Bioprospection of marine actinomycetes: recent advances,challenges and future perspectives

In exploring new sources for economically important products, marine environment draws particular attention because of its remarkable diversity and extreme conditions;it is known to produce metabolic products of great value. It represents untapped source for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites with varying potential such as antibiotic, anti-tumor, antifouling and cytotoxic properties. Marine actinomycetes distributed throughout the marine environment from shallow to deep sea sediments have proved to be a finest source for this discovery. Secondary metabolites derived from marine actinomycetes have proved their worth in industries based on the research on their properties and wide range applications. Spotlight of the review is range of marine based actinomycetes products and significant research in this field. This shows the capability of marine actinomycetes as bioactive metabolite producers. Additionally, the present review addresses some effective and novel approaches of procuring marine microbial compounds utilizing the latest screening strategies of drug discovery from which traditional resources such as marine actinobacteria has decreased due to declining yields. The aim is in the context of promoting fruitful and profitable results in the near future. The recent surfacing of new technologies for bioprospection of marine actinomycetes are very promising, resulting in high quality value added products, and will be de?ning a new era for bioactive compounds with medical and biotechnological applications.

Bioprospecting optimal phenology for bioactive molecules in native golden yellow Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer

Objective: To bioprospect optimal phenological phases as source of novel molecules from native golden yellow Pleurotus citrinopileatus across four phenologies in both aqueous and ethanol extracts, and identify novel molecules responsible for these activities.Methods: Standard qualitative assay, Folin–Ciocalteu assay; aluminium chloride spectrophotometric, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2, 20-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-suslfonic acid, ferricyanide reducing antioxidant power were used to determine total flavonoid, polyphenols, radical scavenging, and reducing power. Spectrophotometric methods were used for lycopene, b-carotene, and total carotenoids, while liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry was used for identification and comparative quantitation of polyphenols and flavonoids across the four phenological states. Chem Spider? database was used for the identification of compounds based on their empirical formula, accurate mass and literature review of previously reported compounds in mushroom.Results: Primordial phases exhibited higher contents of secondary metabolites than mature basidiocarps. Polyphenols content differed across physiological phases with primordials exhibiting significant high contents(P < 0.05) [(13.803 ± 0.797) mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight]. Distribution of total flavonoids was significantly different(P < 0.05) across physiological states and ranged from(3.311 ± 0.730) to(14.824 ± 0.890) mg quercetin equivalent g dry weight. Ten polyphenol acids and seven flavonoids compounds identified varied across these phases with primordials exhibiting relatively high peak areas. Total antioxidant activities showed a positive correlation with total polyphenols(r = 0.969;P < 0.05) and total flavonoids(r = 0.960; P < 0.05) across these phenologies.Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that primordials of golden yellow mushroom as opposed to their fruiting bodies are potent sources of bioactive health molecules.

Identification of Antarctic culturable bacteria able to produce diverse enzymes of potential biotechnological interest

It is estimated that more than three quarters of the Earth＇s biosphere is in perennially cold environments. Despite the extreme environmental conditions of desiccation and freezing, microbes can colonize these habitats through the adaptation of metabolic functions and the synthesis of structurally adapted enzymes. Enzymes within psychrophilic microbes exhibit high specific activity at low and moderate temperature, with low thermostability. In this study we used a classic microbiological approach to isolate Antarctic bacteria with cellulolytic, lipolytic, and ligninolytic activities. From 15 different environmental samples, we generated a collection of approximately 800 bacterial isolates that could grow on R2A or Marine medium at 4℃. This collection was then screened for the presence of the three types of activity at 4℃. We found that 47.7% of the isolates displayed lipolytic activity, 10.2% had cellulase/xylanase activity, and 7.7% showed guaiacol oxidase activity. Of these, 10% displayed two different types of activity, while 0.25% displayed all three types of activity. Our results indicate that cold environments represent outstanding resources for bioprospecting and the study of enzymatic adaptation.

Isolation of Filamentous Fungi from the Caatinga Region and Production of Amylolytic Enzymes of Great Industrial Interest

The industrial importance and the high cost of the commercial amylase require the study of microorganisms that produce these enzymes. For this reason, the objective of this work was to isolate filamentous fungi from a region of the caatinga and evaluate their potential for the production of amylase. Four soil samples were collected from a deactivated dump located in the city of Diamantina, MG, in a region of the caatinga. The analysis of amylolytic production in a submerged medium at the ideal temperature of each microorganism was performed using the saccharification method, and the reducing sugars formed were quantified by DNS. Fourteen filamentous fungi were isolated, which had different morphological aspects. Regarding amylase production, a mean activity of 0.477 U·mL-1 was obtained with the isolates I 1.2.1 and I 4.4.1. These results bring important information regarding the biodiversity of the caatinga, in addition to the isolation of microorganisms that can be used as biological machinery to obtain metabolites with high biotechnological and industrial potential.

Nanobiodiversity and Biomimetic Adhesives Development: From Nature to Production and Application

Advances in science and technology, especially in bioprospecting and biomimetics, have provided solutions to everyday problems over time. Through bioengineering, research and the discovery of the mechanisms present in nature for the production and functionality of adhesives, different materials and substances capable of imitating the role of their analogs in nature have been developed, which generates positive consequences in the area of the medical, textile, wood industry, among others. In this review, we present some researches and discoveries that have been made, which focus on the way in which adhesives produced by organisms found in nature are made, such as: marine organisms, plants, land organisms, insects, among others. In addition, different types of adhesives that exist and how they can be produced synthetically to be oriented to several industrial applications are mentioned, too.

