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Recently, mushroom production and cultivation of various bioactive components through submerged cultivation has drawn considerable attention of global community. Submerged cultivation is far more effective than fruiting bodies in bioreactors during which culture conditions can also be controlled. Various studies entail that it is possible to grow a wide variety of edible mushroom strains in submerged liquid cultures that yield a high content of biomass and bioactive substances, including enzymes, lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, by using such an approach that is safe for use in the food industry. This review will focus on the traditional methods and enlists various bioactive compounds that were frequently derived from the edible mushrooms while providing an extensive explaination about the submerged cultivation methods. In addition, the current study will also highlight the application of various culture conditions such as an increase or decrease in pH, inoculum sizes, temperature, dissolved oxygen content, and their subsequent impact on biomass production and the total yield of bioactive compounds. Current study would plausibly lead to the further exploitation of mushroom mycelia by the food industries and thus would definitely find their appropriate application as nutraceuticals, food supplements, and flavoring agents. Application and efficacy of lacto-fermentation and submerged cultivation would definitely produce safe, high-quality yield of biomass and bioactive substances by increasing the concentration of the amino acids that give food its umami flavors or by calculating the desired level of substances or components which make food inedible. This would encourage the food authorities to authorize mushroom-based high-quality bioactive substances encompassing nutraceutical content, which is crucial, most particularly for the food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructooligosaccharides are prebiotic sugars that are widely used in the production of functional foods, which can be produced enzymatically by the transfructosylation reaction of sucrose. This work aimed to optimize the production of an invertase with high transfructosylation activity from Aspergillus carbonarius PC-4 using pineapple crown as the inducer substrate and evaluate its biochemical properties. The culture medium was optimized using a Plackett–Burman experimental design and a central composite rotatable design, resulting in a maximum transfructosylation activity of 65.33 U/mL at 72 h of cultivation. The cultivation parameters were Yp/s = 1070.75 U/g and PP = 2771.48 U/h, which showed an increase of 5.2-fold in the enzyme produced. The optimum temperature (50 °C) and pH (5.0) for the enzymatic activity were obtained by a CCR design. The enzyme showed a half-life of 60 min at 40 °C. In conclusion, the invertase produced from A. carbonarius PC-4 using agro-industrial waste (pineapple crown) and an inorganic nitrogen source (ammonium nitrate) exhibits high transfructosylation activity that can be used as a potential source for the production of fructooligosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst worsening climate change, drought stress imperils global agriculture, jeopardizing crop yields and food security, thereby necessitating the urgent exploration of sustainable methods like biopriming for the harnessing of beneficial microorganisms to bolster plant resilience. Recent research has revealed diverse biological compounds with versatile applications produced by Schizophyllum commune, rendering this fungus as a promising contender for biopriming applications. For the first time, this study aimed to investigate the potential of S. commune exo- (EPSH) and intra-polysaccharides (IPSH) isolated from two strains—Italian (ITA) and Serbian (SRB)—under submerged cultivation to enhance the resilience of Pisum sativum L. seeds through the biopriming technique. Testing of the seed quality for the bioprimed, hydroprimed, and unprimed seeds was conducted using a germination test, under optimal and drought conditions, while characterization of the PSHs included FTIR analysis, microanalysis, and determination of total protein content (TPC). The FTIR spectra of EPSH and IPSH were very similar but revealed the impurities, while microanalysis and TPC confirmed a different presence of proteins in the isolated PSHs. In optimal conditions, the IPSH SRB increased germination energy by 5.50% compared to the control; however, the highest percentage of germination (94.70%) was shown after biopriming with the PSH isolated from the ITA strain. Additionally, all assessed treatments resulted in a boost in seedling growth and biomass accumulation, where the ITA strain demonstrated greater effectiveness in optimal conditions, while the SRB strain showed superiority in drought conditions. The drought tolerance indices increased significantly in response to all examined treatments during the drought, with EPSH ITA (23.00%) and EPSH SRB (24.00%) demonstrating the greatest effects. Results of this preliminary study demonstrate the positive effect of isolated PSH, indicating their potential as biopriming agents and offering insights into novel strategies for agricultural resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is dedicated to the possible improvement of the production technology of live plaque vaccines. The automated information system (AIS) of the control of the production of pharmaceuticals has been elaborated in the branch office of the «48 Central Scientific Research Institute» of the Ministry of Defence of Russia (Kirov) within the framework of the federal target program «The National System of Chemical and Biological Security of the Russian Federation». The AIS has been used for the improvement of the technology of submerged cultivation of live plaque vaccine. Strain EV, line NIIEG, as well as the upgraded fermenter BIOR-0,25 with the AIS of the control of the production have been used in this work. The problems of the improvement of the production technology of pharmaceuticals have been studied. The possibility of shared use of the fermenters and AIS of the control of the production of pharmaceuticals has been proven experimentally. This hardware system can accumulate, systemize and record scientific and technical information about all the operations. The above-mentioned studies allow to enhance the technological capabilities of the equipment and to improve the stage of the submerged cultivation in the production of live plaque vaccine.

Amidst worsening climate change, drought stress imperils global agriculture, jeopardizing crop yields and food security, thereby necessitating the urgent exploration of sustainable methods like biopriming for the harnessing of beneficial microorganisms to bolster plant resilience. Recent research has revealed diverse biological compounds with versatile applications produced by Schizophyllum commune, rendering this fungus as a promising contender for biopriming applications. For the first time, this study aimed to investigate the potential of S. commune exo- (EPSH) and intra-polysaccharides (IPSH) isolated from two strains—Italian (ITA) and Serbian (SRB)—under submerged cultivation to enhance the resilience of Pisum sativum L. seeds through the biopriming technique. Testing of the seed quality for the bioprimed, hydroprimed, and unprimed seeds was conducted using a germination test, under optimal and drought conditions, while characterization of the PSHs included FTIR analysis, microanalysis, and determination of total protein content (TPC). The FTIR spectra of EPSH and IPSH were very similar but revealed the impurities, while microanalysis and TPC confirmed a different presence of proteins in the isolated PSHs. In optimal conditions, the IPSH SRB increased germination energy by 5.50% compared to the control; however, the highest percentage of germination (94.70%) was shown after biopriming with the PSH isolated from the ITA strain. Additionally, all assessed treatments resulted in a boost in seedling growth and biomass accumulation, where the ITA strain demonstrated greater effectiveness in optimal conditions, while the SRB strain showed superiority in drought conditions. The drought tolerance indices increased significantly in response to all examined treatments during the drought, with EPSH ITA (23.00%) and EPSH SRB (24.00%) demonstrating the greatest effects. Results of this preliminary study demonstrate the positive effect of isolated PSH, indicating their potential as biopriming agents and offering insights into novel strategies for agricultural resilience.

