Microbes, Society and Sustainable Solutions

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 529

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Alfred-Wegner-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
Interests: chemical and molecular ecology of protists; genetics of toxin biosynthesis; toxinology and ecotoxicology of harmful microalgae; harmful algal blooms and marine food webs; marine phycotoxin dynamics and diversity; marine microbial biotechnology
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SECIHTI—Marine Biotechnology Department, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Interests: marine biotechnology; microbiology; chemical ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will explore the intricate relationships between microbial life, particularly freshwater and marine microalgae and cyanobacteria, as well as their profound implications for human societies and sustainable development. Such research includes limnology and oceanography, with a particular focus on the dynamics of these microorganisms. A deeper understanding of their ecological roles, interactions, and potential applications is critical for addressing contemporary challenges and advancing sustainable solutions.

Microalgae, including cyanobacteria, play a pivotal role in aquatic ecosystems and have far-reaching impacts on human affairs. This Special Issue will compile scientific contributions that examine the multifaceted roles of microalgae from diverse perspectives.

Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The ecological and socio-economic implications of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) for seafood production and fishing communities;
  • The development of innovative solutions and early warning systems to mitigate the impacts of HABs on fisheries and aquatic ecosystems;
  • The exploration of microalgal metabolites with pharmacological potential and their applications in human health;
  • Investigations into the toxins produced by microalgae and their dual potential as both threats to and resources for human health.

We welcome a variety of article types, each offering unique insights and advancing knowledge in the field. These include the following:

  • Original Research Articles: Comprehensive studies presenting innovative findings, emphasizing methodological rigor and the development of new protocols;
  • Short Research Reports: Brief contributions highlighting significant preliminary results or creative methodologies;
  • Comprehensive Reviews: Thorough analyses that provide a wide-ranging perspective on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the study of microalgae and their societal impacts.

We particularly encourage submissions of original research articles that provide thorough methodological descriptions and advance the development of protocols relevant to the study of microalgae.

This Special Issue will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, bringing together researchers from diverse fields to address the complex interplay between microbial life, societal needs, and sustainable solutions. We invite scientists to contribute their expertise and insights to this critical and timely discussion.

Prof. Dr. Allan Cembella
Dr. Lorena M. Durán-Riveroll
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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
  • cyanobacteria
  • harmful algal blooms (HABs)
  • sustainable solutions
  • aquatic ecosystems
  • human health
  • fisheries
  • pharmacological metabolites
  • early warning systems

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 2565 KiB  
Article
Effects of Intracellular Polysaccharides and Proteins of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa on Water Quality, Floc Formation, and Microbial Composition in a Biofloc System
by Mengsha Lou, Yuhan Zhang, Manman Zhang, Hangxian Zhou, Yixiang Zhang, Qiang Sheng, Jianhua Zhao, Qiyou Xu and Rongfei Zhang
Microorganisms 2025, 13(7), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071704 - 21 Jul 2025
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Abstract
The use of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa (formerly Chlorella pyrenoidosa) and its intracellular substances (ISs) to promote biofloc development has been extensively studied. To identify the key components of the ISs of A. pyrenoidosa that drive biofloc formation, algal-extracted polysaccharides (AEPSs) and algal-extracted proteins [...] Read more.
The use of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa (formerly Chlorella pyrenoidosa) and its intracellular substances (ISs) to promote biofloc development has been extensively studied. To identify the key components of the ISs of A. pyrenoidosa that drive biofloc formation, algal-extracted polysaccharides (AEPSs) and algal-extracted proteins (AEPTs) were isolated from the ISs. In this study, we established four groups: ISs, AEPSs, AEPTs, and tap water (TW, control), to investigate the effects of AEPSs and AEPTs on biofloc formation dynamics, water quality parameters, and microbial community composition. The results indicated no significant differences were observed between the ISs and AEPSs groups during the cultivation period. AEPSs significantly enhanced flocculation efficiency, achieving a final floc volume of 60 mL/L. This enhancement was attributed to the selective promotion of floc-forming microbial taxa, such as Comamonas, which can secrete procoagulants like EPS, and Pseudomonas and Enterobacter, which have denitrification capabilities. Water quality monitoring revealed that both AEPSs and AEPTs achieved nitrogen removal efficiencies exceeding 50% in the biofloc system, with AEPSs outperforming AEPTs. This is closely related to the fact that the microorganisms with increased flocculation contain numerous nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. So, the intracellular polysaccharides were the key component of the ISs of A. pyrenoidosa that drive biofloc formation. These findings provide critical insights into the functional roles of algal-derived macromolecules in biofloc dynamics and their potential applications in wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbes, Society and Sustainable Solutions)
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