Analysis of the Lipolytic Potential of Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Some Plants and Soil Samples in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Microorganisms have the ability to produce several metabolites, which are widely used in biotechnological processes, including the biological catalysts called enzymes. Among these enzymes, lipases are favored because they perform various catalytic reactions such as hydrolysis, esterification, interesterification and transesterification. This work sought to isolate filamentous fungi from samples collected in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, analyze their macroscopic morphological characteristics, determine the effect of temperature on their growth, and verify which organisms are potential lipase producers. From four collection sites, nine fungi were isolated from the leaves and soil of the jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora) tree and three fungi from the Andu bean leaves (Cajanus cajan). The macroscopic morphological characteristics of the microorganisms were analyzed. For thermophilic analysis, the twelve isolated fungi and eight obtained from the laboratory bank were cultivated in a solid Potato-Dextrose-Agar medium from 30°C to 50°C, with intervals of 5°C. The growth rate per hour after 48 hours of development was calculated. For the selection of filamentous lipase-producing fungi, the 20 fungi were cultivated in solid BDA medium at 30°C for 96 hours, and the enzyme index was calculated. It was found that, of the 20 microorganisms, 95% developed at 30°C, and the highest growth rates were those of fungi 3.2TA, PJ8 and PJ7. At 35°C, 70% of the fungi developed, and the highest growth rates were those of fungi 3.2TA, MB2.2 and P3. At 40°C, 40% of the fungi developed, and the highest growth rates were those of fungi 3.2TA, PJ6 and PJ8. At 45°C, only the PJ6 and PJ12 fungi grew, and no organism grew at 50°C. In the screening for lipase production, the largest growth halo was observed for the 3.2TA fungus from the bank.

Bioprospecting of Hydrocarbonoclastic Representative Bacteria

This study was designed and carried out to characterize hydrocarbonoclastic microbial communities in soil polluted with artisanal refined hydrocarbon at Trans Amadi, Phalga Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Heterotrophic bacteria count ranged from 8.0 × 105 cfu/gm for sample TSAS1, and 2.1 × 106 cfu/gm for sample TSAS2 while TSAS3 was too numerous to count (TNTC). Hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria count ranged from 1.1 × 105 cfu/gm for TSAS1, and 5.9 × 104 cfu/gm for TSAS2, while TSAS3 was 5.4 × 104 cfu/gm. Physiochemical parameters of the soil were determined. The ranges obtained were pH 6.6, conductivity 125 μs/cm, temperature 27.3°C, moisture 7.72, total nitrogen 0.056%, phosphate 1.554 ppm, potassium 145.87 ppm, lead 7.02 ppm, cadmium 0.41 ppm, nickel 1.96 ppm, copper 1.14 ppm, total petroleum hydrocarbon 1487.24181 ppm, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 12.85287 ppm. Isolates of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria characterized belonged to the genera Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Lactobacillus sp., Enterobacter sp., Serratia sp., and Proteus sp. The findings in this study have revealed the abilities of these groups of bacteria to be employed in bioremediation/biodegradation clean-up practices. Thus the polluted soil may harbour important genera of bacterial species that may have beneficial applications in environmental microbiology for future remediation processes.

Bio-Piracy on the High Seas? Benefit Sharing from Marine Genetic Resource Exploitation in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction

Transnational benefit sharing from the exploitation of Marine Genetic Resources’ (MGR’s) in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) presents a unique problem in international law. Proposals to govern MGR’s in ABNJ include leaving them unregulated, governance under the International Seabed Authority (ISA) or the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) or implementing a new international regime. This paper demonstrates that a hybrid solution for MGR governance?under the ISA which is modeled on the CBD and The Nagoya Protocol (Nagoya), provides the most adroit solution to the problem of equal benefit and access to MGR’s for all States. This solution ensures adequate conservation of MGR’s, meanwhile fostering sustainable exploitation and maintaining equality in access, biodiversity and the sharing of financial and technological benefits amongst the internationalcommunity. Further, examining benefit sharing from bioprospecting under the CBD and Nagoya provides a foundation for a benefit-sharing regime in ABNJ under The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Examining the CBD, Nagoya and UNCLOS demonstrates how benefits arising from exploitation of MGR’s in the high seas and deep bed should be included as a mandate of the ISA. This methodology is accomplished by focusing on bioprospecting for MGR’s and how the CBD and Nagoya facilitate access to the resource while ensuring that the host State or community benefits from granting access. As the CBD and Nagoya focus on benefit sharing in light of national sovereignty, and UNCLOS regulates in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the ISA is perfectly placed to adopt the principles of the CBD and Nagoya and provide a mechanism to ensure that MGR’s in ABNJ are adequately conserved and the benefits arising from their exploitation equitably shared.

Fungal endophytes:an untapped source of biocatalysts

Horizontally transmitted endophytes are an ecological group of fungi that infect living plant tissues and survive in them without causing any disease symptoms.Even as facets of the endophyte-plant symbiotic relationship are being uncovered,there is an increasing appreciation of the different growth substrates exploited by endophytes and the vast repertoire of secreted enzymes of these fungi.These attributes exemplify the striking biodiversity of fungal endophytes and should motivate bioprospecting these organisms to identify novel biocatalysts that might help address challenges in medicine,food security,energy production and environmental quality.