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In this paper, a fault diagnosis method for the basic process of microbial growth in wastewater treatment based on interval estimation technology is proposed. First, a nonlinear microbial growth model is converted into a linear time‐varying system. A time‐varying observer is then designed for the generated system, which takes into account an L∞$$ {L}_{\infty } $$ performance. Furthermore, a zonotope‐based set‐membership estimation algorithm is analyzed to synchronize interval estimation operations. In addition, interval residuals are computed from the generated interval state estimation and fault diagnosis is performed for a wastewater treatment bioprocess with sensor fault signals. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed fault diagnosis strategy for the wastewater treatment bioprocess is illustrated through numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosurfactants (BSFs) are molecules produced by microorganisms from various carbon sources, with applications in bioremediation and petroleum recovery. However, the production cost limits large-scale applications. This study optimized BSFs production by Bacillus velezensis (strain MO13) using residual glycerin as a substrate. The spherical quadratic central composite design (CCD) model was used to standardize carbon source concentration (30 g/L), temperature (34 °C), pH (7.2), stirring (239 rpm), and aeration (0.775 vvm) in a 5‐L bioreactor. Maximum BSFs production reached 1527.6 mg/L of surfactins and 176.88 mg/L of iturins, a threefold increase through optimization. Microbial development, substrate consumption, concentration of BSFs, and surface tension were also evaluated on the bioprocess dynamics. Mass spectrometry Q-TOF-MS identified five surfactin and two iturin isoforms produced by B. velezensis MO13. This study demonstrates significant progress on BSF production using industrial waste as a microbial substrate, surpassing reported concentrations in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature control for fermentation is crucial as it directly affects microorganism growth, productivity, and metabolic activity. This work proposes a modified fractional order proportional‐integral‐derivative (FOPID‐DF) controller that incorporates the system model in the control loop configuration utilizing a differential filter for precise temperature control within a narrow operating range. PID, fractional order PID (FOPID), modified fractional order PID (MFOPID), and fractional order internal model control (IMC) controllers were also designed for comparative analysis. The simulation results demonstrated that the proposed FOPID‐DF controller outperforms the other designed controllers, shown by a 22.33% reduction in integral absolute error (IAE) and a 29.06% decrease in integral square error (ISE) compared to the FOPID controller and various other improved performance indicators. Parameter variation and noise analysis highlighted the ability of the controller to maintain stability and performance under changing conditions. The simulation outcomes suggested that the FOPID‐DF controller excels in temperature control, ensuring optimal microorganism growth and metabolic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In food technology, the term ‘fermentation’ encompasses a spectrum of microbial‐driven bioprocesses that preserve and improve the quality of raw materials, transforming them into new fermented products with minimal resource consumption. Furthermore, fermentation plays a crucial role in driving the eco‐friendly transformation of the agricultural industry. Within this domain, the fermented beverage sector stands out due to its consumer‐friendly appeal. To promote innovation in this field, there is a need for cost‐effective, versatile and sustainable techniques that can accelerate research and development activities. In the bioprocess sector, innovation management requires consideration of an array of variables, including diverse raw materials, various microorganisms and different fermentation parameters. Direct injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) technologies offer solutions for bioprocess monitoring, particularly in the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are constantly improving their performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Among the DIMS methods, proton transfer reaction‐mass spectrometry (PTR‐MS), when coupled with autosampling and customised data handling and analysis, has demonstrated its efficiency in studying VOCs associated with fermentation. This approach brings automation to data production and management, offers exceptional versatility akin to a sensor and aligns closely with the principles of green chemistry. In this perspective paper, after reviewing key aspects of modern fermentation practice, we showcase the application of PTR‐MS as a model to demonstrate its potential as sensor‐like approach to drive innovation within the fermented beverage sector. This approach enables swift, large‐scale assessments of multiple variables while providing comprehensive insights into the quality and safety of the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Flax lignan has attracted much attention because of its potential bioactivities. However, the bioavailability of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), the main lignan in flaxseed, depends on the bioconversion by the colon bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with β‐glucosidase activity has found wide application in preparing bioactive aglycone. RESULTS: LAB strains with good β‐glucosidase activity were isolated from fermented tofu. Their bioconversion of flax lignan extract was investigated by resting cell catalysis and microbial fermentation, and the metabolism of SDG by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum C5 following fermentation was characterized by widely targeted metabolomics. Five L. plantarum strains producing β‐glucosidase with broad substrate specificity were isolated and identified, and they all can transform SDG into secoisolariciresinol (SECO). L. plantarum C5 resting cell reached a maximum SDG conversion of 49.19 ± 3.75%, and SECO generation of 21.49 ± 1.32% (0.215 ± 0.013 mm) at an SDG substrate concentration of 1 mM and 0.477 ± 0.003 mm SECO was produced at 4 mm within 24 h. Although sixteen flax lignan metabolites were identified following the fermentation of SDG extract by L. plantarum C5, among them, four were produced following the fermentation: SECO, demethyl‐SECO, demethyl‐dehydroxy‐SECO and isolariciresinol. Moreover, seven lignans increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Fermentation significantly increased the profile and level of flax lignan metabolites, and the resting cell catalysis benefits from higher bioconversion efficiency and more straightforward product separation. Resting cell catalysis and microbial fermentation of flax lignan extract by the isolated β‐glucosidase production L. plantarum could be potentially applied in preparing flax lignan ingredients and fermented flaxseed. