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Life
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Microalgae and Their Biotechnological Potential
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Microalgae and Their Biotechnological Potential

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 4506

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fantao Kong

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Guest Editor
MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: microalgae; lipids metabolism; synthetic biology; metabolic engineering; genome editing; transgene overexpression; RNAi silencing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yi Xin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou, China
Interests: microalgae; lipid metabolism; synthetic biology; metabolic engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yuanxue Liang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
Interests: microalgae; plant lipids metabolism; synthetic biology; metabolic engineering; genome editing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent developments in the field of microalgae and its use as a sustainable source for biofuels and bioproducts. As global energy demands rise and the need for renewable resources intensifies, microalgae have emerged as a promising alternative due to their high growth rates, ability to thrive in various environments (including wastewater), and potential to yield significant quantities of biomass without competing with food crops.

The scope for this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  1. Genetic Engineering and Omics Technologies

   Advances in genetic editing and omics technologies have significantly benefited the genetic engineering and biotechnology of microalgae. The application of these technologies enables the better strain selection and optimization of cultivation conditions, enhancing overall yield and efficiency.

  1. Innovative Cultivation Techniques

The use of photobioreactors (PBRs) has become a mainstream method for cultivating microalgae, enabling the development of controlled environments that maximize growth and lipid production while minimizing the risk of contamination. This method is particularly beneficial for scaling up production to meet industrial demands.

  1. Microalgae-based bioresource treatment and utilization technologies

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment and utilization are innovative approaches that utilize the natural abilities of microalgae to remove pollutants from wastewater while simultaneously producing biomass that can be converted into biofuels or other valuable products.  The studies in this Special Issue aim to develop sustainable and efficient methods for treating wastewater while addressing the environmental challenges related to pollution and resource recovery. We particularly welcome submissions that address this area of study.

Dr. Fantao Kong
Prof. Dr. Yi Xin
Prof. Dr. Yuanxue Liang
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. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • microalgae
  • biofuels
  • bioproducts
  • lipid metabolism
  • synthetic biology
  • system engineering

