Extremophiles Breakthrough: Hot Topics and Current Issues in Their Isolation, Identification, and Biotechnological Applications.

Extremophiles-organisms adapted to survive and thrive under extreme conditions-have fascinated scientists for decades, providing valuable insights into life's resilience and offering untapped potential for technological innovation [...

Special Issue: "Microbial Enzymes for Biotechnological Applications".

Microbial biocatalysts are at the forefront of modern biotechnology, offering sustainable solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental and industrial challenges [...

Exploiting agri-food residues for kombucha tea and bacterial cellulose production.

Bio-valorization of agri-food wastes lies in their possible conversion into fermented foodstuffs/beverages and/or biodegradable polymers such as bacterial cellulose. In this study, three different kombucha cultures were formulated using agri-food waste materials, citrus fruit residues and used coffee grounds, as alternative carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Over 21 days of fermentation, the kinetic profile was followed by monitoring cell density, pH variation, minerals, trace elements and production of bacterial cellulose.

Plastic-Degrading Microbial Consortia from a Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Plastic waste pollution has become a global crisis, with millions of tons of plastic expected to accumulate in landfills and in natural environments, posing a serious threat to wildlife and human health. As current recycling methods remain inefficient, there is an urgent need for innovative enzymatic solutions to break down plastics and enable a circular economy approach. In this study, we explore the plastic-degrading potential of microorganisms enriched from activated sludge (AS) sourced from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)-a known microplastic-contaminated industrial niche.

Advances in Extremophile Research: Biotechnological Applications through Isolation and Identification Techniques.

Extremophiles, organisms thriving in extreme environments such as hot springs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and hypersaline ecosystems, have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable adaptability and biotechnological potential. This review presents recent advancements in isolating and characterizing extremophiles, highlighting their applications in enzyme production, bioplastics, environmental management, and space exploration. The unique biological mechanisms of extremophiles offer valuable insights into life's resilience and potential uses in industry and astrobiology.

Thermophilic Hemicellulases Secreted by Microbial Consortia Selected from an Anaerobic Digester.

The rise of agro-industrial activities over recent decades has exponentially increased lignocellulose biomasses (LCB) production. LCB serves as a cost-effective source for fermentable sugars and other renewable chemicals. This study explores the use of microbial consortia, particularly thermophilic consortia, for LCB deconstruction.

The Undeniable Potential of Thermophiles in Industrial Processes.

Extremophilic microorganisms play a key role in understanding how life on Earth originated and evolved over centuries. Their ability to thrive in harsh environments relies on a plethora of mechanisms developed to survive at extreme temperatures, pressures, salinity, and pH values. From a biotechnological point of view, thermophiles are considered a robust tool for synthetic biology as well as a reliable starting material for the development of sustainable bioprocesses.

Genomic mining of Geobacillus stearothermophilus GF16 for xylose production from hemicellulose-rich biomasses using secreted enzymes.

The valorization of lignocellulosic biomass, derived from various bio-waste materials, has received considerable attention as a sustainable approach to improve production chains while reducing environmental impact. Microbial enzymes have emerged as key players in the degradation of polysaccharides, offering versatile applications in biotechnology and industry. Among these enzymes, glycoside hydrolases (GHs) play a central role.

Harnessing the dual nature of Bacillus (Weizmannia) coagulans for sustainable production of biomaterials and development of functional food.

Bacillus coagulans, recently renamed Weizmannia coagulans, is a spore-forming bacterium that has garnered significant interest across various research fields, ranging from health to industrial applications. The probiotic properties of W. coagulans enhance intestinal digestion, by releasing prebiotic molecules including enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of not-digestible carbohydrates.

A novel endo-1,4-β-xylanase from Alicyclobacillus mali FL18: Biochemical characterization and its synergistic action with β-xylosidase in hemicellulose deconstruction.

A novel endo-1,4-β-xylanase-encoding gene was identified in Alicyclobacillus mali FL18 and the recombinant protein, named AmXyn, was purified and biochemically characterized. The monomeric enzyme worked optimally at pH 6.6 and 80 °C on beechwood xylan with a specific activity of 440.

Lignocellulolytic Potential of Microbial Consortia Isolated from a Local Biogas Plant: The Case of Thermostable Xylanases Secreted by Mesophilic Bacteria.

Lignocellulose biomasses (LCB), including spent mushroom substrate (SMS), pose environmental challenges if not properly managed. At the same time, these renewable resources hold immense potential for biofuel and chemicals production. With the mushroom market growth expected to amplify SMS quantities, repurposing or disposal strategies are critical.

Thermophilic biocatalysts for one-step conversion of citrus waste into lactic acid.

Agri-food residues offer significant potential as a raw material for the production of L-lactic acid through microbial fermentation. Weizmannia coagulans, previously known as Bacillus coagulans, is a spore-forming, lactic acid-producing, gram-positive, with known probiotic and prebiotic properties. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing untreated citrus waste as a sustainable feedstock for the production of L-lactic acid in a one-step process, by using the strain W.