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy minimization study is applied to an amino acids downstream process for L-methionine production currently in operation and energy-saving options that can be implemented in practice are systematically identified with the application of Process Integration (PI) design method. Structural changes in process flowsheets or reconfiguration in stream-mixing patterns are considered for the debottlenecking of bioprocesses for energy reduction, which allows the energy-efficient use of steam for the purification of bioproducts and its effluent management, leading to maximum 18% saving in steam use to be achieved. Reduction in cold utility is investigated with the strategic use of cooling water reuse, as a means of cold utility minimization, with which up to 33% of cooling water use can be reduced. The introduction of multi-level expansion for the provision of refrigeration utility is further identified, leading to 35% reduction in compression power. The retrofit case study clearly demonstrates the usefulness of Process Integration method for energy minimization in bioprocesses in operation and its results provides practical design guidelines for energy-saving projects in amino acids production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are used in advanced therapies to transduce recipient cells for long term gene expression for therapeutic benefit. The vector is commonly pseudotyped with alternative viral envelope proteins to improve tropism and is selected for enhanced functional titers. However, their impact on manufacturing and the success of individual bioprocessing unit operations is seldom demonstrated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the processability of different Lentiviral vector pseudotypes. In this work, we compared three envelope proteins commonly pseudotyped with LVs across manufacturing conditions such as temperature and pump flow and across steps common to downstream processing. We have shown impact of filter membrane chemistry on vector recoveries with differing envelopes during clarification and observed complete vector robustness in high shear manufacturing environments using ultra scale‐down technologies. The impact of shear during membrane filtration in a tangential flow filtration‐mimic showed the benefit of employing higher shear rates, than currently used in LV production, to increase vector recovery. Likewise, optimized anion exchange chromatography purification in monolith format was determined. The results contradict a common perception that lentiviral vectors are susceptible to shear or high salt concentration (up to 1.7 M). This highlights the prospects of improving LV recovery by evaluating manufacturing conditions that contribute to vector losses for specific production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viola odorata plant extracts are extensively used in indigenous medicine to treat respiratory diseases. V. odorata’s limited availability in nature, due to geographical conditions and adulteration, makes continuous supply of high-quality plant raw material challenging. This results in low-quality plant extracts that can have inconsistent and sometimes adverse effects when used in medicine. As an effective solution, in vitro plant biomass cultivation conserves plant diversity, ensuring high-quality raw materials with uniform quality and quantity. Toward this, the current study focuses on establishing bioprocess strategy to achieve maximum. V. odorata biomass productivity up to bioreactor level. In this context, in vitro culture conditions were rationally optimised, focusing upon both statistical optimization and one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach, for improved biomass productivity. Inoculum density, macronutrient concentration, shaking speed, temperature, pH and light intensity were systematically optimized to achieve the maximum biomass. This led to increased biomass production from 10.2 ± 0.8 g DW L− 1 to 21.7 ± 0.8 g DW L− 1 within 12 days of the batch cultivation period. Optimized culture conditions were implemented in three different types of bioreactors and cultivation in a stirred tank reactor produced ∼ 19.7 g DW L− 1 of maximum biomass within a 12 day batch cultivation period. Further, the metabolite profile of the bioreactor cultivated biomass (alcoholic extract) was compared with that of the natural plant biomass using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. The antibacterial activity of the plant extract was tested against three bacteria responsible for respiratory tract infections, and their antioxidant activity was compared with that of Vitamin E, wherein the results demonstrated comparable activity. The novelty of this study is in the fact that the V. odorata plant cells were cultivated in bioreactors for the first time for potential medicinal applications. It provides an alternative method for sustainable production of plant biomass, thereby conserving the natural plant sources.Key message: Bioreactor cultivation of V. odorata plant cells with biomass productivity equivalent to that in shake flask culture, yielding extracts with a similar metabolite profile and associated bioactivity to that in the natural plant extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cultivated meat has received growing attention since claims were made that cultivated meat can be produced more ethically and sustainably than the current meat production. However, there are still major challenges in the development of cell lines, scaffolding, growth media, and bioprocess, which need to be overcome to reach industrial production levels. Numerous technological innovations have been proposed to overcome these challenges but they have rarely been evaluated with regard to their social sustainability. Consequently, it remains unclear if and how cultivated meat would contribute towards creating inclusive food systems. Methods: To bring more clarity, the study identifies different technological solutions that are used or developed for production of cultivated meat and identifies the positive and negative claims about the expected contributions of these technological solutions to social inclusion in food systems, using evidence from the literature review and 11 expert interviews. An innovation radar for cultivated meat is proposed to visualise the variety of technological innovations and the claims about their expected contributions to social sustainability. Results: The technologies in the areas cell line development, scaffolding, growth media, and bioprocess are expected to have an impact on inclusion in consumption of cultivated meat. Some cell innovations are expected to raise cognitive barriers due to complex technologies that might be difficult for the consumer to understand. Cultural barriers are expected to be raised by cell innovation entailing genetic engineering and medium innovation using FBS or animal components, which is considered to harm animals. Further, regulatory barriers are expected in the EU if genetic modification is used in the production process, which concerns the areas cells, media, and scaffolding. The innovations for scaffolds are expected to mainly lower cost and cultural barriers since most technologies are already used in the food industry. Bioprocess innovations promise to lower cost barriers, however it must be considered, that most of the collected data for innovations in the bioprocess domain are based on assumptions. Discussion: The study concludes that at this point in time, the most socially sustainable approach to cultivated meat production is not obvious. Under the current technological state of the art, it is not thinkable that production and consumption of cultivated meat could be socially inclusive. As it remains poorly understood if technologies for cultivated meat production could raise or lower barriers to inclusive consumption and production, further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, we aimed to study biological petroleum wastewater treatment. A bioprocess based on the use of a mixed bacterial consortium along with the addition of Biosurfactant (BioS) and bioaugmentation with BioS producing strains were evaluated. The consortium was the combination of two bacterial strains with the capacity to metabolize hydrocarbons, Baci and B201. Two other strains BH1 