Use of Fungal Mycelium as Biosupport in the Formation of Lichen-like Structure: Recovery of Algal Grown in Sugarcane Molasses for Lipid Accumulation and Balanced Fatty Acid Profile

Author(s)

Zorn, Savienne ; Carvalho, Ana ; Bento, Heitor ; Gambarato, Bruno ; Pedro, Guilherme ; da Silva, Ana ; Goncalves, Rhyan ; Da Ros, Patricia ; Silva, Messias

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MEMBRANES; v. 12, n. 3, p. 15-pg., 2022-03-01.

Abstract

In this study, a lichen-like structure was obtained through the production of a unique biomass, formed by algae cells of Scenedesmus obliquus adhering to the mycelium of filamentous fungal Mucor circinelloides. This structure was composed in two steps; in the first one, microalgal cells and spores were incubated separately, and in the second one, after 72 h of growth, isolated, mature mycelium was harvested and added to cell culture. For spores' incubation, a culture medium containing only 2 g center dot L-1 of glucose and minerals was used. This culture medium, with low sugar content, provided a fungal biomass to the anchorage of microalgae cells. WC medium was used without and with sugarcane molasses supplementation for microalgae cells' incubation. The lichen-type structure that was formed resulted in 99.7% efficiency in the recovery of microalgae cells and in up to 80% efficiency in the recovery of algae biomass in the lichen biomass composition. In addition, the resulting consortium attained a satisfactory lipid accumulation value (38.2 wt%) with a balanced fatty acid composition of 52.7% saturated plus monounsaturated fatty acids and 47.4% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Since fungal species are easy to recover, unlike microalgae, the lichen-like structure produced indicates an efficient low-cost bioremediation and harvesting alternative; in addition, it provides an oleaginous biomass for various industrial applications. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10636-8 - From the cell factory to the Biodiesel-Bioethanol integrated biorefinery: a systems approach applied to complex problems in micro and macroscales
• Grantee: Roberto de Campos Giordano
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/15513-7 - Scale up of L-asparaginase production employing genetically modified microorganism
• Grantee: Heitor Buzetti Simões Bento
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/01386-3 - Artificial lichens and the integration of products with high added value to a biorefinery
• Grantee: Savienne Maria Fiorentini Elerbrock Zorn
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate