Harnassing algae and their microbiomes for the bio-economy Koen Sabbe Wim Vyverman Protistology & Aquatic Ecology (PAE), Dept. Biology, Ghent University, Belgium Olivier De Clerck Phycology, Dept. Biology, Ghent University, Belgium www.pae.ugent.be www.phycology.ugent.be
Contents Algae Economic potential Research at PAE & Phycology labs Nutrient recycling in photobioreactors Nutrient & pollutant recovery (Eco)systems biology of diatoms Geno/phenotypic diversity Algal omics Algae and their microbiomes
Algae
Economic potential Microalgae High productivity Use of non-arable land and oceans Pollution control and CO 2 mitigation Interesting biochemical composition
Macroalgae - seaweeds Economic potential Seaweeds are the second most important aquaculture crop globally [5-6 million US$] Asian tradition, but gaining momentum in Europe as food, feed and carbohydrate polymers Increasingly used in Integrated MultiTrophic Aquaculture [IMTA] to mitigate nutrient loading in fish farms. Culinary potential and interesting fine chemicals
Economic potential 50% FOOD 25% FEED
Current microalgal markets Nutraceuticals in human nutrition Health supplements (i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids) Biologically active substances (antiviral, antifungal, antixodants) Pigments (food colorants)
Current microalgal markets Nutraceuticals in animal feed (fish, pets and farm animals) (> 50% Arthrospira) Aquaculture green-water technique: increased survival, growth and transformation index in larviculture, due to: water quality improvement stabilization by algal oxygen production ph stabilization excreted biochemical compounds induction of behavioral processes like initial prey catching, regulation of bacterial population probiotic effects stimulation of immunity
Near- to medium term microalgae market development Aim the co-production of biofuels and industrial biochemical compounds, using microalgae as a production platform. Through Better use of natural biodiversity Strain improvement (breeding, GGO) to increase growth rate and/or metabolite production Culturing strategies that maintain relative monocultures and promote high photosynthetic conversion efficiencies Metabolic control (physiologically) of the accumulated biopolymers Cell harvesting techniques Advanced biorefining techniques to isolate biofuel precursors in a costeffective manner Access to suitable aquifers
Near- to medium term microalgae market development Aim the co-production of biofuels and industrial biochemical compounds, using microalgae as a production platform. Through Better use of natural biodiversity Strain improvement (breeding, GGO) to increase growth rate and/or metabolite production Culturing strategies that maintain relative monocultures and promote high photosynthetic conversion efficiencies Metabolic control (physiologically) of the accumulated biopolymers Cell harvesting techniques Advanced biorefining techniques to isolate biofuel precursors in a costeffective manner Access to suitable aquifers
Microalgal markets Present market volume: 1,25 billion (< 10.000 t of dry matter/year) Segment: biomass prices $ 125-250 / kg biomass Medium- long-term objective: market segment < 0.40/ kg biomass
Commercial production of microalgae
Commercial production of microalgae Open systems Raceway pond Cheap? Closed systems Bubble columns Tubular reactors Flat panels Expensive?
Fundamental and applied algal research @ UGent
The ecology of algal production Medium recycling in closed photobioreactor systems Jorien FRET (Proviron)
Nutrient removal by phototrophic biofilms Controlled community assembly to maximise nutrient removal in Algal Turf Scrubber Junzhuo Liu
Bacteria-algae interactions
Bacteria-algae cross-talk Biofouling Synergism Antagonism Ecosystem engineering and aquaculture Willem Stock Frederike Stock
Impact of bacterial quorum sensing???????? How are diatoms affected by QS molecules? Which QS molecules are present in the diatoms environment?
Geno- and phenotypic diversity in the astaxanthin producing green alga Haematococcus Screening of new isolates reveals unknown species diversity (C. Allewaert) Haematococcus ML phylogeny based on ITS rdna (ITS1-2.8S-ITS2) sequences + Bayesian pp & ML bootstrap values. Vertical bar = species as outlined by SPNA and GMYC.
Diatoms Ecological key group in aquatic environments: 50% marine primary production Long known as a biotechnologically promising group of microalgae cf lipids, pigments, biogenic silica, Worldwide used in aquaculture as feed stock for larvae culture; nanotech applications Because of their unique physiology especially promising in temperate and cool climates
Resources
Resources Omics (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics) L-Diproline 1st diatom sex pheromone Gillard, Devos & Frenkel et al. 2013
Morphogenesis of seaweeds Algae yield insights for general developmental biology Fundamental research yields results which are relevant for aquaculture Benefit to study a diverse range of organisms Focus on the algal holobiont
Thank you for your attention Koen.Sabbe@ugent.be Wim.Vyverman@ugent.be Olivier.Declerck@ugent.be www.pae.ugent.be www.phycology.ugent.be