and BSS2 selected for their ability to degrade hydrocarbons as well as to produce BioS were also exploited. The effect of ex-situ and in-situ produced BioS on hydrocarbon biodegradation were compared. Obtained results demonstrated a moderate capacity to remove crude oil from contaminated water of about 47% for the consortium. The best improvement of hydrocarbon biodegradation of about 84% was obtained when adding BH1 derived BioS solely. However, ex-situ produced BioS exhibited better results. Regarding the wastewater characteristics, we note a decrease of the COD/BOD5 Ratio to reach 2.64. Thus, the wastewater became easily biodegradable. The described bioprocess is of great interest for the bioremediation of petroleum effluents. BioS addition as well as bioaugmentation enhanced crude oil removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids comprising omega (ω)-3 and ω-6 are essential fatty acids with myriad health benefits. Marine microalgae, such as Phaeodactylum, Nannochloropsis , and Crypthecodinium , have emerged as a potential source of ω-3 fatty acids, which comprise 50–70% of their total fatty acid content. Although there is a plethora of studies on bioprocess optimization, the system-level information of these microalgae remains restricted to model microalgae. Omics studies have moonlighted the bioprocess optimization by identifying the presence of CAZymes, xylose isomerase, and other pathways for utilization of unconventional carbon sources, such as glycerol. Similarly, transcriptomics and metabolomics studies have aided understanding of the effect of various abiotic factors, enabling the unraveling of several molecular mechanisms for ω-3 fatty acid production. Over the past decade, the focus on omega (ω)-3 fatty acids from microalgae has intensified due to their diverse health benefits. Bioprocess optimization has notably increased ω-3 fatty acid yields, yet understanding of the genetic architecture and metabolic pathways of high-yielding strains remains limited. Leveraging genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics tools can provide vital system-level insights into native ω-3 fatty acid-producing microalgae, further boosting production. In this review, we explore 'omics' studies uncovering alternative pathways for ω-3 fatty acid synthesis and genome-wide regulation in response to cultivation parameters. We also emphasize potential targets to fine-tune in order to enhance yield. Despite progress, an integrated omics platform is essential to overcome current bottlenecks in optimizing the process for ω-3 fatty acid production from microalgae, advancing this crucial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process in‐line monitoring and control are crucial to optimize the productivity of bioprocesses. A frequently applied Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool for bioprocess in‐line monitoring is Raman spectroscopy. However, evaluating bioprocess Raman spectra is complex and calibrating state‐of‐the‐art statistical evaluation models is effortful. To overcome this challenge, we developed an Indirect Hard Modeling (IHM) prediction model in a previous study. The combination of Raman spectroscopy and the IHM prediction model enables non‐invasive in‐line monitoring of glucose and ethanol mass fractions during yeast fermentations with significantly less calibration effort than comparable approaches based on statistical models. In this study, we advance this IHM‐based approach and successfully demonstrate that the combination of Raman spectroscopy and IHM is capable of not only bioprocess monitoring but also bioprocess control. For this purpose, we used this combination's in‐line information as input of a simple on–off glucose controller to control the glucose mass fraction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentations. When we performed two of these fermentations with different predefined glucose set points, we achieved similar process control quality as approaches using statistical models, despite considerably smaller calibration effort. Therefore, this study reaffirms that the combination of Raman spectroscopy and IHM is a powerful PAT tool for bioprocesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foam is generated in mammalian cell cultures by excessive agitation or gas sparging. This occurs particularly in cultures that generate recombinant proteins at high cell concentrations. Three antifoam agents were tested for their compatibility with antibody‐producing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. One agent (antifoam 204) was completely inhibitory to growth at a concentration of 10 ppm, one agent (antifoam C) showed partial inhibition and a third (antifoam SE‐15) showed no inhibition at this concentration. A novel foam image analyzer (LabCam) was used to evaluate two antifoams (C and SE‐15) for their ability to dissipate foam generated in cell culture media by enhanced agitation. The presence of antifoam in the media reduced significantly the foam layer that was generated and this was shown to be rapidly dissipated in the presence of 10 ppm SE‐15. The antifoams were also tested for foam dissipation in cultures of CHO cells at >106 cells/mL. Supplementation of the cultures with SE‐15 resulted in dissipation of foam generated by excessive gas sparging within 2 min. Under equivalent conditions 75% of foam dissipated in the presence of antifoam C, within 2 min but there was a residual foam layer up to 25 min. This study showed the value of an optical monitoring system (LabCam) for measuring foam generation and dissipation in a bioreactor to assess the efficiency of antifoam agents to reduce foam in a bioreactor. This has the potential for use as a control system that could be designed for continuous monitoring and foam control in a mammalian cell bioprocess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amylases are one of the biotechnologically important enzymes that have multiple applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile, detergent, paper and pulp, bioremediation and nano-biotechnology industries. Amylases can be isolated from animals, plants and microbial regions, but nowadays enzymes from prokaryotic species have gained more importance. Among the microbes, amylases from Bacillus cereus have gained considerable demand in various industrial sectors. Growing industrial demand for enzymes compels the availability of enzymes in large quantities that can only be achieved by employing efficient fermentation techniques. Therefore, the current study is aimed at the statistical optimisation of the production conditions for extracellular amylase production from Bacillus strain AS2. In a recent study, the optimum amylase producing AS2 strain was identified on a molecular level, and it was found that it has close relation with the already reported strains of Bacillus cereus. The further enzyme production was optimised by using a statistical optimisation tool. A full-factorial central composite design (CCD) consisting of 53 experiments was designed using six significant variables (incubation period, pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen source and metal ion). The analysis revealed that the optimal media concentrations were 54.34 g.L-1 starch, 0.63 g.L-1 CaCl2, 1 g.L-1 glycine, pH 7.0, 76 h, and 40 °C, respectively. A 1.23-fold increase in the enzyme yield (1 050 IU.mL-1.min-1) was noticed as compared to the original production level. The statistical optimisation approach gives the exact variables that influence the enzyme production and, hence, offers the best way to optimise the bioprocess. The optimised enzyme can be used in industries for various purposes such as de-sizing, de-inking, hydrolysing starch residues, etc.

