Project description:Microalgal lipid, a feasible substrate for biofuel, is typically accumulated during the stationary growth phase. Generating strains which trigger lipogenesis from the exponential growth phase will enhance lipid productivity, reduce cost of biofuel production. We characterized a lipid-rich microalgal mutant, Dunaliella tertiolecta, which exhibited a six-fold enhancement of neutral lipids production in the exponential growth phase with marginal compromise on growth (4%). Using transcriptomics and metabolomics, regulatory mechanisms of the mutant were uncovered.
Project description:The primary objective of this prospective observational study is to characterize the gut and oral microbiome as well as the whole blood transcriptome in gastrointestinal cancer patients and correlate these findings with cancer type, treatment efficacy and toxicity. Participants will be recruited from existing clinical sites only, no additional clinical sites are needed.
Project description:Self-flocculation driven by gravity has shown as promising microalgal harvesting technology due to no requirement for additives and energies. However, the inherent unclear mechanism impedes its efficiency enhancement and commercial application. Current researches most only focus on the protein and carbohydrate content in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), while further in-depth investigation is required on the detailed information of EPS components and their roles in self-flocculation.
Project description:Microalgal biomass is a promising feedstock for biofuels, feed/food and biomaterials. However, while production and commercialization of single-product commodities is still not economically viable, obtaining multiple products in a biomass biorefinery faces several techno- economic challenges. The aim of this study was to identify a suitable source of hydrolytic enzymes for algal biomass saccharification. Screening of twenty-six fungal isolates for secreted enzymes activity on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii biomass resulted in the identification of Aspergillus niger IB-34 as a candidate strain. Solid state fermentation on wheat bran produced the most active enzyme preparations. From sixty-five proteins identified by LC-MS, the majority corresponded to predicted secreted proteins belonging to the Gene Ontology categories of catalytic activity/hydrolase activity on glycosyl and O-glycosyl compounds. Defatted biomass of the more biotechnologically relevant strains towards the production of commodities, Chlorella sorokiniana and Scenedesmus obliquus, was fully saccharified after a mild pretreatment at 80 °C for 10 min, at a high biomass load of 10 % (w/v). Deffated and 2 saccharified biomass of both strains was further converted into ethanol by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a theoretical maximum efficiency, either by separated or simultaneous sccharification and fermentation. The resulting insoluble protein after biomass defatting with an organic solvent and enzymatic saccharification resulted in a high digestibility in an in vitro digestion assay. Proof-of-concept is presented for an enzyme-assisted biomass biorefinery which recovered 81% of the main biomass fractions in a likely active form for the conversion of lipids and carbohydrates into biofuels and proteins into feed/food.