Fermentation can be a powerful tool for developing new sustainable foods with increased nutritional value and fermented microbial biomass derived from filamentous fungi is a promising example. This study investigates the nutritional profile of edible Aspergillus oryzae biomass produced under submerged fermentation (SmF) using oat flour as a substrate. The fermentation occurred in a 1m3 airlift bioreactor during 48 h at 35 °C and the nutritional profile of the produced fungal biomass in terms of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn), vitamins (E, D2), and dietary fiber was compared to oat flour as well as pure fungal biomass grown on semi-synthetic medium. The total amount of amino acids increased from 11% per dry weight (dw) in oat flour to 23.5% dw in oat fungal biomass with an improved relative ratio of essential amino acids (0.37 to 0.42). An increase in dietary fibers, minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu), vitamin E, as well as vitamin D2 were also obtained in the oat fungal biomass compared to oat flour. Moreover, the short chain omega-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA) and omega-6 linoleic acid (LA) values increased from 0.6 to 8.4 and 21.7 to 68.4 (mg/g dry weight sample), respectively, in oat fungal biomass. The results indicate that fungal biomass grown on oat flour could have a potential application in the food industry as a nutritious source for a wide variety of products.

The demand for cheap, healthy, and sustainable alternative protein sources has turned research interest into microbial proteins. Mycoproteins prevail due to their quite balanced amino acid profile, low carbon footprint and high sustainability potential. The goal of this research was to investigate the capability of Pleurotus ostreatus to metabolize the main sugars of agro-industrial side streams, such as aspen wood chips hydrolysate, to produce high-value protein with low cost. Our results indicate that P. ostreatus LGAM 1123 could be cultivated both in a C-6 (glucose)- and C-5(xylose)-sugar-containing medium for mycoprotein production. A mixture of glucose and xylose was found to be ideal for biomass production with high protein content and rich amino acid profile. P. ostreatus LGAM 1123 cultivation in a 4 L stirred-tank bioreactor using aspen hydrolysate was achieved with 25.0 ± 3.4 g L−1 biomass production, 1.8 ± 0.4 d−1 specific growth rate and a protein yield of 54.5 ± 0.5% (g/100 g sugars). PCA analysis of the amino acids revealed a strong correlation between the amino acid composition of the protein produced and the ratios of glucose and xylose in the culture medium. The production of high-nutrient mycoprotein by submerged fermentation of the edible fungus P. ostreatus using agro-industrial hydrolysates is a promising bioprocess in the food and feed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explored diverse substrates/co-substrates to optimize protease production by Bacillus sp. CL18, and examined bioactivities in optimized medium. Methods: Protease production was assessed using a one-variable-at-a-time approach. Twelve substrates (10 g/L) were initially tested, and the best one was evaluated at 10–50 g/L. Subsequently, 12 co-substrates were added, and then the best one was investigated (1–20 g/L). Proteolytic activity was measured in culture supernatants at days (d) 0–6, using azocasein. In vitro bioactivity assays involved radical-scavenging and Fe2+-chelating abilities, and the inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE). Results: Ground fish scales (FS; 10 g/L) yielded increased protease production (360 U/mL; d4), which was 8–92% higher than other substrates. With FS, higher protease yield (496 U/mL; d4) was observed at 30 g/L (FS30). Among the co-substrates (1 g/L) added to FS30, milled feathers (MF) were the best one (670 U/mL; d4). Finally, highest protease production (780 U/mL; d4) was detected with 5 g/L MF (MF5). After optimization (FS30 + MF5), production was 216% of that with 10 g/L FS. Regarding antioxidant activities, radical-scavenging and Fe2+-chelating capacities in FS30 + MF5 increased from 31.7 to 3.0% (d0) to 77.2 and 55.3% (d4), respectively. In vitro DPP-IV-inhibiting (antidiabetic) and ACE-inhibiting (antihypertensive) activities reached 65.0–73.0% (d1–4) and 71.2% (d4), as compared to 8.3% and 28.7% (d0), respectively. Conclusion: A low-cost waste-based medium was developed for protease production. Co-production of bioactive hydrolysates further contributes to the valorization of fish scales and feathers, representing a promising bioprocess from a circular economy perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of experimental bases on the growth qualities of liquid nutrient media at the stage of obtaining the biomass of plague microbe vaccine strain using submerged cultivation.Materials and methods. Yersinia pestis EV NIIEG vaccine strain was used in the work. The cultivation was carried out in a 5 L bioreactor with automatic stirrer control. We used 28 variants of nutrient media obtained through combining five types of bases and six growth stimulants. Nutrient media without the addition of growth-stimulating additives were used as controls. The following parameters were assessed in the yield biomass: the total number of microbial cells, pH, the percentage of viable microbial cells.Results and discussion. On experimental nutrient media, biomasses of the plague microbe vaccine strain have been produced using submerged cultivation. After evaluating bacterial suspensions by the main indicators, the quality of the obtained suspensions has been compared depending on the nutrient medium used. The most promising bases identified are pancreatic hydrolyzate of casein with dry enzymatic peptone and acid hydrolyzate of corn syrup, especially in combination with such growth stimulants as sodium sulfite, ferrous ammonium sulfate or ammonium molybdate.

Abstract The goal of this study was to evaluate the α-amylases production by basidiomycetes in submerged cultivation (SmC), using wheat milling by-products as substrate. Enzymatic activity was evaluated to select the best strain, the ideal concentration, the by-product and the influence of supplementation in the culture medium. The best producer was chosen among three strains, Ganoderma applanatum (MR-56), Schizophyllum commune (MR-01), and Ganoderma stipitatum (MR-72). All of them were cultivated under the same conditions. MR-56 was selected for an initial screening activity of 5.10±0.31 U/mL in 192h. The Ganoderma applanatum strain was cultured in a medium with various starch concentrations to determine which concentration resulted in the highest α-amylase activity. After 120h of cultivation, activity in the medium containing 4.5% (w/v) had increased from 0.40±0.03 U/mL to 20.70±0.9 U/mL. Subsequently, the wheat milling by-products [Glue Flour (GF), Clean-Out Flour (CF4) Flour, and Low-grade Flour (LGF)] were evaluated in aqueous suspension with and without nutritional supplementation. It was shown that GF and LGF are potential starch sources which do not require nutritional supplementation, exhibiting increases in α-amylase activity of 31.79 U/mL and 30.98 U/mL, respectively. This is the first report involving the application of Ganoderma applanatum in SmC for α-amylase production using synthetic and wheat milling by-products. The results also demonstrated that wheat milling by-products may also be used without supplementation for cell growth and enzyme production, contributing to the development of more sustainable forms of enzyme production through the innovative use of edible organisms with medicinal properties.

