Percorrer por autor "Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C."
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- Bioactive lipids in : implications for functional foods and healthPublication . Pais, Rita; Conde, Tiago; Neves, Bruna B.; Pinho, Marisa; Coelho, Marta; Pereira, Hugo; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Domingues, Pedro; Gomes, Ana Maria; Urbatzka, Ralph; Domingues, Rosário; Melo, TâniaDunaliella salina is a green microalga extensively explored for β-carotene production, while knowledge of its lipid composition is still limited and poorly investigated. Among lipids, polar lipids have been highlighted as bioactive phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. This research aimed to provide an in-depth lipidome profiling of using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The lipid content was 6.8%, including phospholipids, glycolipids, betaine lipids, sphingolipids, triglycerides, diglycerides, and pigments. Among the total esterified fatty acids, 13.6% were 18:3 omega-3 and 14.7% were 18:1 omega-9. The lipid extract of showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 activity at 100 µg/mL, dose-dependent antioxidant scavenging activity, and antidiabetic activity by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity at 25 and 125 µg/mL. In conclusion, the lipid extract of has the potential to be used as a functional food ingredient or in the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries.
- Comparative analysis of isoprostanoid profiles in Chlorella sorokiniana grown under autotrophic and heterotrophic conditionsPublication . Conde, Tiago; Lopes, Diana; Gros, Valérie; Reversat, Guillaume; Oger, Camille; Galano, Jean-Marie; Vigor, Claire; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Coelho, Natacha; Cardoso, Helena; Domingues, M. Rosário; Durand, ThierryOxylipins are bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), with roles in oxidative stress responses, immunomodulation, and inflammation. While microalgae are recognized as valuable sources of oxylipins, their profiles remain less studied across different species and cultivation conditions. In this study, we characterized the non-enzymatic oxylipin profile of Chlorella sorokiniana grown under autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions to assess the influence of cultivation strategies on their production. A total of 22 isoprostanoids, mainly Phytoprostanes (PhytoP), Phytofurans (PhytoF), Isoprostanes (IsoP), and Neuroprostanes (NeuroP). Autotrophic cultivation resulted in a higher accumulation of isoprostanoids, particularly the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) derivatives, PhytoP and PhytoF species, likely due to oxidative stress induced by fluctuating light and temperature conditions. In contrast, heterotrophic growth, performed under controlled conditions, yielded lower overall oxylipin levels highlighting the presence of 10(R)-10-F4t-NeuroP which was only present in heterotrophic Chlorella. We observed a correlation between the PUFA composition of Chlorella and its non-enzymatic oxylipin profile. Notably, several oxylipins identified in Chlorella have been associated with antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties, emphasizing the potential of this micro-alga as a source of high-value bioactive oxylipins. This study paves the way to the utilization of Chlorella as a source of bioactive oxylipins, as well as to develop cultivation strategies to enhance the production of these lipid mediators.
- Diversity of bioactive compounds in microalgae: key classes and functional applicationsPublication . Osathanunkul, Maslin; Thanaporn, Suebsuya; Karapetsi, Lefkothea; Nteve, Georgia Maria; Pratsinakis, Emmanouil; Stefanidou, Eleni; Lagiotis, Giorgos; Avramidou, Eleni; Zorxzobokou, Lydia; Tsintzou, Georgia; Athanasiou, Artemis; Mpelai, Sofia; Constandinidis, Constantinos; Pantiora, Panagiota; Merino, Marián; Mullor, José Luis; Dobrovic, Luka; Cerasino, Leonardo; Ogawa, Tomohisa; Tsaousi, Meropi; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Cardoso, Helena; Pires, Rita; Rodrigues Figueiredo, Daniel; Figueiredo, Daniel; Costa, Inês F.; Anjos, Catarina; Labrou, Nikolaos E.; Madesis, PanagiotisMicroalgae offer a sustainable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. Their rapid growth, efficient CO2 utilization, and adaptability make them a promising alternative to traditional production methods. Key compounds, such as proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), polyphenols, phytosterols, pigments, and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), hold significant commercial value and are widely utilized in food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, driving innovation across multiple industries. Their antiviral and enzyme-producing capabilities further enhance industrial and medical applications. Additionally, microalgae-based biostimulants and plant elicitor peptides (PEPs) contribute to sustainable agriculture by enhancing plant growth and resilience to environmental stressors. The GRAS status of several species facilitates market integration, but challenges in scaling and cost reduction remain. Advances in biotechnology and metabolic engineering will optimize production, driving growth in the global microalgae industry. With increasing consumer demand for natural, eco-friendly products, microalgae will play a vital role in health, food security, and environmental sustainability.