Oat (Avena sativa) processing generates a large amount of by-products, especially oat bran. These by-products are excellent sources of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and essential fatty acids. Therefore, enhancing the extraction of these bioactive substances and incorporating them into the human diet is critical. This study investigates the effect of acid pretreatment on the solid-state fermentation of oat bran with Aspergillus niger , with an emphasis on the bioaccessibility of phenolic acids and lipid profile. The results showed a considerable increase in reducing sugars following acid pretreatment. On the sixth day, there was a notable increase in the total phenolic content, reaching 58.114 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g DW, and the vanillic acid level significantly rose to 77.419 ± 0.27 μg/g DW. The lipid profile study revealed changes ranging from 4.66 % in the control to 7.33 % on the sixth day of SSF. Aside from biochemical alterations, antioxidant activity measurement using the DPPH technique demonstrated the maximum scavenging activity on day 4 (83.33 %). This study highlights acid pretreatment's role in enhancing bioactive compound accessibility in solid-state fermentation and its importance for functional food development. [Display omitted] • Acid pretreatment increased monosaccharides like maltose, glucose, and fructose. • The analysis of phenolic compounds showed a wide variety, including cinnamic acids, benzoic acids, and avenanthramides. • Vanillic acid increased during fermentation, indicating a synergistic effect with acid pretreatment. • The analyzed samples exhibit low levels of PUFAs/SFAs ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the use of chemical epigenetic modifiers to enhance the production of bioactive molecules in the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae. It was selected for its known ability to produce amphidinols with various pharmacological and agro-industrial applications. Growth inhibition, photosynthetic yield reduction, and stress-related variables were observed in response to different treatments using 5-azacitidine, hydroxamic suberoylanilide acid, metyrapone, tricyclazole, sodium butyrate, and jasplakinolide. Although no evidence of amphidinols overproduction was found, hydroxamic suberoylanilide acid and tricyclazole showed potential for stimulating the synthesis of antioxidant carotenoids such as peridinin and their derivatives. An increase of around 200% and 170% relative to control was observed at the highest non-lethal concentration. More research is required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this response and to optimize production conditions. This pioneering research opens up new avenues for the biotechnological exploitation of dinoflagellate microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fed-batch culture is widely used in biopharmaceutical production owing to its superior productivity; however, optimizing feeding trajectories remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and benefits of using a nonlinear model predictive controller (NLMPC) for on-line reoptimization in mammalian fed-batch culture to compensate for process-model mismatch (PMM). We simulated a monoclonal antibody production process using a standard kinetic model and deliberately introduced PMM via parameter errors. The NLMPC optimized feeding trajectories for a single-feed case, in which a mixture of glucose and glutamine is fed, and for a multiple-feed case, in which glucose and glutamine are fed independently. Our results demonstrate that on-line reoptimization successfully compensates for PMM, improving the final product mass compared to off-line optimization. This study highlights the potential of on-line reoptimization using NLMPCs in mammalian fed-batch culture, which can enhance product yield even in the presence of insufficient parameter estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics are one of the best innovations of twenty-first century serving the humanity in all sectors of life such as agriculture, packaging, automotive, construction and healthcare. With ever increasing demand and ease of processability, plastic production is increasing at a rapid pace thus piling up huge amount of waste in the environment. Lack of infrastructure for plastic waste management, poorly managed recycling facilities and technologies, in-efficient waste collection systems, wrong and unrestrained disposal practices and lack of awareness contributes towards making plastic waste management an open challenge and a threat to the global environment. Previously, the best suited available strategies for plastic waste management include incineration, landfilling, and recycling and reuse, but they were not considered sufficient to tackle the large volume of the problem. Due to lack of infrastructure and management about 80% of the globally produced plastic had not been recycled in any form. Furthermore, the high cost associated with the recycling regarding sorting and processing makes recycling economically least feasible and non-sustainable. The resource circularity of plastic waste includes depolymerization of the waste polymer at the end-of-life cycle into the monomers followed by bio-upcycling to another value-added product thus entering into another life cycle. Talking about the economic validity and feasibility of bio-upcycling technology of plastic waste to produce value-added products, bio-upcycling is considered as a promising strategy as it involves transformation of depolymerized monomers from any route, may it be chemical or biological transformation, into the value-added products using endogenous or engineered metabolic pathways of already existing biological systems. In this review, bio-upcycling of plastic waste as a solution to the current limitations of traditional plastic waste management practices was discussed. Moreover, the biotechnological routes for the upcycling of plastic wastes into value-added products and economic circularity of the polymers were also described. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges for promoting the circularity of plastic waste were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research employs the Taguchi experimental design to optimize the production of α-amylase, a versatile enzyme with diverse industrial applications, using Bacillus velezensis. Thirteen key parameters, including pH, temperature, agitation, inoculum size, aeration and various carbon and nitrogen sources, were systematically investigated using the Taguchi L27 (313) orthogonal array. Initial screening of six seed media formulations identified SM6 (0.5% peptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.1% K2HPO4) as the optimal medium, producing 2.8 U mL-1 of α-amylase. Further optimization under the Taguchi framework yielded a maximum α-amylase activity of 1097.31 U mL-1 and total protein of 1230 mg mL-1 at pH 5, 34°C, 4% moong husk as carbon source, and 2% soybean cake as nitrogen source. Two-factor interaction analysis revealed that a temperature of 34°C with 2% soybean cake, and 4% moong husk with 2% soybean cake, provided the best results. Validation experiments confirmed a 31.2% enhancement in α-amylase production under the optimized conditions. This study highlights the efficacy of the Taguchi design in systematically optimizing complex bioprocesses, paving the way for improved α-amylase synthesis with B. velezensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown increasing therapeutic potential in the last years. However, large production of EV is required for therapeutic purposes. Thereby, scaling up MSC cultivation in bioreactors is essential to allow culture parameters monitoring. In this study, we reported the establishment of a scalable bioprocess to produce MSC‐EV in suspension cultures using spinner flasks and human collagen‐coated microcarriers (3D culture system). We compared the EV production in this 3D culture system with the standard static culture using T‐flasks (2D culture system). The EV produced in both systems were characterized and quantify by western blotting and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The presence of the typical protein markers CD9, CD63, and CD81 was confirmed by western blotting analyses for EV produced in both culture systems. The cell fold‐increase was 5.7‐fold for the 3D culture system and 4.6‐fold for the 2D culture system, signifying a fold‐change of 1.2 (calculated as the ratio of fold‐increase 3D to fold‐increase 2D). Furthermore, it should be noted that the total cell production in the spinner flask cultures was 4.8 times higher than that in T‐flask cultures. The total cell production in the spinner flask cultures was 5.2‐fold higher than that in T‐flask cultures. While the EV specific production (particles/cell) in T‐flask cultures (4.40 ± 1.21 × 108 particles/mL, p < 0.05) was higher compared to spinner flask cultures (2.10 ± 0.04 × 108 particles/mL, p < 0.05), the spinner flask culture system offers scalability, making it capable of producing enough MSC‐EV at a large scale for clinical applications. Therefore, we concluded that 3D culture system evaluated here serves as an efficient transitional platform that enables the scaling up of MSC‐EV production for therapeutic purposes by utilizing stirred tank bioreactors and maintaining xeno‐free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable substrates are food matrices with micronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber content with a high potential for bioprocesses development. In addition, they have been recognized as essential sources of a wide range of phytochemicals that, individually or in combination, can act as bioactive compounds with potential benefits to health due to their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and recently due to their status as prebiotics in the balance of the human intestinal