Abiotic elicitation, a well-known strategy in mushroom biotechnology, promotes increased accumulation of secondary metabolites in mycelial cultures. The study aimed the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the production of triterpenes in submerged cultures of Ganoderma applanatum. Further, the study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of the extract corresponding to the optimal elicitation variant in selected human cancer cell lines as well as the selectivity against normal cells. MeJA was added on days 1, 4, 6, and 8 in the 10-day growth cycle at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM MeJA. The HPLC-DAD was used to analyze the triterpenes. The cytotoxic activity was tested using the MTTFc assay in grouped panels of skin, prostate, and gastrointestinal cancer cells. The results of the quantitative analyses confirmed the stimulating effect of MeJA on the production of ganoderic acid A and ganoderic acid C. The greatest increase in total triterpenes was found on day 6 of the culture cycle compared to the control group—with the concentration of MeJA—150 µM. Compared to the control samples, mycelial culture extract after the most productive elicitation variant showed significant cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer cells and moderate effects on melanoma cells. Ganoderma applanatum mycelial cultures can be proposed as a model to study the dynamics of the accumulation of compounds with therapeutic values through abiotic elicitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for cheap, healthy, and sustainable alternative protein sources has turned research interest into microbial proteins. Mycoproteins prevail due to their quite balanced amino acid profile, low carbon footprint and high sustainability potential. The goal of this research was to investigate the capability of Pleurotus ostreatus to metabolize the main sugars of agro-industrial side streams, such as aspen wood chips hydrolysate, to produce high-value protein with low cost. Our results indicate that P. ostreatus LGAM 1123 could be cultivated both in a C-6 (glucose)- and C-5(xylose)-sugar-containing medium for mycoprotein production. A mixture of glucose and xylose was found to be ideal for biomass production with high protein content and rich amino acid profile. P. ostreatus LGAM 1123 cultivation in a 4 L stirred-tank bioreactor using aspen hydrolysate was achieved with 25.0 ± 3.4 g L−1 biomass production, 1.8 ± 0.4 d−1 specific growth rate and a protein yield of 54.5 ± 0.5% (g/100 g sugars). PCA analysis of the amino acids revealed a strong correlation between the amino acid composition of the protein produced and the ratios of glucose and xylose in the culture medium. The production of high-nutrient mycoprotein by submerged fermentation of the edible fungus P. ostreatus using agro-industrial hydrolysates is a promising bioprocess in the food and feed industry.

In this research the screening of several higher fungi - basidiomycetes cultures for the presence of collagenolytic activity was carried out. The highest collagenase activity was detected in submerged culture of higher fungus Coprinus lagopides. The enzyme preparation of collagenase was isolated from culture liquid of this producer. The optimum temperature and pH of the collagenolytic activity of the enzyme preparation were determined. The selection of nitrogen and carbon sources and ratios of carbon and nitrogen sources in the composition of nutrient mediums was carried out in order to increase the collagenase activity of fungus submerged culture. In addition to the collagenase activity of producers culture the amount of accumulated biomass, pH and protein concentration in the culture liquid of basidiomycete were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, agroindustrial byproducts can be easily assimilated by several microorganisms due to their composition, which is rich in carbohydrates. Therefore, they could be appropriate for use as raw materials in a sustainable refinery concept, including the production of hydrolytic enzymes with industrial applicability. In this work, xylanase production by the filamentous fungi Talaromyces amestolkiae in submerged culture was evaluated using five agroindustrial byproducts, namely, wheat bran, citrus pulp, rice bran, peanut skin, and peanut shell. Firstly, the aforementioned byproducts were characterized in terms of cellulose, xylan, lignin, and extractives. Next, production studies were performed, and wheat bran generated the highest enzymatic activity (5.4 U·mL−1), probably because of its large amount of xylan. Subsequently, a factorial design was performed to evaluate the independent variables yeast extract, wheat bran, K2HPO4, and pH, aiming to improve the variable response, xylanase activity. The condition that promoted the highest production, 13.02 U·mL−1 (141% higher than the initial condition), was 20 g·L−1 wheat bran, 2.5 g·L−1 yeast extract, 3 g·L−1 K2HPO4, and pH 7. Thus, industrial byproducts with a high content of xylan can be used as a culture medium to produce xylanase enzymes with a Talaromyces strain through an economical and sustainable approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the limiting parameters of the mycelial fungi submerged cultivation for the synthesis of metabolites used for medical, food and industrial purposes is the hydrodynamic conditions of submerged cultivation. The effect of mechanical stirring rate on the yield of metabolites was investigated on the example of cultivation of mycelial fungi Aspergillus awamori - glucoamylase producer. It was found that the maximum yield of the enzyme was observed at the stirring speed of turbine impeller amounting to 60-120 rpm. As the stirring speed increased, the amount of synthesized metabolite decreased, which is a consequence of the destruction of the mycelial cells. The connection between the decrease in glucoamylase synthesis and the rejuvenation of the culture caused by its recovery from fragments of the destroyed mycelium and the subsequent increase in the amount of biomass was shown. At the same time, the degree of destruction was shown by the increase in the amount of nucleic acids in the filtrate. The relationship between the degree of destruction of mycelial cells, determined by the amount of nucleic acids in the filtrate under extreme conditions of ultrasonic disintegration, and the viability of the culture was also demonstrated. The amount of viable cells increased at first (until the saturation of the culture fluid with nucleic acids), and then began to gradually decrease. The obtained results can serve as a starting point for further studies of the possibility of stimulating the primary accumulation of biomass of micromycetes by ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kefiran is a water soluble polysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761. It has wide potential applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports on the effect of osmotic stress and ionic surfactants on kefiran production by L. kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761. Accordingly, the current work aimed at optimizing kefiran production as affected by osmotic stress and nonionic surfactants in submerged cultivation system. Afterwards, the work was extended to investigate cytotoxic as well as antioxidant potentials of kefiran. Firstly, different osmolarities, different ionic surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween 20, Tween 80) as well as their concentrations and addition time were evaluated. The kinetics of cell growth and kefiran production were evaluated before and after the addition of surfactants. Results clearly demonstrated that osmotic stress and surfactant addition had a stimulatory effect on kefiran production. Using the optimal medium osmolality, 550 mOsmol.kg−1, kefiran production was enhanced from 1.29 to about 1.38 g.L−1. Furthermore, Triton X-100 was found to be the best surfactant stimulating kefiran production when added at a concentration of 1.0 g.L−1 at the onset of cultivation process (0 h). This increased kefiran production from 1.38 g.L−1 to 1.62 g.L−1. To summarize, the maximal kefiran production can be enhanced using 550 mOsmol.kg−1 and by adding 1.0 g.L−1 of Triton X-100 at 0 h. The new optimized medium showed an increase of about 25.6% in kefiran production (1.29 up to 1.62 g.L−1). After this step, the process was further optimized in 16-L stirred tank bioreactor. Maximal kefiran production reached 2.32 g.L−1 and 1.87 g.L−1 in bioreactor under control and un-controlled pH conditions, respectively, corresponding to 72.9 and 45.0% increase from the initial production titer, respectively. The produced kefiran exhibited promising anticancer activity against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells, with an IC50 value of 193.89 μg.mL−1. Also, kefiran showed 96.58% radical scavenging activity at 100 μg/mL, with an ED50 recorded of 12.29 ± 0.98 μg.mL−1.

