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Microorganisms
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Specialized Metabolites from Microorganisms
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Specialized Metabolites from Microorganisms

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 21065

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,

Specialized metabolites, formerly (or usually) called secondary metabolites, toxins, secondary products, or natural products, are organic compounds produced by any lifeform, e.g. bacteria, fungi, animals, or plants, which are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of the organism. This Special Issue will only focus on microbial specialized metabolites, fully in line with Microorganisms ISSN 2076-2607 aims and scope (over 7,700 articles published since 1996, on October 17, 2022). Please have a look there: https://www.mdpi.com/search?q=&journal=microorganisms&sort=pubdate&page_count=50. Bacterial production of secondary metabolites starts in the stationary phase as a consequence of lack of nutrients or in response to environmental stress. Secondary metabolite synthesis in bacteria is often described as not essential for their growth, however, they allow them to better interact with their ecological niche. The main synthetic pathways of secondary metabolite production in bacteria are b-lactam, oligosaccharide, shikimate, polyketide and non-ribosomal pathways. Aspects about microbial specialized metabolites under consideration for publication in this Special Issue are listed below (non-exhaustive list, please contact the Guest Editor for any additional information):

  • Specialized metabolites from bacteria, yeasts, fungi
  • Analytical techniques for full chemical description of microbial specialized metabolites
  • Transfer of plant specialized metabolites to microbial platforms
  • Bioprospecting for new microbial specialized metabolites
  • Subcellular localization of microbial specialized metabolites
  • Machine learning discovery of missing links in microbial specialized metabolites biosynthesis
  • Specialized metabolites of endophytes
  • Cryptic specialized metabolites and how to reveal and express the genes coding for
  • Mining biosynthetic gene clusters for new microbial specialized metabolites
  • Mechanism-based approach to new antibiotic producers screening
  • Engineering powerful green cell factories for robust microbial specialized metabolites production
  • Specialized metabolite biosynthetic diversity encoded in microbial genomes
  • Optimization of microbial specialized metabolites production in fermenters (fermenter design, pO2, pH, nutrients, agitation speed…); idem in Erlenmeyer flasks, microplates, photobioreactors, etc
  • Excretion or in situ cell storage of microbial specialized metabolites
  • Bottleneck removal of microbial specialized metabolites biosynthetic pathways
  • CRISPR-Cas9 based genetic engineering of microbial specialized metabolites biosynthetic pathways
  • Multiomics that reveal the effect(s) of microbial specialized metabolites
  • Bioactivity of microbial specialized metabolites
  • Role and genetic basis of specialized secondary metabolites in microbial ecophysiology
  • Evolutionary genome mining for the discovery and engineering of specialized secondary metabolites
  • Specialized microbial metabolite-mediated predation defense
  • Strain improvement and strain maintenance revisited for production of specialized secondary metabolites
  • Specialized secondary metabolites as big players in the pharma, feed or food business
  • New microbial isolates as source of undiscovered specialized metabolites

Prof. Dr. Laurent Dufossé
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • specialized
  • specialised
  • secondary
  • metabolite
  • bacteria
  • yeast
  • fungus

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2175 KiB  
Article
Role of MalQ Enzyme in a Reconstructed Maltose/Maltodextrin Pathway in Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110
by Camilla März, Sophia Nölting, Lars Wollenschläger, Alfred Pühler and Jörn Kalinowski
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061221 - 18 Jun 2024
Viewed by 922
Abstract
The pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose, produced by Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110, is a relevant secondary metabolite used in diabetes type II medication. Although maltose plays a crucial role in acarbose biosynthesis, the understanding of the maltose/maltodextrin metabolism and its involvement in acarbose production is at an [...] Read more.
The pseudotetrasaccharide acarbose, produced by Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110, is a relevant secondary metabolite used in diabetes type II medication. Although maltose plays a crucial role in acarbose biosynthesis, the understanding of the maltose/maltodextrin metabolism and its involvement in acarbose production is at an early stage. Here, we reconstructed the predicted maltose–maltodextrin pathway that involves four enzymes AmlE, MalZ, MalP, and MalQ. An investigation of enzyme activities was conducted through in vitro assays, leading to an expansion of previously postulated substrate spectra. The maltose-induced α-glucosidase AmlE is noteworthy for its high hydrolysis rate of linear α-1,4-glucans, and its capability to hydrolyze various glycosidic bonds. The predicted maltodextrin glucosidase MalZ showed slow hydrolysis activity on linear α-glucans, but it was resistant to acarbose and capable of releasing glucose from acarbose. AmlE compensates for the low activity of MalZ to ensure glucose supply. We determined the enzyme activity of MalP and its dual function as maltodextrin and glycogen phosphorylase. The 4-α-glucanotransferase MalQ plays a central role in the maltose/maltodextrin metabolism, alongside MalP. This study confirmed the simultaneous degradation and synthesis of long-chain α-glucans. The product distribution showed that with an increasing number of glycosidic bonds, less glucose is formed. We found that MalQ, like its sequence homolog AcbQ from the acarbose biosynthetic gene cluster, is involved in the formation of elongated acarviosyl metabolites. However, MalQ does not participate in the elongation of acarbose 7-phosphate, which is likely the more readily available acceptor molecule in vivo. Accordingly, MalQ is not involved in the formation of acarviosyl impurities in Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Specialized Metabolites from Microorganisms)
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Review