- Impact of seasons on industrial cultivation of Limnospira platensis (Spirulina): a year-round case study on biomass, phycocyanin, and protein productivity in PortugalPublication . Guerra, Inês; Torres, Cátia; Cardoso, Helena; Pereira, Hugo; Trovão, Mafalda; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Varela, JoãoSpirulina is the most commercially produced biomass, among microalgae and cyanobacteria, with extensive applications across food, feed, nutraceutical and biotechnological sectors. While Spirulina cultivation is wellcharacterized at laboratorial and small-scale production, critical knowledge gaps remain regarding industrialscale production in temperate climates. Specifically, there is a lack of robust empirical data on how seasonal environmental fluctuations affect year-round productivity and the maintenance of consistent biomass quality (protein, phycocyanin content) under large-scale operational constraints. This study evaluates the year-round industrial production of Limnospira platensis in large-scale (1000 m2 and 4000 m2 ) raceway reactors at Allmicroalgae - Natural Products S.A., Portugal. Biomass productivity as well as protein and phycocyanin contents across different seasons and throughout the day were assessed. The influence of environmental factors such as temperature and solar radiation on productivity and biomass composition was also analyzed. Industrially grown Spirulina reached an average annual productivity of 5.1–5.6 g.m− 2 .d− 1 . Seasonal variation revealed a winter productivity decline higher than 60 %, compared to peak yields of 7.5–7.6 g.m− 2 .d− 1 from April to September. Protein content remained consistent year-round between 58.4 and 64.7 %, whereas phycocyanin content presented strong solar radiation dependence, peaking at 15.2 % in summer and decreasing to 10.4 % in winter. Furthermore, an analysis throughout the day identified an optimal harvesting window between midday and sunset to maximize phycocyanin levels. These findings validate the industrial feasibility of year-round Spirulina cultivation in temperate climates and provide seasonal productivity forecasting and harvest timing optimization, towards protein consistency and phycocyanin yield optimization.
- Salt pan brine water sulphated polysaccharides retrieved at pilot scale: ability to stimulate in vitro human macrophages and salmon head kidney cellsPublication . Ferreira, Sónia S.; Pereira, Renato B.; Bordalo, Diana; Barbosa, Helena; Ferreira, Nicole; Correia, Alexandra; Ferreira, Paula; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Navalho, João; Pereira, Eduarda; Vilanova, Manuel; Nunes, Cláudia; Coimbra, Manuel A.; Pinto, BrunoMarine environments are the warehouse of a variety of novel bioactive compounds prone to be explored by food and feed industry. The growing interest in sulphated polysaccharides has led to the search for new sustainable sources, such as seawater. These compounds are naturally concentrated in salt pan brine water due to their evaporation by wind and sunlight. To take advantage of these sources, sulphated polysaccharides were concentrated from salt pan brine water using a scalable membrane ultrafiltration system with 30 and 100 kDa cut-off. This process allowed to concentrate ten times the polymeric material of brine water into 1.9 g/L, rendering a fluffy polysaccharide rich material after drying. It was mainly composed of 23 % (w/w) of uronic acids, 19 % of sulphate esters, and 34 % (w/w) of neutral sugars. This polymeric material has shown to stimulate in vitro both human macrophages and Atlantic salmon head kidney SHK-1 cells in a range of 6.25–50 μg/mL without toxicity, showing potential to be used in both human food and aquaculture feeding.
- Unlocking biochemical profile of chaetoceros calcitrans, cylindrotheca fusiformis, and nannofrustulum shiloi (Bacillariophyta) for nutritional and added-value applicationsPublication . Moreira, Ana S. P.; Rocha, Helena R.; Aveiro, Susana; Ferreira, Andreia S.; Oliveira, Kayane; Conde, Alexandra; Coelho, Marta; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Coelho, Natacha; Pereira, Hugo; Gomes, Ana; Pintado, Manuela; Nunes, Cláudia; Coimbra, Manuel A.; Ventura, Sónia P.M.; Domingues, Rosário; Lopes, DianaDiatoms have garnered attention as sources of natural bioactive compounds, making them attractive for developing high-value products for different biotechnological ends, particularly for nutritional applications. Despite their potential, the chemical composition of industrially produced biomass remains largely underexplored. In this context, this study was focused on a thorough characterisation of the biochemical profile of three marine diatom species produced outdoors in photobioreactors: Chaetoceros calcitrans, Cylindrotheca fusiformis, and Nannofrustulum shiloi. The proximal composition of biomasses accounted for 29–35 % ashes, 21–30 % proteins, 7–14 % lipids, 3–7 % carbohydrates, and 0.4–2 % pigments. Each species contained >35 % of essential amino acids, mainly alanine and leucine. Distinct soluble protein and peptide size distribution patterns were observed among the three species. Galactose (26–45 mol%), uronic acids (20–29 mol%), and glucose (3–21 mol %) were the main sugar residues found in all species. Galactose was mainly derived from floridoside and related compounds. The most abundant fatty acid was 20:5 n-3 in C. calcitrans (18 %), whereas in C. fusiformis was 16:1 n-7 (20 %) and 16:0 in N. shiloi (21 %). Lipidomics revealed 325 species of glycolipids, phospholipids, betaine lipids, sphingolipids, fatty amides, and sterol lipids, also with a distinct distribution along the lipid classes. C. calcitrans was the richest in chlorophylls (14 mg.g− 1 ) and carotenoids (8 mg.g− 1 ). In mineral analysis, calcium showed the highest difference, 66 mg.g− 1 in N. shiloi, 27 mg.g− 1 in C. fusiformis, and 4 mg.g− 1 in C. calcitrans. Overall, this study highlights the nutritional potential of industrially produced diatoms, with distinct chemical profile that can be explored for target applications.