Addition of perfluorodecalin with gas-transporting function to the liquid medium during submerged cultivation of actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces resulted in higher intensity and level of the biomass synthesis and increased production of streptomycin and daunorubicin. Addition of perfluorodecalin to the medium provided a 2.0-2.3-fold surpass of the maximum antibiotic production (achieved by the 120th-144th hours of the culture growth) vs. the antibiotic accumulation peaks in the control.

Submerged cultivation of Hericium erinaceus in various media was studied. The yield of the biomass was shown to depend mainly on the carbon source, whereas the content of water soluble polysaccharides depended mainly on the nitrogen source. The optimal medium composition provided the biomass yield of 21-23 g/l in 7 days. The biomass was characterized by the content of total protein, lipids and carbohydrates. In addition, the amino acid composition of the biomass was determined and shown to meet all the requirements of FAO/WHO concerning the amounts of essential amino acids (with exception of tryptophane). Oleinic and linoleic acids were identified as the main components of the fatty acids. Two water soluble polysaccharide fractions differing in solubility in aqueous ethanol were isolated and shown to contain rhamnose, fucose, xylose, glucose and galactose in different proportions. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, PP and E, ergosterol and coenzyme Q were also detected in the biomass of H.erinaceus.

A highly potent strain of Lentinus edodes producing lentinomycin B, an erythadenin metabolite showing hypolipidemic activity, and biologically active water soluble endopolysaccharides was isolated. The optimum composition of the medium for the strain submerged cultivation was developed. The medium provided shorter period of the strain cultivation and a 2-fold increase of the biomass yield and production of the endopolysaccharides up to 21 g/l and 4.8 g/l of the culture fluid respectively. The total fraction of the water soluble polysaccharides isolated from the mycelium contained glucose, galactose, mannose, arabinose and xylose as the neutral monosaccharides. Glucose was the main monosaccharide. The procedure of the strain submerged cultivation provided production of several final substances during a single technological cycle.

The publication Is concerned with development of the technological processes for submered production of the first domestic antibiotics 70 years age. The literature data on the contribution of the microbiologists of the Kirov City and mainly the workers of the Red Army Research Institute of Epidemiology and Hygiene (nowadays Central Research Institute No. 48 of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Kirov), to development of the manufacture processes for production of penicillin and streptomycin are reviewed.

The aim of the study was to evaluate antitumor and antioxidant properties of water-soluble polysaccharides from submerged mycelium of Flammulina velutipes grown under optimized conditions. The optimization of the nutrient medium composition allowed to increase the biomass yield by more than 2 times (up to 35 g/l) and to reduce the time of the cultivation process. The submerged mycelium of F.velutipes strain Fv-1 contained 14.8% of a water-soluble polysaccharides, 31.6% of proteins, 2.5% of total lipids, vitamins B (B1, B5, Bg). The polysaccharides contained glucose, galactose, fucose, mannose, xylose, rhamnose. The proteins contained all the essential amino acids except for tryptophan. Dry powder of the submerged mycelium, water extract of the mycelium and total fraction of the water-soluble polysaccharides demonstrated the antitumor activity against murine lymphocytic leukemia Р 388 in vivo. The antitumor activity of the substances was mainly due to the polysaccharides, since their purification increased the tumor growth inhibition. The maximum tumor growth inhibition by the water-soluble polysaccharides amounted to 94%. The total fraction of the water-soluble polysaccharides from F.velutipes strain Fv-1 demonstrated antioxidant activity. The antioxidant capacity (AOC) of the water-soluble fraction from F.velutipes was higher than that of the water-soluble polysaccharides from the submerged mycelium of Grifola frondosa, but inferior to the AOC of the water-soluble polysaccharides from the submerged mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum.

Fractions of water soluble and alkali soluble polysaccharides, as well as fucogalactan, a water soluble polysaccharide, and xylomannan, an alkali soluble polysaccharide, were isolated from the Ganoderma lucidum submerged mycelium. When administered orally, the polysaccharides showed antitumor activity in vivo on murine models of solid tumors. Xylomannan and fucogalactan showed the highest antitumor activity. Sensitivity to xylomannan was more pronounced in adenocarcinoma Ca755 as compared to the T-cell lymphocytic leukemia P388. The antitumor activity of the water soluble polysaccharides total fractions from the mycelium and fruiting bodies of the G.lucidum strain was almost identical. The maximum antitumor effect of the mycelium water soluble polysaccharides total fraction was observed with the use of the daily dose of 2 mg/kg.

