Exploring microalgal and cyanobacterial metabolites with antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) like Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis affect millions of people annually, while currently used antiprotozoal drugs have serious side effects. Drug research based on natural products has shown that microalgae and cyanobacteria are a promising platform of biochemically active compounds with antiprotozoal activity. These unicellular photosynthetic organisms are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, pigments including phycocyanin, chlorophylls and carotenoids, polyphenols, bioactive peptides, terpenes, alkaloids, which have proven antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiplasmodial and antiprotozoal properties. This review provides up-to-date information regarding ongoing studies on substances synthesized by microalgae and cyanobacteria with notable activity against Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, and Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agents of Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and human African trypanosomiasis, respectively. Extracts of several freshwater or marine microalgae have been tested on different strains of Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites. For instance, ethanolic extract of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Tetraselmis suecica have biological activity against T. cruzi, due to their high content of carotenoids, chlorophylls, phenolic compounds and flavonoids that are associated with trypanocidal activity. Halophilic Dunaliella salina showed moderate antileishmanial activity that may be attributed to the high ß-carotene content in this microalga. Peptides such as almiramides, dragonamides, and herbamide that are biosynthesized by marine cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula were found to have increased activity in micromolar scale IC50 against L. donovani, T. Cruzi, and T. brucei parasites. The cyanobacterial peptides symplocamide and venturamide isolated from Symploca and Oscillatoria species, respectively, and the alkaloid nostocarbonile isolated from Nostoc have shown promising antiprotozoal properties and are being explored for pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes. The discovery of new molecules from microalgae and cyanobacteria with therapeutic potential against Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis may address an urgent medical need: effective and safe treatments of NTDs.

Advances in Microalgal Research in Brazil

Abstract Microalgae research has attracted interest worldwide and in order to advance algal biotechnology in Brazil, government has been funding several projects. In the last 10 years, two main funds were provided by the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) agency to researchers in Brazil, who study the potential uses of microalgae for biomass, bioproducts and biofuels production. These funded projects addressed aspects of algal strain identification, development of algal cultivation techniques, designing photobioreactors and raceway ponds, modeling harvesting and dewatering process, maximizing biomass and oil productivities, characterizing chemical composition with different extractions systems and determining physiochemical properties of biodiesel. This review presents the state of art of algal research conducted by Brazilian institutions. Special attention is given to the recent progress on microalgal cultivation, high-value products extracted from microalgae and potential biofuels production. This review may serve as a policy instrument for planning next steps for algal research in Brazil as well as for attracting attention from international researchers who work with microalgae and would like to pursue a future partnership on algal research with Brazilian research institutions.

Effects of different photoperiod and trophic conditions on biomass, protein and lipid production by the marine alga Nannochloropsis gaditana at optimal concentration of desalination concentrate.

This study investigated the cultivation of the marine alga Nannochloropsis gaditana in a medium based on desalination concentrate (DC) with an optimal concentration of 75% DC, under three trophic conditions and four photoperiod schedules. N. gaditana produced a peak biomass concentration (1.25gL-1) under mixotrophic culture condition and a photoperiod of 16L:08D. N. gaditana cells compensate to different light-dark regimes producing different amounts of protein (17.9-44.8%). The intracellular lipid content in N. gaditana cells increased both under autotrophic conditions with a 16L:08D cycle (16.7%), and under mixotrophic conditions with a 08L:16D cycle (15.7%). In heterotrophic culture, N. gaditana cells were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (46.0%). This study demonstrates an alternative approach to enhancing intracellular lipid content of the marine alga N. gaditana by modifying the photoperiod, trophic conditions and stress-salinity-conductivity with the use of a DC-based medium.

Biomass, lipid productivities and fatty acids composition of marine Nannochloropsis gaditana cultured in desalination concentrate.

In this study the feasibility of growing marine Nannochloropsis gaditana in desalination concentrate (DC) was explored and the influence of the DC concentration on the biomass growth, lipid productivities and fatty acids composition was assessed. The reuse of the medium with the optimum DC concentration in successive algal cultivation cycles and the additional of a carbon source to the optimized medium were also evaluated. On varying the DC concentration, the maximum biomass concentration (0.96gL(-1)) and lipid content (12.6%) were obtained for N. gaditana in the medium with the optimum DC concentration (75%). Over the course of the reuse of the optimum DC medium, three cultivation cycles were performed, observing that the biomass productivity is directly correlated to lipid productivity. Palmitic acid was the major fatty acid found in N. gaditana cells. The saturated fatty acids content of the algae enhanced significantly on increasing the DC concentration.

Teores de proteínas e lipídeos de Chlorella sp. cultivada em concentrado de dessalinização residual / Protein and lipid contents from Chlorella sp. Cultivated in residual concentrated desalination

A dessalinização é um método de obtenção de água potável limitado pelos problemas ambientais, causados pelo resíduo gerado em seu processo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o cultivo de Chlorella sp., em meio de cultura a base de concentrado de dessalinização, e determinar os teores de proteínas e lipídeos ao longo dos ciclos de cultivo. Os cultivos foram desenvolvidos em fotobiorreatores cônicos invertidos (4L) e mantidos durante 28 dias resultando em quatro ciclos de cultivo. Para cada ciclo de cultivo, os valores de biomassa (peso seco, g L-1) resultaram em 1º ciclo, 1,55; 2º ciclo, 0,96; 3º ciclo, 0,62, e 4º ciclo em 0,42. Os teores de proteínas e lipídeos variaram entre 45,2 a 48,8% e 8,5 a 11,4%, respectivamente. O primeiro ciclo de cultivo apresentou a maior produtividade em biomassa (PB = 200 mg L-1 dia-1) e produtividade lipídica (PL = 19,6 mg L-1 dia-1), bem como o maior teor de proteínas (48,8%). O maior teor de lipídeos (11,4%) foi obtido no segundo ciclo de cultivo. Foi observado, nos quatro ciclos de cultivo, que a produtividade em biomassa está diretamente correlacionada com a produtividade lipídica, indicando que quanto maior a PB maior será a PL. Os resultados da cultura de Chlorella sp. demonstraram que é possível utilizar o concentrado de dessalinização residual como meio de cultura alternativo e obter biomassa ao longo de quatro ciclos de cultivo, sem comprometer os teores de proteínas e lipídeos na célula microalgal.

Desalination process is a method of obtaining potable drinking water which is limited by environmental problems caused by the waste generated in the process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cultivation of Chlorella sp. in a culture medium based on residual concentrated desalination and determines the protein and lipid contents along the cultivation cycles. The cultures were developed in a reverse conical photobioreactors (4L) during 28 days resulting in four cultivation cycles. For each cultivation cycle, the value of biomass (dry weight g L-1) resulted: 1st cycle, 1.55 g; 2nd cycle, 0.96; 3rd cycle, 0.62 and 4th cycle, 0.42. The protein and lipid levels ranged from 45.2 to 48.8% and 8.5 to 11.4%, respectively. The first cultivation cycle showed the highest biomass productivity (PB = 200 mg L-1 dia-1) and lipid productivity (PL = 19.6 mg L-1 dia-1), as well as the highest protein content (48.8%). The highest lipid content (11.4%) was observed on second cultivation cycle. It was observed during the four cultivation cycles that the biomass productivity is directly correlated to lipid productivity, indicating that higher PB higher will be PL. The results from this study showed that it is possible to growth Chlorella sp. in a culture medium based on residual concentrated desalination for biomass production along the four cultivation cycles and also, without compromise the protein and lipid contents into the microalgal cell.