Microalgae are considered an important source of bioactive molecules that can have applications in several fields including nutrition, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and biofuels. Although microalgae have been commercially cultivated for over 50 years, in depth molecular characterization now seems necessary in order to achieve their full processing capabilities. Of the thirty thousands microalgal species believed to exist, only a few thousand strains are kept in collections around the world, and only a few hundred have been investigated for chemical content. Because they are largely unexplored, microalgae biomass represents a rich source for discovery in both the academic and industrial sectors. In this context, the Algae4A-B project seeks to combine both academia using advanced technological approaches and industry with applied biotechnology research including technologies in the field of biomass production, in order to develop novel microalgae based products aimed towards the aquaculture and cosmetic Industries.
The Algae4A-B is a well-balanced consortium combining four academic laboratories and three industrial partners which share the same main objective which mainly consists in the characterization and the production of customised microalgae biomass, as a source for state-of-the-art high-added-value cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals. Considering all the results obtained during the first two-year span of the project, and in order to complement the generated new knowledge, the main objectives for the 2nd half of the project were:
• Analyze the growth performance of the species P. tricornutum using different growth media, to complement previous results with the species T. chuii.
• Study the growth performance of the species P. tricornutum in large-scale outdoor photobioreactors.
• Evaluate the growth response of the strain T. chuii under mixotrophic conditions in the presence of different carbon sources.
• Establish an optimized protocol for microalgae biomass protein extraction, as a necessary step for further proteomic analysis, using T. chuii as the target species.
• Perform a more in deep characterization of proteolytic activity both in microalgae extracts and hatching liquid.
• Carry out sugar compositional and structural analysis of different polysaccharide fractions obtained from target strains.
• Complete the transcriptomic studies in fish supplied diets supplements microalgal extracts and yeast beta-glucans
• Evaluate the modulation of microbiomes by microalgae and extracts.
• Complete the evaluation the biological effects of microalgae-based compounds in early developmental stages of fish. Carry out an aquaculture trial to determine effects of microalgal extracts on larval plasticity and reprogramming
• Develop protocols to supply the microalgae-based nutraceutical products and assess their usefulness for aquaculture in fish larvae and postlarvae. Determine the effects on growth and immune system
• Complete the studies about ontogeny of immune system. Study of ontogeny during larval development, reprogramming and microbiomes.
• Provide a platform for the efficient transfer of knowledge and training between the academic and the commercial partners.
• Maximize outreach activities and publish the main project results
• Identify and exploit new and emerging market opportunities.