The object of the study is the riboflavin producer Eremothecium ashbyi Guilliermond 1935 VKPM F-340, the subject of the study is the regularities of riboflavin biosynthesis by the E. ashbyi F-340 strain under different cultivation conditions. Riboflavin is an important micronutrient that is a precursor of the coenzymes flavin mononucleotide and flavinadine dinucleotide, it is necessary for biochemical reactions in all living cells. Population growth and an increase in human needs for vitamin-fortified food and agricultural products is the reason for an increase in demand for riboflavin preparations. Considering this, it is important and economically beneficial to improve the technology for the production of vitamin B2. An important factor that affects the yield of the product is the nutrient medium. At present, the influence of agricultural waste on the biosynthesis of riboflavin is being actively studied in the world. However, not all of the studied types of raw materials are typical for the agriculture of this or that country. Therefore, in order to determine whether this direction of research is promising, it is important to check the effect on the biosynthetic activity of the riboflavin producer of the most common wastes of the domestic industry. In this work, this is done on the example of Ukraine. In the course of the study, microbiological (surface and deep cultivation of E. ashbyi F-340), physicochemical (determination of the amount of biomass by the gravimetric method, determination of the concentration of riboflavin by the spectrophotometric method) and mathematical methods were used. The proposed media with the addition of agricultural waste, providing a higher yield of riboflavin compared to conventional media. The influence of different types of agricultural waste on the biosynthesis of riboflavin by the producer E. ashbyi F-340 was evaluated. The efficiency of using sunflower cake as a component of the nutrient medium is shown. The optimal sources of carbon for the nutrient medium with oil cake have been determined, which increases the yield of riboflavin. Due to the large amount of sunflower cake obtained in Ukraine, its use for modifying the nutrient medium in order to increase the yield of riboflavin in the future will lead to a decrease in the cost of the target product due to the use of cheap and ecological raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic elicitation, a well-known strategy in mushroom biotechnology, promotes increased accumulation of secondary metabolites in mycelial cultures. The study aimed the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the production of triterpenes in submerged cultures of Ganoderma applanatum. Further, the study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of the extract corresponding to the optimal elicitation variant in selected human cancer cell lines as well as the selectivity against normal cells. MeJA was added on days 1, 4, 6, and 8 in the 10-day growth cycle at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM MeJA. The HPLC-DAD was used to analyze the triterpenes. The cytotoxic activity was tested using the MTTFc assay in grouped panels of skin, prostate, and gastrointestinal cancer cells. The results of the quantitative analyses confirmed the stimulating effect of MeJA on the production of ganoderic acid A and ganoderic acid C. The greatest increase in total triterpenes was found on day 6 of the culture cycle compared to the control group—with the concentration of MeJA—150 µM. Compared to the control samples, mycelial culture extract after the most productive elicitation variant showed significant cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer cells and moderate effects on melanoma cells. Ganoderma applanatum mycelial cultures can be proposed as a model to study the dynamics of the accumulation of compounds with therapeutic values through abiotic elicitation.

Production of polysaccharides by white-rot-fungi in submerged cultivation has several advantages due to process control. This work deals with the submerged cultivation, extraction and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from a wild strain of Schizophyllum radiatum isolated from a tropical forest of Colombia. The mushroom was cultivated in laboratory conditions, and classified by classical and molecular taxonomy. Submerged cultivation was performed in a bioreactor of 5 L using a ligninolytic residue as substrate. The fermentation conditions were 30 ± 1 °C, pH 4.5, 300 rpm and 1.5 vvm of air for 4 days. The yields were 16.8 g/L (w / v) of biomass, and after extraction, 0.6 g/L of water-soluble exopolysaccharide (SEPS) and 2.01 % (w /w) of water-soluble intrapolysaccharide (SIPS) were obtained. In each extract total carbohydrate, glucans and protein contents were determined. Also, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), high performance liquid chromatography with refraction index detection (HPLC-RI), high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis were performed. Results indicated that SEPS and SIPS are heteropolysaccharides with amorphous structure and high molecular weights. Antitumor and immunostimulant activity was evaluated in different cancer cell lines. The results suggest these polysaccharides have direct and indirect antitumor activity activating immune cells such as macrophages. These findings enhance our knowledge about new sources of fungal metabolites that serve as adjuvant, cheaper and less harmful alternatives to cancer treatment. [Display omitted] • Phylogenetic analysis classified the wild mushroom isolated as Schizophyllum radiatum. • Intra- and exo polysaccharides of S. radiatum were produced in submerged cultivation on a bioreactor scale. • Water-soluble heteropolysaccharides from S. radiatum were isolated and characterized. • S. radiatum heteropolysaccharides showed antitumor and immunostimulant activities in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Investigation of the influence of cultivation time and sea buckthorn press cake (Hippophaë rhamnoides) dosage on mycelium yield of Inonotus obliquus in submerged cultivation and on the yield, monomer composition, and macromolecular properties of the exopolysaccharides (EPS) from culture media and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) extracted from mycelia. Methods and Results: Supplementation at 5 g l−1 combined with cultivation time of 250 h granted highest yield increase in mycelia (by 122%). The supplementation reduced extraction yield and decreased the molecular weight of the main IPS population. The supplementation increased production and molecular weight of EPS. The relative content of arabinose and rhamnose in EPS positively correlated with dosage of the press cake. The press cake supplementation increased the content of galacturonic acid in IPS, but not in EPS. Conclusion: Sea buckthorn press cake is a food industry fibrous side stream with high oil content. It increases the cultivation yield of Inonotus obliquus mycelium and influences the produced polysaccharides. Significance and Impact of the Study: Mycelium is a resource of bioactive polysaccharides, attracting the interest of nutraceutical companies. Sea buckthorn press cake is a promising supplement for increasing mycelium production. The utilization of this agricultural side stream would therefore favour circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the assessment of the trophic needs of basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes and the optimization of the composition of the nutrient medium using design of experimental approach, the yield of the submerged biomass of the fungus was increased to 41 g/L, the duration of the cultivation process was reduced to 5 days. For this purpose, the 24 full factorial design, the Box– Wilson steep ascent method and the construction of the response surface were used. Using the method of scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that the studied F. velutipes strain grew in the form of small spherical pellets with a diameter of 1–2 mm on an optimized medium. The surface of the pellets was loose; the inner part was filled with hyphae tightly adjacent to each other. The center of the pellets had no cavity. F. velutipes pellets were formed by septate hyphae with clamp connections. The micromorphological characteristics of the submerged F. velutipes mycelium ensured a high diffusion of nutrients and oxygen into the pellets and their maximum filling of the volume of the culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of the study was to select the standardized substrate containing dry hydrolysate of casein for preparation of nutrient medium utilized for manufacturing bivalent chemical cholera vaccine under submerged cultivation of cholera vibrio strains in fermenters. Materials and methods. We used Vibrio cholerae O1 strains of classical biovar: strain 569B Inaba and strain M-41 Ogawa. Examined were two dry substrates of the medium: enzymatic hydrolysate of casein, Type I Himedia (India) and pancreatic hydrolysate of casein, produced by the State Scientific Center of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (Russian Federation). Produced under laboratory conditions at the premises of the RusRAPI “Microbe” medium was used as a control. Submerged cultivation was conducted in bioreactors during (9±1) h with aeration and automatic feeding of glucose and ammonia. Production of protective antigens was measured applying immunochemical and biological methods. Results and discussion. It is demonstrated that submerged cultivation of cholera vibrio production strains on nutrient media under study provides for synthesis of protective antigens the parameters of which comply with the requirements of normative documentation. More standardized and higher indicator values of the target product are ensured by cultivation of producer strains on nutrient medium with a substrate from dry enzymatic hydrolysate of casein, containing (1.5±0.1) g/l of amino nitrogen for the strain V. cholerae M-41 and (2±0.1) g/l – for V. cholerae 569 B. Transition to the use of standardized dry protein components of cultivation media does not lower the quality of the chemical cholera vaccine, but allows for the reduction of cost price and duration of technological process.

