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Microorganisms
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Microbial Pigments
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Microbial Pigments

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 60450

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Laurent Dufossé

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Naturelles et des Sciences des Aliments, ESIROI Département Agroalimentaire, Université de La Réunion, 2 rue Joseph Wetzell, F‐97490 Sainte‐Clotilde, La Réunion, France
Interests: sustainable textile; microbial biotechnology; microbial production of pigments and colorants; fermentation; bioprocess engineering and fermentation technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the impact of globalization in research trends, the search for healthier lifestyles, the increasing public demand for natural, organic, and ‘clean labelled’ products, as well as the growing global market for natural colorants and pigments in economically fast-growing countries all over the world, microorganisms have started to be investigated as readily available sources of chemically diverse pigments and colorants. For all of these reasons, this Special Issue of Microorganisms will highlight exciting findings which may pave the way for alternative and/or additional biotechnological processes for industrial applications of microbial pigments and colorants. Research papers and reviews about microbial biodiversity from terrestrial and marine origins are welcome, bringing new elements about archeabacteria, cyanobacteria, bacteria, yeasts, and fungi as potential sources of well-known carotenoid pigments (e.g., b-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthine, phytoene, phytofluene), indigo and specific pigmented polyketide molecules, such as Monascus and Monascus-like azaphilones, which are not known to be biosynthesized by any other organisms like higher plants. These polyketide pigments also include promising and yet unexplored hydroxy–anthraquinoid colorants from Ascomycetous species. The investigation of biosynthetic pathways of the carotenoids and polyketide-derivative colored molecules (i.e., azaphilones, hydroxyanthraquinones, and naphthoquinones) in pigment-producing fungal species could be the focus of some articles. Contributions about alternative greener extraction processes of the fungal colored compounds, along with current industrial applications, description of their limits, and further opportunities for the use of microbial pigments in beverage, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, leather, and painting areas will also be part of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Laurent Dufossé
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • filamentous fungi
  • pigment
  • colorant
  • carotenoid
  • polyketide
  • azaphilone
  • anthraquinone
  • naphthoquinone
  • screening
  • biodiversity

