Article
Materials Science, Composites
Xicun Chai, Chunxia He, Yutao Liu, Evode Niyitanga, Yu Zhou, Luyang Wang, Weixing Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the degradation of wheat straw/PLA composites by Aspergillus niger with different contents of sodium alginate. The results showed that sodium alginate content within a certain range increased the mass loss rate of the composites, and the degraded composites had more hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. Moreover, the pyrolysis temperature and crystallinity of the composites significantly changed when the sodium alginate content was 9%.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
L. Daza-Serna, A. Masi, S. Serna-Loaiza, J. Pfnier, G. Stark, R. L. Mach, A. R. Mach-Aigner, A. Friedl
Summary: The utilization of renewable feedstocks is gaining interest due to the increasing urgency to reduce dependence on fossil-based materials. Wheat straw has the potential for sustainable processes in a circular bioeconomy context. This study focuses on the hydrolysis of wheat straw using liquid hot water treatment, detoxification of the produced wheat straw hydrolysate, and cultivation of Trichoderma reesei as proof of detoxification.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Laila Naher, Siti Noor Fatin, Md Abdul Halim Sheikh, Lateef Adebola Azeez, Shaiquzzaman Siddiquee, Norhafizah Md Zain, Sarker Mohammad Rezaul Karim
Summary: Fungi play important roles in various sectors, with the isolation of potential fungal species being crucial for their utilization. This study isolated filamentous fungi from soil and weed leaves and evaluated their cellulase enzyme production capabilities. Results showed that Trichoderma reesei produced a significantly higher amount of cellulase compared to Aspergillus awamori.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wangli Ji, Xiaolu Wang, Xiaoqing Liu, Yuan Wang, Fangui Liu, Bo Xu, Huiying Luo, Tao Tu, Wei Zhang, Xinxin Xu, Xiaoyun Su
Summary: This study investigated the effects of integration loci and the secretory pathway on the expression of heterologous genes in Trichoderma reesei. It was found that integration at the cel3c locus was more efficient than at the cbh1 locus in expressing the model protein AnGOx, and interruption of the cel3c locus increased expression of the secretory pathway component genes. Overexpression of three secretory pathway component genes enhanced AnGOx expression in the cbh1 transformant but not in the cel3c transformant.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
R. Martzy, T. M. Mello-de-Sousa, R. L. Mach, D. Yaver, A. R. Mach-Aigner
Summary: The study reveals that spontaneous degeneration of Trichoderma reesei strains during large-scale cultivation can lead to a loss of cellulase formation. The chromatin condensation in relevant promoter regions, related to the production capacity of the strain, plays a role in the occurrence of degenerated strain population.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Su Yan, Yan Xu, Xiao-Wei Yu
Summary: In this study, a xylanase hyper-producing system in T. reesei was established by manipulating transcription factors and overexpressing xylanase, leading to efficient xylan hydrolysis and improved biomass degradation efficiency.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Teerin Chysirichote, Natthanon Phaiboonsilpa, Navadol Laosiripojana
Summary: Enzyme production for lignocellulose saccharification was successfully achieved through solid-state fermentation in a 30 L rotary bioreactor. The important factors for producing the enzyme cocktail were found to be the carbohydrate/protein ratio of the substrate and the supplied aeration rate. The discovery of optimal conditions for enzyme production opens up possibilities for using other substrates in lignocellulosic saccharification.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Teerin Chysirichote, Natthanon Phaiboonsilpa, Navadol Laosiripojana
Summary: Enzyme production for lignocellulose saccharification was successfully carried out using solid-state fermentation in a 30 L rotary bioreactor. A substrate consisting of defatted spent copra supplemented with wheat bran was used, and the aeration rate was varied. Regression analysis revealed that the carbohydrate/protein ratio of the substrate and the aeration rate were important factors for producing the enzyme cocktail. An optimal substrate composition of SC:WB 3:2 (C/P ratio of 5.4) and an aeration rate of 1.0 L kg-1substrate min-1 resulted in enhanced production of cellulases and xylanase. Mathematical models were also developed to predict the saccharifying degree of the produced enzyme.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Liyan Wang, Hao Guan, Jun Hu, Yi Feng, Xiang Li, Kianpoor Kalkhajeh Yusef, Hongjian Gao, Da Tian
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms of wheat straw degradation and phosphorus release by the phosphate-solubilizing fungus Aspergillus niger. The results showed that A. niger significantly increased wheat straw degradation and released more phosphorus compared to the control group. The high enzyme activity and oxalic acid secretion by A. niger were identified as the main factors contributing to wheat straw degradation and phosphorus release.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mandeep Dixit, Pratyoosh Shukla
Summary: This study reports the optimization of endoglucanase production from the newly isolated fungus Aspergillus niger MPS25. The enzyme showed maximum activity at 60 degrees C and was stimulated by Co2+ ions and inhibited by Mn2+ ions. The enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat straw produced a significant amount of reducing sugars, indicating its potential in the biofuel industry. The enzyme also improved the deinking efficiency of mixed office waste and old newspapers, as well as the physical strength properties of the handmade paper sheets. Additionally, FTIR and XRD analysis provided insights into the changes in functional groups and cellulose crystallinity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mostafa M. El-Sheekh, Mohammed Y. Bedaiwy, Aya A. El-Nagar, Eman W. Elgammal
Summary: Bioconversion of lignocellulosic wastes to valuable end-products via multi-enzymatic hydrolysis is a potential low costing process. In this study, the highest cellulase-producing fungus, Aspergillus niger, was identified and suitable pre-treatment conditions and fermentation parameters were determined. The fungal treatment resulted in complete destruction of the lignocellulosic matrix.