Background: Schizophyllum commune, is one of the important medicinal-fungi foods in the world. Due to its important constituents such as extracellular and intracellular polysaccharides, it is widely used in industry and medicine. One of the important polysaccharides of this fungus is chitin-glucan complex (CGC). The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of native fungus Schizophyllum commune isolated from northern forests of Iran and to optimize its CGC production in submerged cultivation. Materials and Methods: Growth kinetics studies of native Schizophyllum commune fungi of Iran and CGC production were performed and growth curves were plotted. In order to increase CGC production, optimization of culture medium was done by investigating independent variables of pH, inoculum percentage and aeration percentage by response surface methodology. Results: The results showed that the specific growth coefficient of Iranian native Schizophyllum commune (max µ) was 0.991-day. Tenth day was also selected as the best time for growth and production in the submerged medium. In optimum conditions, initial pH of 8.92, percentage of inoculum 9.99 and aeration percentage of 150 was obtained. After 10 days, the amount of dry cell weight was 13.05 g/L and the amount of chitin-glucan complex produced was 2.9 g/L. Conclusion: Investigation of kinetic parameters of growth and production showed that the experimental data are in accordance with the logistic growth model with R2=0.9665 and the Luedeking and Piret model for production with R2 = 0.9439. The results also show that the initial pH has a significant effect on the growth of this fungus.

Проблематика. Негативний вплив антропогенних факторів на навколишнє середовище і неправильний спосіб життя значної частини населення призводять до необхідності пошуку та розробки нових харчових продуктів і лікувально-профілактичних препаратів або вдосконалення існуючих технологій їх отримання на основі біологічних агентів, у т.ч. ксилотрофних базидієвних грибів. Тому визначення впливу умов глибинного культивування для штамів Grifola frondosa і Laetiporus sulphureus та виявлення основних факторів, що сприяють накопиченню міцеліальної біомаси, з метою розробки вітчизняних біотехнологій отримання препаратів харчового, лікувально-профілактичного та косметичного призначення є актуальним. Мета. Дослідження штамів G.frondosa і L. sulphureus в умовах глибинного культивування на синте­тичних середовищах, визначення фізіолого-біохімічних особливостей цих грибів та встановлення параметрів рідкого середовища, що сприяють накопиченню біомаси. Методика реалізації. Глибинне культивування штамів 1707 Grifola frondosa (Dicks: Fr.) S.F. Gray та 1518 Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.: Fr.) Murrill проводили в колбах Ерленмеєра на орбітальній качалці на рідких синтетичних живильних середовищах із різними значеннями рН, джерелами карбону та нітрогену, в умовах постійного перемішування за температури +28 °С. Вплив різних значень досліджуваних факторів встановлювали за рівнем накопичення міцеліальної біомаси, який визначали ваговим методом. Кислотність живильного середовища та культуральної рідини визначали потенціо­метричним методом. Результати. Вивчено вплив вихідних значень рН рідкого синтетичного живильного середовища та різних джерел карбону і нітрогену на накопичення біомаси при культивуванні базидєвих грибів G. frondosa 1707 і L. sulphureus 1518. Визначено сприятливі для отримання міцеліальної біомаси значення рН та сполуки – джерела карбону і нітрогену. Висновки. Досліджено ріст двох видів лікарських ксилотрофних базидієвих грибів 1707 Grifola frondosa та 1518 Laetiporus sulphureus на синтетичних середовищах в умовах глибинного культивування за різних вихідних значень рН рідкого живильного середовища та за різних джерел карбону і нітрогену. Визначено сприятливі для росту глибинного міцелію значення рН та встановлено, що найкращими для накопичення міцеліальної біомаси для штаму G. frondosa 1707 є джерела карбону – крохмаль і глюкоза, а джерела нітрогену – пептон і нітрат амонію. Для L. sulphureus 1518 сприятливим джерелом карбону є крохмаль, а джерелом нітрогену – пептон. Для глибинного культивування двох видів ксило­трофних лікарських базидієвих грибів запропоновано застосування синтетичного середовища: для G. frondosa 1707 – з вихідним рН 6,9, глюкозою та нітритом амонію, для L. sulphureus 1518 – з вихідним рН 6,6, крохмалем і пептоном.

Mushroom fruiting bodies have been used as food and food-flavouring materials for centuries for their unique and subtle flavour. However, the whole cycle from mycelium colonization to the fruit-body formation is time-consuming and involves extensive labour. Submerged cultivation of fungi can be a promising alternative for obtaining potent substances for successful utilization in the composition of functional foods. Submerged culture is a speedy process that yields quality mushroom mycelia, considering the alternative of cultivation that takes much more time to produce fruiting bodies. Moreover, the culturing of mycelia on synthetic media is a convenient approach to obtain fungal biomass. Presence of bioactive components in mushroom mycelium makes it an attractive ingredient that is now used as dietary supplements or nutraceuticals. This review focuses on the optimum growth conditions required by mycelia for enhanced quality and yield prospects along with the biological mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic properties and their applications.

