Biomass productivity and characterization of Tetradesmus obliquus grown in a hybrid photobioreactor.

In this study, the effects of CO2 addition on the growth performance and biochemical composition of the green microalga Tetradesmus obliquus cultured in a hybrid algal production system (HAPS) were investigated. The HAPS combines the characteristics of tubular photobioreactors (towards a better carbon dioxide dissolution coefficient) with thin-layer cascade system (with a higher surface-to-volume ratio). Experimental batches were conducted with and without CO2 addition, and evaluated in terms of productivity and biomass characteristics (elemental composition, protein and lipid contents, pigments and fatty acids profiles). CO2 enrichment positively influenced productivity, and proteins, lipids, pigments and unsaturated fatty acids contents in biomass. The HAPS herein presented contributes to the optimization of microalgae cultures in open systems, since it allows, with a simple adaptation-a transit of the cultivation through a tubular portion where injection and dissolution of CO2 is efficient-to obtain in TLC systems, greater productivity and better-quality biomass.

Bacterial assemblages structure in intensive cultivations of the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus.

The present study shows the characterization of the bacterial communities associated with different systems during the cultivation of the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus. For that, sequential cultivation was performed in three different systems: (1) Photobioreactor bench-scale; (2) flat-panel photobioreactor; and (3) thin-layer cascade. Cultures were monitored daily for growth parameters and biomass samples were collected for characterization of bacterial communities using metagenomic. A total of 195,177 reads were produced, resulting in the identification of 72 OTUs. In the grouping of bacterial communities, 3 phyla, 6 classes, 28 families, and 35 taxa were found. The bacteria Brevundimonas and Porphyrobacter had a higher relative abundance compared with other taxa found. These taxa were present in all cultivation systems forming a possible core community. Bacterial communities associated with different cultivation systems of the microalga T. obliquus showed an increase in taxa richness and diversity in the super-intensive and intensive systems.

Anti-cancer Effects of Fucoxanthin on Human Glioblastoma Cell Line.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most malignant primary brain tumor. New treatment strategies against the disease are urgently needed, as therapies are not completely efficient. In this study, we evaluated the antitumorigenic activity of the carotenoid fucoxanthin (Fx) on human GBM cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GBM1 cell viability and proliferation was assessed by MTT reduction, Ki67 and single cell cloning assays. GBM1 migration and invasion were analyzed by wound healing and Transwell assays. Apoptosis and necrosis were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) by the selective fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester. Cell morphology was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Fx anti-angiogenic effect was assessed by the CAM ex ovo assay. RESULTS: Fx decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner (40-100 µ M) in GBM1, A172 and C6 cell lines and was not cytotoxic to murine astrocytes. In addition, Fx inhibited the proliferation and clonogenic potential, and decreased migration and invasion of GBM1 cells. Furthermore, Fx induced apoptosis, loss of ΔΨm and ultrastructural alterations in GBM1. Fx-treated GBM1 cells-conditioned medium reduced the quail yolk membrane vascularity. CONCLUSION: Fx induces cytotoxicity, anti-proliferative, anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic effects on GBM1 cells.

Carbon biofixation and lipid composition of an acidophilic microalga cultivated on treated wastewater supplied with different CO2 levels.

This study evaluated productivity, CO2 biofixation, and lipid content in biomass of the acidophilic microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila LAFIC-004 cultivated with five different carbon dioxide concentrations. The influence of carbon dioxide concentration on nutrient removal and pH was also investigated. Treated wastewater (secondary effluent) was used as culture medium. Five experimental setups were tested: T-0% - injection of atmospheric air (0.038% CO2), T-5% (5% CO2), T-10% (10% CO2), T-15% (15% CO2) and T-20% (20% CO2). The T-5% and T-10% experiments showed the highest values of productivity and CO2 biofixation, and maximum biomass dry weight was 0.48 ± 0.02 and 0.51 ± 0.03 g L-1, respectively. This acidophilic microalga proved to be suitable for carbon biofixation and removal of nutrients from secondary effluent of wastewater treatment plants with high CO2 concentration. All assays were performed without pH control. This microalga species presented high lipid content. However, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) are not suitable for biodiesel use.