BIOCATALYSIS AND BIOTRANSFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wenzhu Guo, Jianhua Yang, Tianchen Huang, Dandan Liu, Qian Liu, Jingen Li, Wenliang Sun, Xingji Wang, Leilei Zhu, Chaoguang Tian
Summary: This study identified key enzymes involved in the starch saccharification process, including glucoamylase, alpha-amylase, and acid alpha-amylase, out of 29 glycoside hydrolases from the 6-day fermentation products of A. niger O1. Synergistic effects were observed among the components of glucoamylases cocktail, with an increase in alpha-amylase leading to improved efficiency of starch saccharification. Overexpression of acid alpha-amylase in strain O1 resulted in an increase in total glucoamylase activity.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Gaurav Sharma, Baljit Kaur, Yashika Raheja, Dhruv Agrawal, Neha Basotra, Marcos Di Falco, Adrian Tsang, Bhupinder Singh Chadha
Summary: This study developed a lignocellulolytic strain capable of efficiently hydrolyzing mild alkali deacetylated rice straw. The study also evaluated the conversion of lignin-rich black liquor obtained during rice straw pretreatment into biogas.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Thamy Livia Ribeiro Correa, Ellen Karen Barreto Roman, Juliana da Silva Cassoli, Leandro Vieira dos Santos, Goncalo Amarante Guimaraes Pereira
Summary: This study investigates the synergy between cellulolytic fungi Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium oxalicum in deconstructing sugarcane straw and energy cane bagasse. The enzymes secreted by both fungi showed a comparable conversion of the lignocellulosic materials into glucose, and the mixture of their secretomes further improved the glucose yield.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Marwa Gamal, Mohamed Abou Zaid, Iman Kamel Abou Mourad, Hussein Abd El Kareem, M. Ola Gomaa
Summary: The study found that a metabolite from Trichoderma viride culture filtrate had apoptotic effects on the fish fungal pathogen Aspergillus niger. This metabolite not only increased catalase enzyme, protein content, and lipid peroxidation in A. niger, but also induced apoptosis in the pathogen by affecting mitochondria.
Article
Cell Biology
Bing Li, Shuangxiu Song, Xuefei Wei, Guirong Tang, Chengshu Wang
Summary: The study revealed the high activation of autophagic fluxes during the appressorial formation of the fungus M. robertsii and identified 10 out of 23 encoded MrATG genes with requirements for topical fungal infection of insect hosts.
Article
Ecology
Song Hong, Yanlei Sun, Haimin Chen, Chengshu Wang
Summary: This study identifies and characterizes a defensin-like antimicrobial gene BbAMP1 in the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. BbAMP1 can coat fungal spores and damage Gram-positive bacterial cells. Deletion of BbAMP1 reduces fungal virulence while overexpression accelerates fungal colonization in insects. The study also demonstrates that BbAMP1 assists the fungus in manipulating insect surface bacterial loads.