- Unraveling the lipidome of Pavlova gyrans, a natural reservoir of bioactive lipids for biotechnological applicationsPublication . Conde, Tiago; Lopes, Diana; Pinho, Marisa; Melo, Tânia; Coelho, Natacha; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Pereira, Hugo; Domingues, Pedro; Domingues, RosárioThe high demand for natural bioactive compounds has spurred interest in marine environments as a source of functional ingredients. Pavlova gyrans is a haptophyte microalga characterized by a high amount of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), often found esterified to neutral and polar lipids, the latter possessing nutritional and bioactive properties. However, they are still little investigated in Pavlova species. In this work, we characterized the lipidome of P. gyrans using reverse-phase liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry, the FA profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and assessed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of lipid extracts. The lipid content in P. gyrans was 21.8±1.06 mg (100 mg)−1 biomass, while analysis of the FA profile revealed interesting amounts of eicosapentaenoic (8.1±0.4 mg g−1 biomass) and docosahexaenoic (1.3±0.1 mg g−1 biomass) acids. Lipidomics analysis of P. gyrans allowed the identification of 487 lipid species belonging to different classes of glycolipids (156), phospholipids (46), betaine lipids (111), sphingolipids (67), and neutral lipids (107). Glycolipids accounted for the most abundant lipid classes, highlighting the presence of sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and digalactosyldiacylglycerol esterified to omega-3 PUFA, some previously reported with bioactive properties. Lipid extracts obtained from P. gyrans revealed a potent anti-inflammatory activity (98.9±0.2%) at 100 µg mL−1, and antioxidant activity with EC50 values of 131.3±3.8 µg mL−1 and 50.8±3.4 µg mL−1 in the scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. This work highlights P. gyrans as a new source of bioactive polar lipids with promising applications as functional ingredients for the food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Yeast species associated with industrial cultures of the marine microalgae Tisochrysis lutea: Temperature profiles and auxin productionPublication . Matos, Madalena; Fernandes, Mónica A.; Coelho, Natacha; Santos, Tamara; Varela, João; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Sá-Correia, IsabelThis study provides the first systematic characterization of culturable yeast diversity associated with large-scale cultivation of Tisochrysis lutea. This marine haptophyte is widely used in aquaculture for its high content of essential fatty acids, pigments, and other bioactive compounds. Culture sampling was conducted at Necton S.A. facilities (Olhão, Portugal) over full production cycles from 5 L flasks until tubular photobioreactors during the months of May and June. The study aimed to identify and isolate the present yeast species and evaluate their physiological traits relevant to potential co-cultivation strategies. All retained isolates belonged to the phylum Basidiomycota, with six species identified: Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa (45%), R. mucilaginosa (20%), R. diobovata (13%), Vishniacozyma carnescens (16%), Naganishia diffluens (3%), and Moesziomyces aphidis (3%). Temperature growth profiles (10–40 °C), tolerance to artificial sea water, and auxin production were characterized, revealing that, except for V. carnescens, the yeast isolates grow optimally at 25–30 °C, within the ideal range for T. lutea cultivation. Results suggest that some of these marine yeasts, particularly R. sphaerocarpa and R. mucilaginosa isolates, could serve as biological enhancers of algal productivity, in situ. This foundational work supports future efforts to develop targeted yeast management or co-cultivation strategies, with the goal of improving biomass yield and metabolite production in industrial T. lutea photobioreactors.
- Yeast species associated with industrial cultures of the marine microalgae tisochrysis lutea: temperature profiles and auxin productionPublication . Matos, Madalena; Fernandes, Mónica A.; Coelho, Natacha; Santos, Tamara; Varela, João; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Sá-Correia, IsabelThis study provides the first systematic characterization of culturable yeast diversity associated with large-scale cultivation of Tisochrysis lutea. This marine haptophyte is widely used in aquaculture for its high content of essential fatty acids, pigments, and other bioactive compounds. Culture sampling was conducted at Necton S.A. facilities (Olhão, Portugal) over full production cycles from 5 L flasks until tubular photobioreactors during the months of May and June. The study aimed to identify and isolate the present yeast species and evaluate their physiological traits relevant to potential co-cultivation strategies. All retained isolates belonged to the phylum Basidiomycota, with six species identified: Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa (45%), R. mucilaginosa (20%), R. diobovata (13%), Vishniacozyma carnescens (16%), Naganishia diffluens (3%), and Moesziomyces aphidis (3%). Temperature growth profiles (10–40 ◦C), tolerance to artificial sea water, and auxin production were characterized, revealing that, except for V. carnescens, the yeast isolates grow optimally at 25–30 ◦C, within the ideal range for T. lutea cultivation. Results suggest that some of these marine yeasts, particularly R. sphaerocarpa and R. mucilaginosa isolates, could serve as biological enhancers of algal productivity, in situ. This foundational work supports future efforts to develop targeted yeast management or co-cultivation strategies, with the goal of improving biomass yield and metabolite production in industrial T. lutea photobioreactors.