Produção de biomassa e teores de carbono, hidrogênio, nitrogênio e proteína em microalgas / Production of biomass and carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and protein contents in microalgae

O aumento da emissão de CO2 e de outros gases efeito estufa tem gerado debates em nível mundial sobre alterações climáticas e estimulado o desenvolvimento de estratégias mitigadoras. Trabalhos nessa área incluem sequestro de CO2 por meio da produção de microalgas aquáticas. Por essa razão, desenvolveu-se um estudo visando determinar os teores de carbono, hidrogênio, nitrogênio e proteína e a produção de biomassa seca de nove espécies de microalgas marinhas (Nannochloropsis oculata, Thalassiosira pseudonana, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis suecica, Tetraselmis chuii Chaetoceros muelleri, Thalassiosira fluviatilis e Isochrysis sp.) e uma de água doce (Chlorella vulgaris), em cultivo autotrófico estacionário com objetivo de identificar as mais produtivas e com maior capacidade de fixação de carbono. O experimento foi desenvolvido em sala de cultivo, na Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, com iluminação contínua e radiação em torno de 150µmol m-2 s-1, temperatura de 25±2°C, suplementação de ar constante, sendo utilizados erlenmeyers com 800mL de meio de cultura. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados no tempo com três repetições. As espécies C. vulgaris e T. suecica são menos produtivas. Quando se visa à suplementação alimentar, as espécies C. vulgaris e T. Chuii são consideradas interessantes, uma vez que apresentam altos teores de C, N, H e proteína. As espécies N. Oculata, T. pseudonana e C. vulgaris apresentam altos teores de C, demonstrando alta capacidade de fixação de carbono.

The increase of CO2 emission and other gases greenhouse effect, caused global debates about climatic alterations and stimulated the development of mitigative strategies. Researches in this area includes CO2 kidnapping through the aquatic microalgae production. For this reason, a study was developed aiming to determine the production of dry biomass, carbon content, hydrogen, nitrogen and rate protein growth of nine marine microalgae species (Nannochloropsis oculata, Thalassiosira pseudonana, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis suecica, Tetraselmis chuii, Chaetoceros muelleri, Thalassiosira fluviatilis and Isochrysis sp.) and one freshwater species (Chlorella vulgaris) under stationary autotrophy conditions. Erlenmeyers flasks with 800mL medium culture were exposed to constant light intensity and air flow, photon flux density of about 150µmol m-2 s-1 and 25±2°C temperature were used in the experiment The delineating experiment was carried out in a randomized block over time with three replicates. The species C. vulgaris and T. suecica are less productive. When the aim is the alimentary supplementation, the species C. vulgaris and T. Chuii are considered interesting, since it presents high contents of C, N, H and protein. The species N. Oculata, T. pseudonana and C. vulgaris present high contents of C, demonstrating high capacity of carbon setting.

Microalgas, produtos e aplicações / Microalgae, products and applications

Nos últimos anos, muito interesse tem sido focado no potencial biotecnológico das microalgas, principalmente devido à identificação de diversas substâncias sintetizadas por estes organismos. A imensa biodiversidade e conseqüente variabilidade na composição bioquímica da biomassa obtida das culturas microalgais, aliadas ao emprego de melhoramento genético e ao estabelecimento de tecnologia de cultivo em grande escala, vêm permitindo que determinadas espécies sejam comercialmente utilizadas. Nesse sentido, cultivos de microalgas têm sido realizados visando à produção de biomassa tanto para uso na elaboração de alimentos quanto para a obtenção de compostos naturais com alto valor no mercado mundial. Dentre os inúmeros compostos extraídos, ou com potencial de exploração comercial, podem ser relacionados ácidos graxos poliinsaturados, carotenóides, ficobilinas, polissacarídeos, vitaminas, esteróis e diversos compostos bioativos naturais (antioxidantes, redutores do colesterol etc.), os quais podem ser empregados especialmente no desenvolvimento de alimentos funcionais, por suas propriedades nutricionais e farmacêuticas.

In recent years, much interest has been focused on the biotechnological potential of microalgae, mainly due the identification of several substances synthesized by these organisms. The great biodiversity and consequent variability in the biochemical composition of the biomass obtained from the microalgal cultures, allied to the genetic improvement and to the establishment of technology in massive production, have allowed various species to be commercially cultivated. In this sense, microalgae cultivations have been developed aiming at the biomass production not only for use in the food elaboration but also for the obtainment of natural compounds with high value in the world market. Among the main extracted substances, or with potential of commercial exploration, can be related polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phycobilins, polysaccharides, vitamins, sterols and several bioactive compounds (antioxidants, cholesterol reducers etc.), the which ones can be especially used in the development of functional food, for its nutritional and pharmaceutical properties.