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gen Zou, Jens B. Nielsen, Yongjun Wei
Summary: Recent advances in synthetic biology have revolutionized mushroom farming by shifting the focus from traditional cultivation to comprehensive applications using cutting-edge biotechnologies. Promising applications in this field include precision breeding, exploration of biosynthetic gene clusters, development of mushroom chassis cells, and construction of cell factories for high-value products.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Junmei Shang, Guirong Tang, Jun Yang, Mengting Lu, Chen-Zhu Wang, Chengshu Wang
Summary: Insects have developed behavioral defenses against parasite attacks in addition to their innate immunity. This study found that Drosophila can sense the CFEM protein Mcdc9, which acts as a negative virulence factor of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii. Deletion of Mcdc9 in the fungus or knockdown of CheA75a in flies led to a greater number of fungal spores remaining on the flies after topical infection, resulting in faster death of the flies. These findings reveal an previously unknown mechanism of fungus-insect interactions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiali Meng, Miia R. Maekelae, Ronald P. de Vries
Summary: In this study, an l-arabitol transporter, LatA, was identified in Aspergillus niger. It was found that LatA only imports l-arabitol and is regulated by the arabinanolytic transcriptional activator AraR. Deletion of latA can increase l-arabitol production, indicating its potential for improving l-arabitol-producing cell factories. Phylogenetic analysis showed that homologs of LatA are widely conserved in fungi.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ming Gong, Ying Wang, Dapeng Bao, Shan Jiang, Hongyu Chen, Junjun Shang, Xiaojun Wang, Hnin Hnin Yu, Gen Zou
Summary: A new cold-active cellobiohydrolase (VvCBHI-I) derived from Volvariella volvacea showed excellent activity at 10-30 degrees C, which enables efficient cellulose degradation and saccharification at low temperatures. The expression of VvCBHI-I in a transformant significantly improved the activity of cellulase at 10 degrees C, leading to stable silage fermentation with rice straw and reduction of cellulose and hemicellulose contents. These findings highlight the potential of mushroom-derived cold-active cellobiohydrolases in enhancing ensiling efficiency in cold climate regions.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Roland S. Kun, Sonia Salazar-Cerezo, Mao Peng, Yu Zhang, Emily Savage, Anna Lipzen, Vivian Ng, Igor V. Grigoriev, Ronald P. de Vries, Sandra Garrigues
Summary: This study deepened the understanding of the storage polysaccharide regulators AmyR and InuR in Aspergillus niger by assessing the phenotypes and transcriptomic data of different strains under various culture conditions. The results showed that AmyR has a minor contribution to sucrose and inulin utilization when InuR is active, and deletion of amyR in the Delta inuR background strain resulted in pronounced growth reduction on both substrates, particularly in solid cultures. Overall, the study highlights the importance of culture conditions in accurately studying the role of transcription factors in filamentous fungi.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dujuan Liu, Sandra Garrigues, Ronald P. de Vries
Summary: The article summarizes the benefits and challenges of using filamentous fungi for the production of heterologous proteins, as well as various techniques commonly employed to improve the production yield. These techniques include the use of strong and inducible promoters, codon optimization, more efficient signal peptides for secretion, carrier proteins, engineering of glycosylation sites, regulation of the unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum associated protein degradation, optimization of the intracellular transport process, regulation of unconventional protein secretion, and construction of protease-deficient strains.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Song Hong, Yanlei Sun, Haimin Chen, Pengfei Zhao, Chengshu Wang
Summary: Insect cuticles are inhabited by bacteria which can delay and deter fungal infections, while entomopathogenic fungi have evolved strategies to combat this resistance. Further research can help develop cost-effective mycoinsecticides while protecting ecologically and economically important insect species.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xin-Lin Li, Yanlei Sun, Ying Yin, Shuai Zhan, Chengshu Wang
Summary: Diverse beta-carboline (beta C) alkaloids are produced by various microorganisms, plants, and animals. In this study, the authors discovered the presence of a bacterial-like gene, Fcs1, in the entomopathogenic Beauveria fungi that is responsible for the biosynthesis of beta C alkaloids. They also identified other genes, including Fcs2 and Fcs3, involved in the hydroxylation and glucosylation modifications of beta Cs. These findings shed light on the biosynthetic mechanism of beta C alkaloids and propose an evolving process of fungal biosynthetic gene cluster formation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sandra Garrigues, Mao Peng, Roland S. S. Kun, Ronald P. de Vries
Summary: CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology has been widely used in various organisms, but off-target mutations may occur due to guide RNA binding to similar nucleotides. Despite this, evaluation of mutations is rarely performed in genome editing studies.
Review
Microbiology
Sonia Salazar-Cerezo, Ronald P. de Vries, Sandra Garrigues
Summary: The use of microorganisms in industry allows for the mass production of various compounds relevant to antibiotics, food, beverages, cosmetics, chemicals, and biofuels. Traditional strain improvement and random screening are commonly used to obtain industrial strains, but recombinant DNA technology has enabled the improvement of microbial strains by gene manipulation. Genetic engineering, genome editing, and other techniques are contributing to the development of fungal production strains. This review discusses classical and recent methods, tools, and technologies used to develop fungal production strains for industrial applications, as well as the use of functional genomics and other omics technologies in combination with genetic manipulation techniques.
Article
Microbiology
Jiajia Li, Ad Wiebenga, Anna Lipzen, Vivian Ng, Sravanthi Tejomurthula, Yu Zhang, Igor V. Grigoriev, Mao Peng, Ronald P. de Vries
Summary: This study systematically compared the genomic content and transcriptional dynamics of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in six taxonomically distant fungal species during growth on nine monosaccharides. It identified considerable genomic variation and remarkable transcriptomic diversity of CAZymes, implying the preferred carbon source of these fungi and their different methods of transcription regulation.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Gen Zou, Jing Zhu, Mingwen Zhao
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meili Xiao, Yinmei Wang, Yan Wang, Xing Yan, Zhihua Zhu, Ernuo Tian, Chengshuai Yang, Erdong Ma, Gen Zou, Zhihua Zhou, Pingping Wang
Summary: In this study, we successfully synthesized different types of terpenes efficiently using Trichoderma reesei. By optimizing the genetic architecture and substrate selection, we were able to significantly increase the production of the target compounds. This has important implications for terpene biosynthesis and sustainable biofabrication.
