Yeast surface display (YSD) is a “whole-cell” platform used for the heterologous expression of proteins immobilized on the yeast’s cell surface. YSD combines the advantages eukaryotic systems offer such as post-translational modifications, correct folding and glycosylation of proteins, with ease of cell culturing and genetic manipulation, and allows of protein immobilization and recovery. Additionally, proteins displayed on the surface of yeast cells may show enhanced stability against changes in temperature, pH, organic solvents, and proteases. This platform has been used to study protein-protein interactions, antibody design and protein engineering. Other applications for YSD include library screening, whole-proteome studies, bioremediation, vaccine and antibiotics development, production of biosensors, ethanol production and biocatalysis. YSD is a promising technology that is not yet optimized for biotechnological applications. This mini review is focused on recent strategies to improve the efficiency and selection of displayed proteins. YSD is presented as a cutting-edge technology for the vectorial expression of proteins and peptides. Finally, recent biotechnological applications are summarized. The different approaches described herein could allow for a better strategy cascade for increasing protein/peptide interaction and production.

Microbial communities capable of hydrocarbon degradation linked to biosurfactant (BS) and bioemulsifier (BE) production are basically unexplored in the Gulf of México (GOM). In this work, the BS and BE production of culturable marine bacterial hydrocarbonoclasts consortia isolated from two sites (the Perdido Fold Belt and Coatzacoalcos area) was investigated. The prospection at different locations and depths led to the screening and isolation of a wide variety of bacterial consortia with BS and BE activities, after culture enrichment with crude oil and glycerol as the carbon sources. At least 55 isolated consortia presented reduction in surface tension (ST) and emulsifying activity (EI24). After colony purification, bacteria were submitted to polyphasic analysis assays that resulted in the identification of different strains of cultivable Gammaproteobacteria Gram (−) Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Shewanella, Thalassospira, Idiomarina, Pseudoalteromonas, Photobacterium, and Gram (+) Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and Microbacterium. Overall, the best results for ST reduction and EI24 were obtained with consortia. Individually, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Enterobacter strains showed the best results for the reduction of ST after 6 days, while Thalassospira and Idiomarina strains showed the best results for EI24 (above 68% after 9 days). Consortia isolates from the GOM had the ability to degrade crude oil by up to 40–80% after 24 and 36 months, respectively. In all cases, biodegradation of crude oil was related to the reduction in ST and bioemulsifying activity and was independent from the depth in the water column.

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