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52 pages, 3491 KiB  
Review
Current Insights in Fungal Importance—A Comprehensive Review
by Viorica Maria Corbu, Irina Gheorghe-Barbu, Andreea Ștefania Dumbravă, Corneliu Ovidiu Vrâncianu and Tatiana Eugenia Șesan
Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061384 - 24 May 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 12241
Abstract
Besides plants and animals, the Fungi kingdom describes several species characterized by various forms and applications. They can be found in all habitats and play an essential role in the excellent functioning of the ecosystem, for example, as decomposers of plant material for [...] Read more.
Besides plants and animals, the Fungi kingdom describes several species characterized by various forms and applications. They can be found in all habitats and play an essential role in the excellent functioning of the ecosystem, for example, as decomposers of plant material for the cycling of carbon and nutrients or as symbionts of plants. Furthermore, fungi have been used in many sectors for centuries, from producing food, beverages, and medications. Recently, they have gained significant recognition for protecting the environment, agriculture, and several industrial applications. The current article intends to review the beneficial roles of fungi used for a vast range of applications, such as the production of several enzymes and pigments, applications regarding food and pharmaceutical industries, the environment, and research domains, as well as the negative impacts of fungi (secondary metabolites production, etiological agents of diseases in plants, animals, and humans, as well as deteriogenic agents). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Specialized Metabolites from Microorganisms)
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22 pages, 1039 KiB  
Review
Focus and Insights into the Synthetic Biology-Mediated Chassis of Economically Important Fungi for the Production of High-Value Metabolites
by Pragya Tiwari and Laurent Dufossé
Microorganisms 2023, 11(5), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11051141 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3412
Abstract
Substantial progress has been achieved and knowledge gaps addressed in synthetic biology-mediated engineering of biological organisms to produce high-value metabolites. Bio-based products from fungi are extensively explored in the present era, attributed to their emerging importance in the industrial sector, healthcare, and food [...] Read more.
Substantial progress has been achieved and knowledge gaps addressed in synthetic biology-mediated engineering of biological organisms to produce high-value metabolites. Bio-based products from fungi are extensively explored in the present era, attributed to their emerging importance in the industrial sector, healthcare, and food applications. The edible group of fungi and multiple fungal strains defines attractive biological resources for high-value metabolites comprising food additives, pigments, dyes, industrial chemicals, and antibiotics, including other compounds. In this direction, synthetic biology-mediated genetic chassis of fungal strains to enhance/add value to novel chemical entities of biological origin is opening new avenues in fungal biotechnology. While substantial success has been achieved in the genetic manipulation of economically viable fungi (including Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the production of metabolites of socio-economic relevance, knowledge gaps/obstacles in fungal biology and engineering need to be remedied for complete exploitation of valuable fungal strains. Herein, the thematic article discusses the novel attributes of bio-based products from fungi and the creation of high-value engineered fungal strains to promote yield, bio-functionality, and value-addition of the metabolites of socio-economic value. Efforts have been made to discuss the existing limitations in fungal chassis and how the advances in synthetic biology provide a plausible solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Specialized Metabolites from Microorganisms)
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54 pages, 3132 KiB  
Review
Specialized Metabolites Produced by Phytotopatogen Fungi to Control Weeds and Parasite Plants
by Antonio Evidente
Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11040843 - 26 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2418
Abstract
Weeds such as parasite plants are one of the most serious pests that farmers are forced to combat since the development of agriculture using different methods including mechanic and agronomy strategies. These pests have generated significant losses of agrarian and herding production, constituting [...] Read more.
Weeds such as parasite plants are one of the most serious pests that farmers are forced to combat since the development of agriculture using different methods including mechanic and agronomy strategies. These pests have generated significant losses of agrarian and herding production, constituting a serious impediment for agricultural activities in reforestation practices and in important infrastructures. All these serious problems have induced the expansive and massive use of synthetic herbicides, which represents one of the main cause of environmental pollution, as well as serious risks for human and animal health. An alternative environmental friendly control method could be the use of bioherbicides based on suitably bioformulated natural products, of which the main ones are fungal phytotoxins. This review covers the literature from 1980 to the present (2022) and concerns fungal phytotoxins with potential herbicidal activity in order to obtain their efficacy as bioherbicides for practical application in agriculture. Furthermore, some bioherbicides based on microbial toxic metabolites are commercially available, and their application in field, mode of action and future perspectives are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Specialized Metabolites from Microorganisms)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Pharmacological Potential, Anti-tumor, Antimicrobial and AChEI Evaluation of Marine-Derived Bacillus velezensis AG6 Exopolysaccharide: In-Vitro Studies
Author: Ghareeb
Highlights: This research elucidates the pharmacological potential of a secondary metabolite from marine Bacillus velezensis

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