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3422 KiB  
Article
Controlled Transcription of Regulator Gene carS by Tet-on or by a Strong Promoter Confirms Its Role as a Repressor of Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Fusarium fujikuroi
by Julia Marente, Javier Avalos and M. Carmen Limón
Microorganisms 2021, 9(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010071 - 29 Dec 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2910
Abstract
Carotenoid biosynthesis is a frequent trait in fungi. In the ascomycete Fusarium fujikuroi, the synthesis of the carboxylic xanthophyll neurosporaxanthin (NX) is stimulated by light. However, the mutants of the carS gene, encoding a protein of the RING finger family, accumulate large [...] Read more.
Carotenoid biosynthesis is a frequent trait in fungi. In the ascomycete Fusarium fujikuroi, the synthesis of the carboxylic xanthophyll neurosporaxanthin (NX) is stimulated by light. However, the mutants of the carS gene, encoding a protein of the RING finger family, accumulate large NX amounts regardless of illumination, indicating the role of CarS as a negative regulator. To confirm CarS function, we used the Tet-on system to control carS expression in this fungus. The system was first set up with a reporter mluc gene, which showed a positive correlation between the inducer doxycycline and luminescence. Once the system was improved, the carS gene was expressed using Tet-on in the wild strain and in a carS mutant. In both cases, increased carS transcription provoked a downregulation of the structural genes of the pathway and albino phenotypes even under light. Similarly, when the carS gene was constitutively overexpressed under the control of a gpdA promoter, total downregulation of the NX pathway was observed. The results confirmed the role of CarS as a repressor of carotenogenesis in F. fujikuroi and revealed that its expression must be regulated in the wild strain to allow appropriate NX biosynthesis in response to illumination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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17 pages, 5274 KiB  
Article
Applications of Prodigiosin Extracted from Marine Red Pigmented Bacteria Zooshikella sp. and Actinomycete Streptomyces sp.
by Chatragadda Ramesh, Nambali Valsalan Vinithkumar, Ramalingam Kirubagaran, Chidambaram Kulandaisamy Venil and Laurent Dufossé
Microorganisms 2020, 8(4), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8040556 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6035
Abstract
This study is aimed to determine the distribution, diversity and bioprospecting aspects of marine pigmented bacteria (MPB) isolated from pristine Andaman Islands, India. A total of 180 samples including seawater, sediment, marine plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates were collected and investigated for isolating pigmented [...] Read more.
This study is aimed to determine the distribution, diversity and bioprospecting aspects of marine pigmented bacteria (MPB) isolated from pristine Andaman Islands, India. A total of 180 samples including seawater, sediment, marine plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates were collected and investigated for isolating pigmented bacteria. Results revealed that sediment, invertebrates, and seawater samples were colonized with a greater number of pigmented bacteria pertains to 27.9 × 103 CFU/mL, 24.1 × 103 CFU/mL and 6.7 × 103 CFU/mL respectively. Orange (21.6 × 103 CFU/mL) and red (8.0 × 103 CFU/mL) MPB were predominant than other pigmented bacteria. Fourteen potential MPB were selected based on their intense pigmentation and tested for bioactive nature and food colorant applications. Out of 14, two red pigmented strains BSE6.1 & S2.1 displayed potential multifaceted applications, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, food colorant, and staining properties. Brown pigmented strains CO8 and yellow pigmented strain SQ2.3 have displayed staining properties. Chemical characterization of red pigment using TLC, HP-LC, GC-MS, FT-IR and 1H-NMR analysis revealed prodigiosin as a main chemical constituent. Pure form of prodigiosin compound fractions obtained from both the strains displayed effective antibacterial activity against different human pathogens. MIC and MBC assays revealed that S2.1 requires 300 µg and 150 µg, respectively, and BSE6.1 require 400 µg concentrations of pigment compound for complete inhibition of S. aureus subsp. aureus. On the basis of 16S rRNA sequence analysis, strains S2.1 and BSE6.1 were identified as Zooshikella sp. and Streptomyces sp. and assigned under the GenBank accession numbers: MK680108 and MK951781 respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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19 pages, 1083 KiB  
Article
Carotenoids from Cyanobacteria: A Biotechnological Approach for the Topical Treatment of Psoriasis
by Graciliana Lopes, Duarte Clarinha and Vitor Vasconcelos
Microorganisms 2020, 8(2), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8020302 - 21 Feb 2020
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 6005
Abstract
In this study, five cyanobacteria strains (Alkalinema aff. pantanalense LEGE15481, Cyanobium gracile LEGE12431, Nodosilinea (Leptolyngbya) antarctica LEGE13457, Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi LEGE03282 and Leptolyngbya-like sp. LEGE13412) from the Blue Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology Culture Collection (LEGE CC) of CIIMAR were explored for [...] Read more.
In this study, five cyanobacteria strains (Alkalinema aff. pantanalense LEGE15481, Cyanobium gracile LEGE12431, Nodosilinea (Leptolyngbya) antarctica LEGE13457, Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi LEGE03282 and Leptolyngbya-like sp. LEGE13412) from the Blue Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology Culture Collection (LEGE CC) of CIIMAR were explored for their biotechnological potential in the treatment of psoriasis. Different extracts were characterized for their pigment profile by HPLC-PDA. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed against the superoxide anion radical (O2•-). Their anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative potential was assessed in vitro using the macrophages RAW 264.7 and the human keratinocytes HaCaT as cell-line models, respectively. Terrestrial and freshwater strains presented the highest carotenoid content (33193−63926 μg/g dry extract), with all-trans-β-carotene, zeaxanthin, echinenone and lutein derivatives being the most abundant carotenoids. Acetone was the most effective solvent for pigment extraction. The acetone extracts presented the lowest IC50 values (0.29−0.38 mg dry extract/mL) regarding O2•- scavenging, and revealed anti-inflammatory potential, with N. antarctica LEGE13457, A. pantanalense LEGE15481 and Leptolyngbya-like sp. LEGE13412 reducing the nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cell culture medium in about 25% (p < 0.05). With the exception of A. pantanalense LEGE15481, all the extracts significantly reduced keratinocyte proliferation (p < 0.05), demonstrating a selective toxicity among the different cell lines. Overall, Leptolyngbya-like sp. LEGE13412 and N. antarctica LEGE13457 seem promising for further exploitation in the framework of psoriasis, due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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18 pages, 1375 KiB  
Article
Carotenoid-Producing Yeasts: Identification and Characteristics of Environmental Isolates with a Valuable Extracellular Enzymatic Activity
by Karolina Chreptowicz, Jolanta Mierzejewska, Jana Tkáčová, Mateusz Młynek and Milan Čertik
Microorganisms 2019, 7(12), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7120653 - 4 Dec 2019
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5732
Abstract
Sixteen cold-adapted reddish-pigmented yeast strains were obtained from environmental samples. According to the PCR-based detection of classical yeast markers combined with phylogenetic studies, the yeasts belong mainly to the genera Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces and Cystobasidium, all within the subphylum Pucciniomycotina. All strains [...] Read more.
Sixteen cold-adapted reddish-pigmented yeast strains were obtained from environmental samples. According to the PCR-based detection of classical yeast markers combined with phylogenetic studies, the yeasts belong mainly to the genera Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces and Cystobasidium, all within the subphylum Pucciniomycotina. All strains produced carotenoids within a 0.25–10.33 mg/L range under non-optimized conditions. Noteworthily, among them, representatives of the Cystobasidium genus were found; of particular value are the strains C. laryngis and C. psychroaquaticum, poorly described in the literature to date. Interestingly, carotenoid production with representatives of Cystobasidium was improved 1.8- to 10-fold at reduced temperature. As expected, most of the isolated yeasts biosynthesized extracellular lipases, but within them also one proteolytic and four cellulolytic strains were revealed. We succeeded in isolating strain Cystofilobasidium macerans WUT145 with extraordinarily high cellulolytic activity at 22°C (66.23 ± 0.15 µmol/mg protein·min) that is described here for the first time. Consequently, a set of yeasts capable of producing both carotenoids and extracellular enzymes was identified. Taking into account those abilities, the strains might be applicable for a development of carotenoids production on an agro-industrial waste, e.g., lignocellulose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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8 pages, 527 KiB  
Communication
Rhodotorula mucilaginosa C2.5t1 Modulates Carotenoid Content and CAR Genes Transcript Levels to Counteract the Pro-Oxidant Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide
by Sara Landolfo, Rossella Chessa, Giacomo Zara, Severino Zara, Marilena Budroni and Ilaria Mannazzu
Microorganisms 2019, 7(9), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7090316 - 4 Sep 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3289
Abstract
In order to contribute to the elucidation of the biological role of carotenoids, the cellular response to hydrogen peroxide was analyzed in the red yeast R. mucilaginosa. For that, the wild strain C2.5t1, that produces β-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin, and the albino [...] Read more.
In order to contribute to the elucidation of the biological role of carotenoids, the cellular response to hydrogen peroxide was analyzed in the red yeast R. mucilaginosa. For that, the wild strain C2.5t1, that produces β-carotene, torulene, and torularhodin, and the albino mutant 200A6 that is incapable of producing detectable amounts of these carotenoids, were grown in the presence of increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. In spite of the difference in carotenoid content, the two strains presented comparable resistance to the pro-oxidant that showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 6 mM. When subject to 1 h treatment with 16 mM hydrogen peroxide the two strains increased catalase but not superoxide activity, suggesting that catalase plays a major role in cell protection in both the wild strain and the albino mutant. Moreover, C2.5t1 reduced its carotenoid content by about 40% upon hydrogen peroxide treatment. This reduction in carotenoids was in agreement with a significant decrease of the transcript levels of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. Since an excess of β-carotene may enhance reactive oxygen species toxicity, these results suggest that C2.5t1 modulates carotenoid content to counteract the pro-oxidant effect of hydrogen peroxide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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Review

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36 pages, 5086 KiB  
Review
Fungal Pigments and Their Prospects in Different Industries
by Ajay C. Lagashetti, Laurent Dufossé, Sanjay K. Singh and Paras N. Singh
Microorganisms 2019, 7(12), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7120604 - 22 Nov 2019
Cited by 125 | Viewed by 15398
Abstract
The public’s demand for natural, eco-friendly, and safe pigments is significantly increasing in the current era. Natural pigments, especially fungal pigments, are receiving more attention and seem to be in high demand worldwide. The immense advantages of fungal pigments over other natural or [...] Read more.
The public’s demand for natural, eco-friendly, and safe pigments is significantly increasing in the current era. Natural pigments, especially fungal pigments, are receiving more attention and seem to be in high demand worldwide. The immense advantages of fungal pigments over other natural or synthetic pigments have opened new avenues in the market for a wide range of applications in different industries. In addition to coloring properties, other beneficial attributes of fungal pigments, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activity, have expanded their use in different sectors. This review deals with the study of fungal pigments and their applications and sheds light on future prospects and challenges in the field of fungal pigments. Furthermore, the possible application of fungal pigments in the textile industry is also addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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46 pages, 6495 KiB  
Review
Multifaceted Applications of Microbial Pigments: Current Knowledge, Challenges and Future Directions for Public Health Implications
by Chatragadda Ramesh, Nambali Valsalan Vinithkumar, Ramalingam Kirubagaran, Chidambaram Kulandaisamy Venil and Laurent Dufossé
Microorganisms 2019, 7(7), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7070186 - 28 Jun 2019
Cited by 141 | Viewed by 19427
Abstract
Microbial oddities such as versatile pigments are gaining more attention in current research due to their widely perceived applications as natural food colorants, textiles, antimicrobial activities, and cytotoxic activities. This indicates that the future generation will depend on microbial pigments over synthetic colorants [...] Read more.
Microbial oddities such as versatile pigments are gaining more attention in current research due to their widely perceived applications as natural food colorants, textiles, antimicrobial activities, and cytotoxic activities. This indicates that the future generation will depend on microbial pigments over synthetic colorants for sustainable livelihood. Although several reviews have detailed the comprehensive applications of microbial pigments extensively, knowledge on several aspects of pigmented microbes is apparently missing and not properly reviewed anywhere. Thus, this review has been made to provide overall knowledge on biodiversity, distribution, pathogenicity, and ecological and industrial applications of microbial pigments as well as their challenges and future directions for food, industrial, and biomedical applications. Meticulously, this compendious review treatise on the pigments from bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and microalgae includes reports from the 1970s to 2018. A total of 261 pigment compounds produced by about 500 different microbial species are included, and their bioactive nature is described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Pigments)
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