Filamentous fungi are one of the most common microorganisms in tropical ecosystems. In particular, the cultivated soils in tropical countries can be considered as unique sources of novel fungal producers of different natural products. The present investigation is related to the isolation of novel pravastatin-producing fungal strain and the selection of fermentation medium for enhanced production of this natural statin. For this purpose, a number of fungal strains were isolated from little-explored oil palm plantation soils and tested for pravastatin production. The selected pravastatin-producing fungal culture was characterized and identified up to species level following the standard procedures. As the fermentation medium plays a vital role in carrying out the successful fermentation process, the pravastatin production was performed in different media compositions maintaining the fermentation conditions constant at 25°C and agitation speed at 180 rpm. Maximum pravastatin accumulation (198.65 mg/L) was observed in a medium containing 30 g/L glucose, 30 g/L glycerol, 4 g/L peptone, 2 g/L NaNO3, and 1 g/L MgSO4·7H2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nocardiopsis alba strain OM-5 showed maximum protease production in submerged culture. The OM-5 protease was purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified protease of 68 kDa showed maximum activity (3312 ± 1.64 U/mL) at 70 °C and was quite stable at 80 °C up to 4 M NaCl (w / v) at pH 9. The purified protease showed significant activity and stability in different cations, denaturing agents, metal ions, and osmolytes. The thermodynamic parameters including deactivation rate constant (K d) and half lives (t 1/2) at 50–80 °C were in the range of 2.50 × 10−3 to 5.50 × 10−3 and 277.25–111.25 min respectively at 0–4 M NaCl. The structural stability of the OM-5 protease under various harsh conditions was elucidated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy followed by K2D3 analysis revealed that the native structure of OM-5 protease was stable even in sodium dodecyl sulfate and Tween 20 indicated by increased α-helices content assisted with decreased β-sheets content. • Biocatalytic potential of the haloalkaliphilic marine actinomycete • Submerged cultivation and cost-effective purification of alkaline serine protease • Probing protein folding of the enzyme at high temperature and in strong denaturants • Thermodynamic parameters indicated stability of protease in salt/high temperature. • Circular dichroism spectra analysis revealed structural stability of the enzyme. • Oxidants, cations, anions, metal ions, osmolytes, and surfactant stable protease [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, fungi have been recognized as producers of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, agents important for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to examine the AChE inhibitory, the antioxidative and antibacterial activity of two different Schizophyllum commune strains that originated from Serbia (SRB) and Italy (IT). Submerged cultivation of grown mycelia (M) and fermentation broth (F) of ethanol (EtOH) and polysaccharide (PSH) extracts lasted for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. For AChE activity Ellman method was performed, while for antioxidative activity, sevendifferent assays were conducted: DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, SOA, OH, NO together with total phenolic content. Antimicrobial screen, LC–MS/MS technique and FTIR measurements were performed. Different isolates exhibited different AChE activity, with PSH being the strongest (SRB, M, 28 days IC90 79.73 ± 26.34 μg/mL), while in EtOH extracts, IT stood out (F, 14 days, IC50 0.8 ± 0.6 μg/mL). PSH extracts (7 days) exhibit significant antioxidative activity (AO), opposite to EtOH extracts where 14 and 21days periods stood out. Only tw extracts showed antibacterial activity. Following LC–MS/MS analysis p-hydroxybenzoic and gallic acids were the most abundant phenolics. PSH extracts demonstrated remarkable results, making this study debut and introducing S. commune as a valuable resource of AChE inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the main solid by-product of the brewing sector. High moisture and nutrient-rich content render BSG easily perishable, leading to waste generation and environmental impacts. BSG has narrow applications in both feed and food sectors due to its composition including high fiber and low protein. Therefore, a processing strategy leading to the nutritional valorization of BSG could widen its applications. In this study, submerged cultivation of edible filamentous fungi (Aspergillus oryzae, Neurospora intermedia, and Rhizopus delemar) was introduced as a strategy to enhance the protein content of BSG. The growth of all strains in BSG increased the protein content of the fermented BSG. The highest increase of protein content (from 22.6% to 34.6%), was obtained by cultivation using A. oryzae and medium supplementation. The protein content increase was followed by a decrease in the content of polysaccharides (up to ca. 50%), namely starch, glucan, xylan, and arabinan. The addition of cellulase resulted in enhanced ethanol production from BSG but led to lower concentration of recovered solids. In conclusion, simple processing of BSG using edible filamentous fungi can lead to quality improvement of BSG, providing potential economic and environmental benefits to the brewing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different cultivation methods on the content of ganoderic acids of 7 species, 10 strains of the Ganoderma genus (Ganoderma applanatum 1899; Ganoderma сarnosum 2502; Ganoderma lucidum 1904; Ganoderma resinaceum 2477, 2503; Ganoderma sinense 2516; Ganoderma tsugae 1848, 2024, 2566, Ganoderma oregonense 2560) genus fungi from the IBK Mushroom Culture Collection M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was investigated. It has been shown that the submerged cultivation method is more efficient for the accumulation of ganoderic acids for five strains. In the mycelium of the strain G. sinense 2516 was the highest content of ganoderic acids – 25.2 ± 1.5 mg / g. The productivity (yeld) of ganoderic acids synthesis is much higher with using the submerged culture cultivation method for mycelium of all used species and strains since the use of this method provides the accumulation of much more biomass in comparison with the static liquid cultivation method. The highest yield amount of ganoderic acids was in the mycelium of the G. tsugae 2024 and G. tsugae 2566 species, namely: 0.35 ± 0.019 and 0.36 ± 0.028 g / l. It was proved that the modified extraction method significantly reduces the extraction time of ganoderic acids. Extraction time is reduced from 14 to 2 days. For the G. sinense 2516 and G. tsugae 2024 strains was determined content of the ganoderic acids and their yield in dynamics of grows in the submerged culture on 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 day of cultivation. The highest amount of the ganoderic acids content was accumulated by the mycelium of the strain G. sinense 2516 – it was 26.4 ± 1.5 mg / g on the 14th day of cultivation. The highest yield of the ganoderic acids was in G. sinense 2516 on 14th day, and G. tsugae 2024 mycelium on the 16th day of cultivation with the next numbers 0.6 ± 0.031, 0.62 ± 0.033 and 0.62 ± 0.027 g/l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the submerged cultivation, extraction and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from Lentinus crinitus. The fungus was isolated from a tropical forest (Antioquia, Colombia), cultivated in laboratory conditions, and classified by classical and molecular taxonomy. Then, it was cultivated in a bioreactor of 5 L using a ligninolytic residue as substrate. The fermentation conditions were 30 ± 1 °C, pH 4.5, 300 rpm and 1.5 vvm for 4 days. The yields of fermentation were 20 g/L of biomass. After extraction, 0.65 g/L of water-soluble exopolysaccharide (LEPS) and 3.3 mg/100 g of water-soluble intrapolysaccharide (LIPS) were obtained. In each extract total carbohydrate, glucans and protein contents were determined. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), high performance liquid chromatography with refraction index detection (HPLC-RI) and high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) analysis for characterization were performed. The antitumor activity was evaluated and polysaccharides not only showed anti-proliferative activity in breast cancer cells but also they activate J774 macrophages as evidenced by the increase of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α (inducers of tumor cell apoptosis). Our findings suggest that polysaccharides can activate macrophages to release nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which directly blocks cancer cell growth. These findings enhance our knowledge about new sources of fungal metabolites that serve as coadjuvant, cheap and less harmful alternatives to cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kefiran is a water soluble polysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761. It has wide potential applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports on the effect of osmotic stress and ionic surfactants on kefiran production by L. kefiranofaciens ATCC 43761. Accordingly, the current work aimed at optimizing kefiran production as affected by osmotic stress and nonionic surfactants in submerged cultivation system. Afterwards, the work was extended to investigate cytotoxic as well as antioxidant potentials of kefiran. Firstly, different osmolarities, different ionic surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween 20, Tween 80) as well as their concentrations and addition time were evaluated. The kinetics of cell growth and kefiran production were evaluated before and after the addition of surfactants. Results clearly demonstrated that osmotic stress and surfactant addition had a stimulatory effect on kefiran production. Using the optimal medium osmolality, 550 mOsmol.kg−1, kefiran production was enhanced from 1.29 to about 1.38 g.L−1. Furthermore, Triton X-100 was found to be the best surfactant stimulating kefiran production when added at a concentration of 1.0 g.L−1 at the onset of cultivation process (0 h). This increased kefiran production from 1.38 g.L−1 to 1.62 g.L−1. To summarize, the maximal kefiran production can be enhanced using 550 mOsmol.kg−1 and by adding 1.0 g.L−1 of Triton X-100 at 0 h. The new optimized medium showed an increase of about 25.6% in kefiran production (1.29 up to 1.62 g.L−1). After this step, the process was further optimized in 16-L stirred tank bioreactor. Maximal kefiran production reached 2.32 g.L−1 and 1.87 g.L−1 in bioreactor under control and un-controlled pH conditions, respectively, corresponding to 72.9 and 45.0% increase from the initial production titer, respectively. The produced kefiran exhibited promising anticancer activity against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells, with an IC 50 value of 193.89 μg.mL−1. Also, kefiran showed 96.58% radical scavenging activity at 100 μg/mL, with an ED 50 recorded of 12.29 ± 0.98 μg.mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The addition of fatty acids and other molecules to culture media may intensify the production of biomolecules, such as monascus pigments, however, few studies of this have been developed. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of adding sodium octanoate to the culture medium, with a view to increasing the synthesis and production of the pigments produced by Monascus ruber CCT 3802 on solid and submerged cultivations. Materials and methods. Monacus ruber CCT 3802 was cultivated on solid and submerged media supplemented with different concentrations of sodium octanoate. The radial growth rate of the colonies was obtained from the declivity of the linear regression of the radius of the colonies as a function of cultivation time and the kinetics of submerged cultivations were performed. The filtrate obtained was submitted to scanning spectrophotometry at a range from 350 to 550 nm and the color parameters were determined by using the CIELAB color system. The data were submitted to a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means obtained for each treatment submitted to Tukey's test using Statistica version 5.0 software at a 5% level of significance. Results. Sodium octanoate exerted a strong influence on growth and pigment production in solid and submerged cultivations. The values for L*, a* and b* were positive for pigments produced, with regards to colors close to red and yellow. In the media supplemented with 1.0 mM and 1.5 mM of sodium octanoate, the production of red pigments became expressive from 48 hours-cultivation, increasing considerably from the second to the fourth days. This shows that supplementation with sodium octanoate provides a greater production of pigments in a shorter time interval than the control culture, which required 144 hours of cultivation to present a higher value for AU510nm, which directly influenced pigment productivity. Conclusion. The addition of sodium octanoate exerted a significant influence on both microbial growth and pigment production in both solid and submerged cultivations. The supplementation of the submerged cultures with sodium octanoate was responsible for an expressive production of pigments in just 48 hours, whereas 144 hours were necessary in the absence of sodium octanoate. These results are promising for increasing the productivity of pigment production, including possibilities for application on an industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the assessment of the trophic needs of basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes and the optimization of the composition of the nutrient medium using design of experimental approach, the yield of the submerged biomass of the fungus was increased to 41 g/L, the duration of the cultivation process was reduced to 5 days. For this purpose, the 24 full factorial design, the Box–Wilson steep ascent method and the construction of the response surface were used. Using the method of scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that the studied F. velutipes strain grew in the form of small spherical pellets with a diameter of 1–2 mm on an optimized medium. The surface of the pellets was loose; the inner part was filled with hyphae tightly adjacent to each other. The center of the pellets had no cavity. F. velutipes pellets were formed by septate hyphae with clamp connections. The micromorphological characteristics of the submerged F. velutipes mycelium ensured a high diffusion of nutrients and oxygen into the pellets and their maximum filling of the volume of the culture medium.