Sustainable and Green Production of Nanostructured Cellulose by a 2-Step Mechano-Enzymatic Process.

Nanostructured cellulose (NC) represents an emerging sustainable biomaterial for diverse biotechnological applications; however, its production requires hazardous chemicals that render the process ecologically unfriendly. Using commercial plant-derived cellulose, an innovative strategy for NC production based on the combination of mechanical and enzymatic approaches was proposed as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical procedures. After ball milling, the average length of the fibers was reduced by one order of magnitude (down to 10-20 μm) and the crystallinity index decreased from 0.

Insight into CAZymes of FL18: Characterization of a New Multifunctional GH9 Enzyme.

In the bio-based era, cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes are biocatalysts used in many industrial processes, playing a key role in the conversion of recalcitrant lignocellulosic waste biomasses. In this context, many thermophilic microorganisms are considered as convenient sources of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). In this work, a functional genomic annotation of FL18, a recently discovered thermo-acidophilic microorganism, showed a wide reservoir of putative CAZymes.

FL18 as a Novel Source of Glycosyl Hydrolases: Characterization of a New Thermophilic β-Xylosidase Tolerant to Monosaccharides.

A thermo-acidophilic bacterium, FL18, was isolated from a hot spring of Pisciarelli, near Naples, Italy; following genome analysis, a novel putative β-xylosidase, AmβXyl, belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family 3 was identified. A synthetic gene was produced, cloned in pET-30a(+), and expressed in BL21 (DE3) RIL. The purified recombinant protein, which showed a dimeric structure, had optimal catalytic activity at 80 °C and pH 5.

Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics of SSV1 and Related Fusellovirus: A Minireview.

spindle-shaped virus 1 (SSV1) was one of the first viruses identified in the archaeal kingdom. Originally isolated from a Japanese species of back in 1984, it has been extensively used as a model system for genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies, as well as to unveil the molecular mechanisms governing the host-virus interaction. The purpose of this mini review is to supply a compendium of four decades of research on the SSV1 virus.

A Comparative Analysis of Genomes Unravels the Genetic Potential for Biotechnological Applications.

The production of biochemicals requires the use of microbial strains with efficient substrate conversion and excellent environmental robustness, such as species. So far, the genomes of 47 strains have been sequenced. Herein, we report a comparative genomic analysis of nine strains on the full repertoire of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), secretion systems, and resistance mechanisms to environmental challenges.

Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution.

Geothermal springs are rich in various metal ions due to the interaction between rock and water that takes place in the deep aquifer. Moreover, due to seasonality variation in pH and temperature, fluctuation in element composition is periodically observed within these extreme environments, influencing the environmental microbial communities. Extremophilic microorganisms that thrive in volcanic thermal vents have developed resistance mechanisms to handle several metal ions present in the environment, thus taking part to complex metal biogeochemical cycles.

A multiplexed nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) assay for simultaneously detecting glycosyl hydrolase and lignin modifying enzyme activities.

Lignocellulosic biomass is composed of three major biopolymers: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Analytical tools capable of quickly detecting both glycan and lignin deconstruction are needed to support the development and characterization of efficient enzymes/enzyme cocktails. Previously we have described nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry-based assays for the analysis of glycosyl hydrolase and most recently an assay for lignin modifying enzymes.

Genomic Insight of FL18 Isolated From an Arsenic-Rich Hot Spring.

Extreme environments are excellent places to find microorganisms capable of tolerating extreme temperature, pH, salinity pressure, and elevated concentration of heavy metals and other toxic compounds. In the last decades, extremophilic microorganisms have been extensively studied since they can be applied in several fields of biotechnology along with their enzymes. In this context, the characterization of heavy metal resistance determinants in thermophilic microorganisms is the starting point for the development of new biosystems and bioprocesses for environmental monitoring and remediation.

Prebiotic properties of Bacillus coagulans MA-13: production of galactoside hydrolyzing enzymes and characterization of the transglycosylation properties of a GH42 β-galactosidase.

Background: The spore-forming lactic acid bacterium Bacillus coagulans MA-13 has been isolated from canned beans manufacturing and successfully employed for the sustainable production of lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass. Among lactic acid bacteria, B. coagulans strains are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption.

The interaction between the F55 virus-encoded transcription regulator and the RadA host recombinase reveals a common strategy in Archaea and Bacteria to sense the UV-induced damage to the host DNA.

Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 is the only UV-inducible member of the virus family Fuselloviridae. Originally isolated from Saccharolobus shibatae B12, it can also infect Saccharolobus solfataricus. Like the CI repressor of the bacteriophage λ, the SSV1-encoded F55 transcription repressor acts as a key regulator for the maintenance of the SSV1 carrier state.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus coagulans MA-13, a Thermophilic Lactic Acid Producer from Lignocellulose.

MA-13 is an efficient lactic acid producer which withstands high concentrations of the growth inhibitors formed during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstock. This draft genome sequence is expected to pave the way toward the understanding of mechanisms responsible for the robustness of MA-13 during simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.