microbiota. This systematic review explores the benefits of lactic fermentation of plant matrices such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and cereals by bacteria with probiotic potential, guaranteeing cell viability (106–107 CFU/mL) and generating bioactive metabolic products for modulation of the gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofloc technology (BFT) has gained increased interest as a potential low-cost and environmentally friendly method for sustainable aquaculture development. However, the addition of external organic carbon source and the increased aeration needed to promote biofloc formation could be a limitation of this technology. The integration of microalgae on the BFT has the potential to improve the overall efficiency of the method, since microalgae can photosynthetically assimilate nitrogen (ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite) without the requirement of external organic carbon addition. In this work, BFT was supplemented with microalgae Nannochloris sp. isolated and adapted in BFT, while four different C/N ratios (0:1, 5:1, 10:1, and 15:1) were applied in artificial aquaculture wastewater to investigate the nitrogen removal efficiency under reduced external organic carbon addition and to assess the nutritional value of the produced biomass. The present study demonstrated that microalgal integration into a biofloc system led to an efficient ammonia removal and repression of nitrite formation at a lower C/N ratio of 5:1 compared to optimum 15:1 of the series consisting of biofloc only. At the optimum levels of C/N, protein content was not changed (around 37%); however, the incorporation of microalgae into the biofloc resulted in a significant decrease of protein digestibility. Lipid content was also decreased (from approx. 16 to 11%) in the series with incorporated microalgae with less unsaturated fatty acids composition. Microbial diversity was altered in the different series examined, while bacterial and eukaryotic communities participating in the nitrogen cycle and degradation of complex organic compounds were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the metabolism of Geobacillus sp. LC300, a promising biorefinery host organism with high substrate utilization rates. A new defined medium was designed and tested that allows for exponential growth to elevated cell densities suitable for quantitative physiological studies. Screening of the metabolic requirements of G. sp. LC300 revealed prototrophy for all essential amino acids and most vitamins and only showed auxotrophy for vitamin B12 and biotin. The effect of temperature and pH on growth rate was investigated, adjusting the optimal growth temperature to several degrees lower than previously reported. Lastly, studies on carbon source utilization revealed a capability for fast growth on several common carbon sources, including monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, and the highest ever reported growth rate in defined medium on glucose (2.20 h−1) or glycerol (1.95 h−1). These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of G. sp. LC300's physiology and metabolic regulation, and its potential use in bioproduction processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the ability to create intricate, live tissues and organs has been made possible thanks to three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Although tissue engineering has received a lot of attention, there is growing interest in the use of 3D bioprinting for microorganisms. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae, are essential to many industrial bioprocesses, such as bioremediation as well as the manufacture of chemicals, biomaterials, and pharmaceuticals. This review covers current developments in 3D bioprinting methods for microorganisms. We go over the bioink compositions designed to promote microbial viability and growth, taking into account factors like nutrient delivery, oxygen supply, and waste elimination. Additionally, we investigate the most important bioprinting techniques, including extrusion-based, inkjet, and laser-assisted approaches, as well as their suitability with various kinds of microorganisms. We also investigate the possible applications of 3D bioprinted microbes. These range from constructing synthetic microbial consortia for improved metabolic pathway combinations to designing spatially patterned microbial communities for enhanced bioremediation and bioprocessing. We also look at the potential for 3D bioprinting to advance microbial research, including the creation of defined microenvironments to observe microbial behavior. In conclusion, the 3D bioprinting of microorganisms marks a paradigm leap in microbial bioprocess engineering and has the potential to transform many application areas. The ability to design the spatial arrangement of various microorganisms in functional structures offers unprecedented possibilities and ultimately will drive innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn and sugarcane are the primary feedstocks for ethanol production, but microbial contamination hinders yeast fermentation efficiency. Current control methods include antibiotics and sulfuric acid, but they have limitations, resulting in dependence on external inputs and the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This review examines electron beam technology as an industrial-scale disinfection solution for both corn- and sugarcane-based ethanol production, highlighting its advantages, limitations and opportunities for adoption in Brazil. A critical evaluation highlights the importance of optimal operating conditions for scalability, cost effectiveness and sustainable implementation. Through a practical example, we demonstrate the effectiveness of electron beam treatment in improving fermentation efficiency and reducing contamination-related losses. Notably, the ionizing radiation from this process does not affect wort sugar content or generate radioactive residues. While acknowledging the potentially high energy input requirements, cogeneration in sugarcane mills can address this, making it a viable option; however, further technical and economic evaluation should be made. In addition, electron beam technology is a promising approach for the production of high-value products such as neutral alcohol, amino acids, animal feed and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, this comprehensive review provides valuable insights for researchers, industry stakeholders and policymakers to promote sustainable and efficient ethanol production practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of bioprocessing by germination and hydrothermal treatment of pigmented red (Jyothi) and black (Chak hao) rice paddy on nutrients, nutraceuticals and antioxidant activities in unpolished rice and comparison with the raw unpolished rice. The results of bioprocessing in the red sample showed an increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(117%), γ-oryzanol (46%), soluble phenolics such as gallic acid (GA)(194%), t-cinnamic acid (80%), bound phenolics like GA (1104%), protocatechuic acid (PCA)(66%) and vanillic acid (VA)(55%) and NO scavenging activity (35%) compared to control. In contrast, the black variety showed an increase in GABA (68%), γ-oryzanol (13%), and soluble phenolics like catechin (CAT)(47%), syringic acid (SYN)(148%), PCA (78%), t-cinnamic acid (590%) and bound phenolics like GA (242%), SYN (260%), caffeic acid (CAF)(115%), campesterol (12%) and β-sitosterol (17%) compared to control. Bioprocessing and hydrothermal treatment in red showed no change in GABA and phytosterols, while an increase in γ-oryzanol (39%), total anthocyanin (62%), bound phenolics such as PCA (30%), CAF (17%) and t-cinnamic acid (35%), and NO scavenging activity (13%) compared to bioprocessed rice. In contrast, black showed an increase in GABA (17%), bound phenolics like CAT (167%), t-cinnamic acid (64%), ferulic acid (FA)(79.5%), campesterol (14%), stigmasterol (29%) and β-sitosterol (13%), and NO scavenging activity (26%) compared to bioprocessed rice. Significant retention of total phenolics, flavonoid, γ-tocotrienol, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol and phytosterols content, and DPPH radical scavenging and total antioxidant activity in both the samples was observed in-spite of processing compared to control. Changes in the contents of nutrients and nutraceuticals are variety-specific. Bioprocessing and hydrothermal treatment resulted in nutraceutical-rich pigmented whole red and black rice, which can be used to develop functional foods to prevent lifestyle disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosylation of recombinant proteins is a post-translational modification that affects multiple physicochemical and biological properties of proteins. As such, it is a critical quality attribute that must be carefully controlled during protein production in the pharmaceutical industry. Glycosylation can be modulated by various conditions, including the composition of production media and feeds. In this study, the N-glycosylation-modulating effects of numerous compounds, including metal enzyme cofactors, enzyme inhibitors, and metabolic intermediates, were evaluated. Chinese hamster ovary cells producing three different IgG antibodies were cultivated in a fed-batch mode. First, a one-factor-at-a-time experiment was performed in 24-well deep well plates to identify the strongest modulators and appropriate concentration ranges. Then, a full response surface experiment was designed to gauge the effects and interactions of the 14 most effective hit compounds in an Ambr® 15 bioreactor system. A wide range of glycoform content was achieved, with an up to eight-fold increase in individual glycoforms compared to controls. The resulting model can be used to determine modulator combinations that will yield desired glycoforms in the final product.