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1256 KB  
Article
Differential Induction of Astaxanthin, Lutein, and Canthaxanthin with Altered Fatty Acid Profiles in Chromochloris zofingiensis via a Two-Stage Cultivation Approach Using Different Chemical Modulators
by Suthamat Niyompanich, Pokchut Kusolkumbot, Watcharee Kunyalung, Atthaboon Watthammawut and Sorawit Powtongsook
Life 2026, 16(5), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16050799 - 11 May 2026
Viewed by 212
Abstract
Chromochloris zofingiensis is a promising source of high-value bioproducts, particularly carotenoids and fatty acids. In this study, three selected chemical agents, including methylene blue (MB), salicylic acid (SA), and zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZN), representing their roles as an oxidant, a signal transducer, and [...] Read more.
Chromochloris zofingiensis is a promising source of high-value bioproducts, particularly carotenoids and fatty acids. In this study, three selected chemical agents, including methylene blue (MB), salicylic acid (SA), and zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZN), representing their roles as an oxidant, a signal transducer, and a metal ion, respectively, were applied at 96 h post-inoculation to stimulate metabolite accumulation via a two-stage cultivation approach. None of the treatments significantly affected algal growth. Among the treatments, HPLC analysis showed that 2.5 mM ZN significantly exhibited a dual stimulatory effect on astaxanthin (1.679 ± 0.122 mg g−1) and lutein (4.257 ± 0.183 mg g−1) accumulation, which were 2.28- and 2.91-fold higher than the control, respectively. The 1 µM MB significantly enhanced the canthaxanthin content to 2.382 ± 0.210 mg g−1 (a 3.57-fold increase). Different SA concentrations selectively induced the target pigments of astaxanthin and lutein. APCI-QTOF analysis enabled the detection of echinenone in the microalgal extracts. Its identity and quantification were subsequently validated by HPLC, with the highest content detected under the 0.2 mM SA treatment. GC-FID analysis revealed changes in the composition of six major fatty acids, with C18:1 n-9 representing 50.01% of the total fatty acids under the 2.5 mM ZN treatment. These findings suggest that the two-stage approach could offer a practical and feasible strategy for microalgal biorefineries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgae and Their Biotechnological Potential)
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14 pages, 1762 KB  
Article
Putrescine Mitigates the Biomass–β-Carotene Conflict in Dunaliella salina Under Thermal Stress
by Jianxin Tang, Fantao Kong and Zhanyou Chi
Life 2025, 15(12), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15121807 - 25 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 582
Abstract
Heat-induced β-carotene synthesis in Dunaliella salina typically compromises biomass accumulation, resulting in a biomass–β-carotene trade-off. This study demonstrates that exogenous putrescine (Put) alleviates this conflict through temperature-dependent mechanisms. At 28 °C (optimal for growth), 10−6 M Put increased biomass by 9.52% and [...] Read more.
Heat-induced β-carotene synthesis in Dunaliella salina typically compromises biomass accumulation, resulting in a biomass–β-carotene trade-off. This study demonstrates that exogenous putrescine (Put) alleviates this conflict through temperature-dependent mechanisms. At 28 °C (optimal for growth), 10−6 M Put increased biomass by 9.52% and β-carotene yield by 10.72%, probably by accelerating electron transport and relatively mitigating the loss of photosynthetic function. At 34 °C (optimal for β-carotene synthesis), 10−7 M Put enhanced biomass by 9.68% and β-carotene yield by 35.71% through a process associated with nitric oxide (NO) accumulation, involving antioxidant synergy and controlled reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, which activated photoprotective carotenogenesis. At 40 °C (extreme thermal stress), 10−7 M Put maintained β-carotene levels 44.99% above the control despite a 2.50% biomass reduction, reflecting a shift toward photoprotection via elevated non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and sustained electron transport beyond photosystem II (δRO). Put’s hierarchical modulation of redox homeostasis, photosystem plasticity, and NO signaling underpinned its temperature-dependent efficacy. Peak NO levels correlated with β-carotene yield, while thermodynamic enzyme denaturation at 40 °C limited protection. These findings establish a temperature–concentration framework for Put application that alleviates the biomass–β-carotene trade-off under climate variability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgae and Their Biotechnological Potential)
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16 pages, 3274 KB  
Article
Cometabolic Biodegradation of Hydrazine by Chlorella vulgaris–Bacillus Extremophilic Consortia: Synergistic Potential for Space and Industry
by Yael Kinel-Tahan, Reut Sorek-Abramovich, Rivka Alexander-Shani, Irit Shoval, Hagit Hauschner, Chen Corsia, Ariel Z. Kedar, Igor Derzy, Itsik Sapir, Yitzhak Mastai, Ashraf Al Ashhab and Yaron Yehoshua
Life 2025, 15(8), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081197 - 28 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2541
Abstract
Hydrazine, a highly toxic and reactive compound widely used as rocket fuel, poses significant environmental and health risks, particularly in long-term space missions. This study investigates the cometabolic capacity of Chlorella vulgaris and seven extremophilic Bacillus spp. strains—isolated from the arid Dead Sea [...] Read more.
Hydrazine, a highly toxic and reactive compound widely used as rocket fuel, poses significant environmental and health risks, particularly in long-term space missions. This study investigates the cometabolic capacity of Chlorella vulgaris and seven extremophilic Bacillus spp. strains—isolated from the arid Dead Sea region—to tolerate and degrade hydrazine at concentrations up to 25 ppm. The microalga C. vulgaris reduced hydrazine levels by 81% within 24 h at 20 ppm, while the Bacillus isolates achieved an average reduction of 45% over 120 h. Identified strains included B. licheniformis, B. cereus, and B. atrophaeus. Co-culture experiments demonstrated that C. vulgaris and B. cereus (isolate ISO-36) stably coexisted without antagonistic effects, suggesting a synergistic detoxification interaction. Flow cytometry revealed that most bacteria transitioned into spores under stress, highlighting a survival adaptation. Titanium, representing a biocompatible material common in aerospace hardware, did not inhibit microbial growth or hydrazine degradation. These findings underscore the potential of Dead Sea-derived microbial consortia for cometabolic hydrazine detoxification and support the feasibility of converting spacecraft components into functional photobioreactors. This approach offers dual-use benefits for space missions and industrial wastewater treatment. Future studies should investigate degradation pathways, stress resilience, and bioreactor scale-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgae and Their Biotechnological Potential)
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