Azaphilones are a class of fungal pigments, reported mostly in association with Monascus species. In Asian countries, they are used as food colourants under the name of "red yeast rice" and their production process is well described. One major limitation of current production techniques of azaphilones is that they always occur in a mixture of yellow, orange and red pigments. These mixtures are difficult to control and to quantify. This study has established a controlled and reproducible cultivation protocol to selectively tailor production of individual pigments during a submerged fermentation using another fungal species capable of producing azaphilone pigments, Talaromyces atroroseus, using single amino acids as the sole nitrogen source. The produced azaphilone pigments are called atrorosins and are amino acid derivatives of the known azaphilone pigment Penicillium purpurogenum–orange (PP-O), with the amino acid used as nitrogen source incorporated into the core skeleton of the azaphilone. This strategy was successfully demonstrated using 18 proteinogenic amino acids and the non-proteinogenic amino acid ornithine. Two cultivation methods for production of the pure serine derivative (atrorosin S) have been further developed, with yields of 0.9 g/L being obtained. Yielding pure atrorosins through switching from KNO3 to single amino acids as nitrogen source allows for considerably easier downstream processing and thus further enhances the commercial relevance of azaphilone producing fungal cell factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentinus crinitus is an important basidiomycete consumed by ethnic groups from the Amazon, commonly found in decomposing trees with high lignolytic and antioxidant activities. Lithium is a mood stabilizer, antiepileptic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant used in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate L. crinitus mycelial biomass bioaccumulated with lithium in liquid cultivation medium. The malt extract medium was added from zero to 100 mg L−1 lithium from two lithium sources (Li 2 CO 3 and LiCl). The maximum mycelial biomass production was 7218.89 mg L−1 in the culture medium added with 5 mg L−1 lithium from LiCl. The highest lithium concentration in the mycelial biomass was of 574.72 μg g−1 produced in the culture medium with 25 mg L−1 lithium from Li 2 CO 3. Pearson's correlation showed that Li 2 CO 3 reduces the mycelial biomass and increases lithium bioaccumulation. The maximum translocated lithium from cultivation medium to mycelial biomass was up to 19 or 28% with LiCl or Li 2 CO 3 , respectively. Therefore, although Li 2 CO 3 presents greater inhibition on the mycelial biomass production, it promoted greater lithium bioaccumulation in L. crinitus mycelial biomass and resulted in greater yield of lithium translocation. The equivalent daily dose of lithium for psychiatric treatment, without bioavailability studies, could be reached with 97.4 g lithium-enriched mycelial biomass and, based in the literature, for reduction of violence and criminality rates the amount could be reached with 0.24–0.58 mg. Thus, the development of lithium-enriched mycelial biomass could be an alternative functional food. • Li 2 CO 3 promoted greater inhibiting effect of L. crinitus mycelial biomass compared with LiCl. • Li 2 CO 3 promoted greater bioocumulation of lithium in the mycelium when compared to LiCl. • The highest lithium bioaccumulation was of 574.72 μg g−1 of lithium in the culture medium added with lithium from Li 2 CO 3 • This lithium bioaccumulated is 300 times than dose necessary for reduction of violence rates • The association of Li 2 CO 3 with mycelial biomass contribute to broaden the positive effects of this food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]