IntroductionCultivated meat has received growing attention since claims were made that cultivated meat can be produced more ethically and sustainably than the current meat production. However, there are still major challenges in the development of cell lines, scaffolding, growth media, and bioprocess, which need to be overcome to reach industrial production levels. Numerous technological innovations have been proposed to overcome these challenges but they have rarely been evaluated with regard to their social sustainability. Consequently, it remains unclear if and how cultivated meat would contribute towards creating inclusive food systems.MethodsTo bring more clarity, the study identifies different technological solutions that are used or developed for production of cultivated meat and identifies the positive and negative claims about the expected contributions of these technological solutions to social inclusion in food systems, using evidence from the literature review and 11 expert interviews. An innovation radar for cultivated meat is proposed to visualise the variety of technological innovations and the claims about their expected contributions to social sustainability.ResultsThe technologies in the areas cell line development, scaffolding, growth media, and bioprocess are expected to have an impact on inclusion in consumption of cultivated meat. Some cell innovations are expected to raise cognitive barriers due to complex technologies that might be difficult for the consumer to understand. Cultural barriers are expected to be raised by cell innovation entailing genetic engineering and medium innovation using FBS or animal components, which is considered to harm animals. Further, regulatory barriers are expected in the EU if genetic modification is used in the production process, which concerns the areas cells, media, and scaffolding. The innovations for scaffolds are expected to mainly lower cost and cultural barriers since most technologies are already used in the food industry. Bioprocess innovations promise to lower cost barriers, however it must be considered, that most of the collected data for innovations in the bioprocess domain are based on assumptions.DiscussionThe study concludes that at this point in time, the most socially sustainable approach to cultivated meat production is not obvious. Under the current technological state of the art, it is not thinkable that production and consumption of cultivated meat could be socially inclusive. As it remains poorly understood if technologies for cultivated meat production could raise or lower barriers to inclusive consumption and production, further research is needed.

Cyanide poisoning remains a significant concern for both civilian and military personnel worldwide. Rhodanese, a cyanide detoxify enzyme produced by the wild (KOJCM1665) and two selected mutant strains (KOJCM1665c and KOJCM1665d) of Klebsiella oxytoca JCM 1665 was purified and characterized using a combination of standard techniques. Extracellular rhodanese yield of the wild and selected mutants were 6.2 ± 0.6, 26.7 ± 0.7 and 18.3 ± 0.3 U/mL respectively. The overall levels of recovery of rhodanese activity and fold after purification were 49 %, 66 %, and 58 % and 2.6, 2.6, and 2.3 % for the wild, KOJCM 1665c, and KOJCM 1665d, respectively. The native molecular weights of the three enzyme preparations were 35.1, 34.9, and 34.8 kDa, while the subunit molecular weight was 35 kDa for all the enzymes. The optimum activity of the enzymes was observed at 50 °C and pH 6.0. The real km of the three enzyme preparations for KCN as a substrate were 1.03 × 10−3, 0.95 × 10−3, and 0.80 × 10−3 M, respectively, while the km for the second substrate (Na2S2O3) were 0.59 × 10−3, 0.49 × 10−3, and 0.69 × 10−3 M, respectively. The substrate specificity study showed that the enzyme preferred sodium thiosulfate as the substrate. Metal ions such as Na+ and K+ had significantly greater inhibitory effects on enzyme activity. This study demonstrated the potential of enhancing K. oxytoca JCM 1665 to overexpress extracellular rhodanese, and the physicochemical properties of the enzyme hold significant promise as a target for improving the efficiency of cyanide bioremediation processes.

