in health and disease management, and the comparatively low volumes produced commercially. Specifically, this Special Issue aims to elucidate the molecular interactions that govern the efficacy of vast and diverse algae-derived bioactive molecules in the management of health and disease. Thus, this Special Issue aims to provide a molecular foundation for the health benefit claims of key components of algal biomass through the elucidation of their molecular interactions. This information will in turn be used to analyse market potential. This comprehensive algal species-integrated information will aid the global expansion of algal production through the manufacturing of high-value products and applications.
Dr. Evan Stephens
Dr. Kirsten Heimann
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- microalgae
- macroalgae
- cyanobacteria
- bioactive compounds
- health and nutrition
- algal food products
- market analysis
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