The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding by surveying patent documents and scientific articles on current progress in obtaining biopolymers from microalgae grown in wastewater. Raising critical points, current market panorama, trends and perspectives for the implementation of the integrated microalgae biorefinery. The searches for articles and patents were carried out using the terms microalgae, algae, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polymer, and biopolymer. About 57 patents and 27 articles directly related to the topic were found. The USA is the country with the highest number of patents (32), followed by the Republic of Korea (12). Companies are the biggest depositors (50%). Currently, the focus of research is centered on increasing the efficiency of treatments, aiming at large-scale production. Scientific articles show that little has been researched on the extraction of biopolymers from microalgae grown in wastewater. The ability of microalgae to act in the bioremediation of effluents stands out, as well as in the production of bioproducts of industrial interest. However, there is a gap regarding the economic feasibility of implementing current methods to obtain biopolymers, due to the high cost of production (2 × current methods). In addition, more research must be carried out, seeking to evaluate the techno-economic scenario (focused currently on PHB) and bioprospecting new strains to implement the integrated biorefinery concept. These are strategies that could increase the profitability of this sector, and enabling the use of microalgae to obtain biopolymers from effluents is considered a key factor to promote an industrial shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the idea of a circular bioeconomy, the use of side streams as substitutes for cultivation media (components) in bioprocesses would mean an enormous economic and ecological advantage. Costly compounds in conventional media for the production of the triterpene squalene in thraustochytrids are the main carbon source and complex nitrogen sources. Among other side streams examined, extracts from the spent mycelium of the basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus were best-suited to acting as alternative nitrogen sources in cultivation media for thraustochytrids. The total nitrogen (3.76 ± 0.01 and 4.24 ± 0.04%, respectively) and protein (16.47 ± 0.06 and 18.57 ± 0.18%, respectively) contents of the fruiting body and mycelium were determined. The fungal cells were hydrolyzed and extracted to generate accessible nitrogen sources. Under preferred conditions, the extracts from the fruiting body and mycelium contained 73.63 ± 1.19 and 89.93 ± 7.54 mM of free amino groups, respectively. Cultivations of Schizochytrium sp. S31 on a medium using a mycelium extract as a complex nitrogen source showed decelerated growth but a similar squalene yield (123.79 ± 14.11 mg/L after 216 h) compared to a conventional medium (111.29 ± 19.96 mg/L, although improvable by additional complex nitrogen source). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil, the main vegetable oil produced globally, serves diverse purposes, ranging from cooking to the production of processed foods, cosmetics, and biodiesel. Despite contributing significantly to the economies of major producing nations, the escalating production of palm oil raises serious environmental concerns, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, and various forms of pollution. Palm oil mill effluent (POME), a byproduct of palm oil extraction, poses a severe environmental threat when left untreated. As an eco-friendly alternative, anaerobic digestion in controlled bioreactors has emerged, offering simultaneous POME treatment and biofuel generation, particularly hydrogen, with high energy efficiency. This review explores the challenges and opportunities associated with biohydrogen production from POME. Key considerations involve optimizing parameters through pretreatments, nanoparticle incorporation, defining optimal bioreactor conditions, determining hydraulic retention times, and integrating multi-stage processes like dark fermentation followed by photofermentation. This review also emphasizes the significance of sustainable practices and economic analyses in shaping the future of hydrogen production from POME, positioning it as a pivotal player in the palm oil industry’s circular economy and the global energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluates the association of the blue–green microalga Arthrospira maxima (Spirulina), which is known for its CO2 fixation, biomass, and high-value metabolite production, with the microalga growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense under the stressful composition of biogas. The results demonstrated that A. maxima co-cultured with A. brasilense under the high CO2 (25%) and methane (CH4; 75%) concentrations of biogas recorded a CO2 fixation rate of 0.24 ± 0.03 g L–1 days–1, thereby attaining a biomass production of 1.8 ± 0.03 g L–1. Similarly, the biochemical composition quality of this microalga enhanced the attainment of higher contents of carbohydrates, proteins, and phycocyanin than cultured alone. However, metabolites other than tryptophan (Trp) and indole-3-acetic acid could have supported this beneficial interaction. Overall, the results demonstrate that this prokaryotic consortium of A. maxima–A. brasilense established a synergic association under biogas, which represents a sustainable strategy to improve the bio-refinery capacity of this microalga and increase the usefulness of A. brasilense in multiple economic sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell and gene therapies represent promising new treatment options for many diseases, but also face challenges for clinical translation and delivery. Hospital-based GMP facilities enable rapid bench-to-bedside development and patient access but require significant adaptation to implement pharmaceutical manufacturing in healthcare infrastructures constrained by space, regulations, and resources. This article reviews key considerations, constraints, and solutions for establishing hospital facilities for advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). Technologies like process analytical technology (PAT), continuous manufacturing, and artificial intelligence (AI) can aid these facilities through enhanced process monitoring, control, and automation. However, quality systems tailored for product quality rather than just compliance, and substantial investment in infrastructure, equipment, personnel, and multi-departmental coordination, remain crucial for successful hospital ATMP facilities and to drive new therapies from research to clinical impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molasses are a source of fermentable sugars, the substrate utilized for this study, as it is a subproduct from sugarcane processing for sucrose recovery. These sugars can be metabolized for bioH 2 production by bacterial strains, particularly strict-anaerobe Clostridium acetobutylicum (Clac) and its media preparation requires chemical of O 2 removal and N 2 flushing to promote anaerobiosis. Bacillus subtilis (Bsub) can deplete O 2 from culture media and promotes anaerobiosis, which is an aspect that would benefit from further research. Clac was grown in an anaerobic medium and produced 269 mL of hydrogen at 72 h. By co-culturing Clac and Bsub , 502 mL of bioH 2 were produced in a cysteine/N 2 flushed medium, while 203 mL of bioH 2 at 72 h were produced by aerobic co-culture. Additionally, in an untreated/aerobic conventional growth culture for Clac , no production of H 2 was detected, reinforcing the utility of Bsub for anaerobiosis generation. • Clostridium acetobutylicum consumes substrate approximately 6x faster than Bacillus subtilis. • Clostridium acetobutylicum produced 202 mL of bioH 2 in a culture with anaerobiosis assisted by Bacillus subtilis. • Bacillus subtilis CBB5555 can act as a biological O 2 depleter for anaerobic bioprocesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major difficulties of many countries today is to supply food in sufficient quantities and quality to provide for an increasing population without damaging the soil or the ecosystem. In order to overcome the food losses and improve food production, biotechnological and nanotechnological advances come to the fore. In this study we present a comprehensive production process for a food/crop protective which acts as a microbial biofungicide, produced from a microorganism rich in antimicrobial bioactive substances. In this context, Bacillus pumilus was produced in a bioreactor and their spores were encapsulated in alginate/poly (vinyl alcohol) nanoparticles. In the first part of the study, a high quantify of spores was produced during a short incubation period, reaching 2.0 × 1011 CFU/mL using 1% inoculum. In the second part, B. pumilus loaded nanoparticles with a size of 695 nm were produced by electrospinning. Finally, the effects of B. pumilus spores and their nanoparticles on mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were investigated. After electrospinning, the viability of spores was found to be 2.0 × 106 CFU/mL, and nanoparticles showed 28% inhibition of mycelial growth against C. gloeosporioides. Moreover, in vivo studies of spores and nanoparticles also showed efficient fruit protection. As a result, the use and controlled release of nanoparticles loaded with Bacillus spores can be considered a natural and new technique to prevent postharvest fungal decay disease on the crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination is a simple and cost-effective technology that enhances the technological, sensory, and nutritional potential of grains, making them more attractive for use in the food industry. Germinating indigenous seeds is an alternative to increase noticeability and add value to these grains, which hold social and economic significance in the regions where they are cultivated, such as creole purple pericarp corn (PPCC) from the Couto Magalhães de Minas region in Brazil. This study aimed to optimize the germination parameters of time (24–96 h) and temperature (18–32 °C) for PPCC to produce water-soluble extracts and bread. Endogenous enzymes resulting from the germination process significantly enhanced (p < 0.10) the technological (total reducing sugars, total soluble solids, and soluble proteins) and biological properties (γ-aminobutyric acid, total soluble phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity) of the water-soluble extracts. The optimum point for obtaining the extracts was found to be at 85.3 h at 30.46 °C (with desirability of 90.42%), and this was statistically validated. The incorporation of germinated PPCC flours into bread was also promising (p < 0.10) and had a positive impact on the dough property (dough volume increase) and the final product, especially in terms of instrumental texture (springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience), resulting in a softer texture (lower firmness and hardness). The addition of PPCC flours did not alter instrumental color parameters, which may lead to greater consumer acceptance due to imperceptible differences in color to untrained individuals, with the optimized point at 96 h at 29.34 °C, with a desirability of 92.60%. Therefore, germinated PPCC shows promise for use as a base for obtaining water-soluble extracts and in bread as a replacement for commercial flour improvers, while also adding value to a raw material that is part of the local culture and agrobiodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background In industrial bioprocesses, microorganisms are generally selected based on performance, whereas robustness, i.e., the ability of a system to maintain a stable performance, has been overlooked due to the challenges in its quantification and implementation into routine experimental procedures. This work presents four ways of implementing robustness quantification during strain characterisation. One Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strain (CEN.PK113-7D) and two industrial strains (Ethanol Red and PE2) grown in seven different lignocellulosic hydrolysates were assessed for growth-related functions (specific growth rate, product yields, etc.) and eight intracellular parameters (using fluorescent biosensors). Results Using flasks and high-throughput experimental setups, robustness was quantified in relation to: (i) stability of growth functions in response to the seven hydrolysates; (ii) stability of growth functions across different strains to establish the impact of perturbations on yeast metabolism; (iii) stability of intracellular parameters over time; (iv) stability of intracellular parameters within a cell population to indirectly quantify population heterogeneity. Ethanol Red was the best-performing strain under all tested conditions, achieving the highest growth function robustness. PE2 displayed the highest population heterogeneity. Moreover, the intracellular environment varied in response to non-woody or woody lignocellulosic hydrolysates, manifesting increased oxidative stress and unfolded protein response, respectively. Conclusions Robustness quantification is a powerful tool for strain characterisation as it offers novel information on physiological and biochemical parameters. Owing to the flexibility of the robustness quantification method, its implementation was successfully validated at single-cell as well as high-throughput levels, showcasing its versatility and potential for several applications. Graphical Abstract

Microbial composting is one of the most cost-effective techniques for degradation, remediation, nutrition, etc. Currently, there is faster growth and development in nanotechnology in different sectors. This development leads nanoparticles (NPs) to enter into the composts in different ways. First, unintentional entry of NPs into the composts via: waste discharge, buried solid waste, surface runoff, direct disposal into wastes (consumer goods, food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products). Second, intentional mediation of the NPs in the composting process is a novel approach developed to enhance the degradation rate of wastes and as a nutrient for plants. The presence of NPs in the composts can cause nanotoxicity. Conversely, their presence might also be beneficial, such as soil reclamations, degradation, etc. Alternatively, metal NPs are also helpful for all living organisms, including microorganisms, in various biological processes, such as DNA replication, precursor biosynthesis, respiration, oxidative stress responses, and transcription. NPs show exemplary performance in multiple fields, whereas their role in composting process is worth studying. Consequently, this article aids the understanding of the role of NPs in the composting process and how far their presence can be beneficial. This article reviews the significance of NPs in: the composting process, microbial bioprocess performance during nano composting, basic life cycle assessment (LCA) of NP-mediated composting, and mode of action of the NPs in the soil matrix. This article also sheds insight on the notion of nanozymes and highlights their biocatalytic characterization, which will be helpful in future composting research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In industrial bioprocesses, microorganisms are generally selected based on performance, whereas robustness, i.e., the ability of a system to maintain a stable performance, has been overlooked due to the challenges in its quantification and implementation into routine experimental procedures. This work presents four ways of implementing robustness quantification during strain characterisation. One Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strain (CEN.PK113-7D) and two industrial strains (Ethanol Red and PE2) grown in seven different lignocellulosic hydrolysates were assessed for growth-related functions (specific growth rate, product yields, etc.) and eight intracellular parameters (using fluorescent biosensors). Results: Using flasks and high-throughput experimental setups, robustness was quantified in relation to: (i) stability of growth functions in response to the seven hydrolysates; (ii) stability of growth functions across different strains to establish the impact of perturbations on yeast metabolism; (iii) stability of intracellular parameters over time; (iv) stability of intracellular parameters within a cell population to indirectly quantify population heterogeneity. Ethanol Red was the best-performing strain under all tested conditions, achieving the highest growth function robustness. PE2 displayed the highest population heterogeneity. Moreover, the intracellular environment varied in response to non-woody or woody lignocellulosic hydrolysates, manifesting increased oxidative stress and unfolded protein response, respectively. Conclusions: Robustness quantification is a powerful tool for strain characterisation as it offers novel information on physiological and biochemical parameters. Owing to the flexibility of the robustness quantification method, its implementation was successfully validated at single-cell as well as high-throughput levels, showcasing its versatility and potential for several applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aimed to show that bioherbicides are possible in organic agriculture as natural compounds from fungi and metabolites produced by them. It is discussed that new formulations must be developed to improve field stability and enable the commercialization of microbial herbicides. Due to these bottlenecks, it is crucial to advance the bioprocesses behind the formulation and fermentation of bio-based herbicides, scaling up, strategies for field application, and the potential of bioherbicides in the global market. In this sense, it proposed insights for modern agriculture based on sustainable development and circular economy, precisely the formulation, scale-up, and field application of microbial bioherbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]