Biotechnological Enhancement of Probiotics through Co-Cultivation with Algae: Future or a Trend?

Abstract

The diversity of algal species is a rich source of many different bioactive metabolites. The compounds extracted from algal biomass have various beneficial effects on health. Recently, co-culture systems between microalgae and bacteria have emerged as an interesting solution that can reduce the high contamination risk associated with axenic cultures and, consequently, increase biomass yield and synthesis of active compounds. Probiotic microorganisms also have numerous positive effects on various aspects of health and represent potent co-culture partners. Most studies consider algae as prebiotics that serve as enhancers of probiotics performance. However, the extreme diversity of algal organisms and their ability to produce a plethora of metabolites are leading to new experimental designs in which these organisms are cultivated together to derive maximum benefit from their synergistic interactions. The future success of these studies depends on the precise experimental design of these complex systems. In the last decade, the development of high-throughput approaches has enabled a deeper understanding of global changes in response to interspecies interactions. Several studies have shown that the addition of algae, along with probiotics, can influence the microbiota, and improve gut health and overall yield in fish, shrimp, and mussels aquaculture. In the future, such findings can be further explored and implemented for use as dietary supplements for humans.

Microalgae in Terms of Biomedical Technology: Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Metabiotics

“…Nonetheless, the authors believe that special hopes should be pinned on the heterotrophic lifestyle that is characteristic of a sufficiently large number of microalgae. For comparison, it should be noted that probiotic lactobacilli are expected to persist in the gut as a robust population with a minimum density of 10 6 colony-forming units per 1 g of intestinal content [ 40 ].…”

“…Data have been presented on the acceleration of the growth of the microalga Isochrysis galbana in mixed cultures with various probiotic microorganisms [ 44 ]. In aquaculture, addition of microalgae along with bacterial probiotics enables improving the functioning of the gut and increasing the production yield in experiments with fish, mussels, and shrimp [ 40 , 45 , 46 ]. Introducing a Chlorella sorokiniana culture together with the probiotics Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium longum results in prolonging the survival period of these probiotics in a cooled flan (at 4°С).…”

“…This probiotic function was emphasized by Boris Shenderov [ 30 , 37 – 39 , 48 – 50 ]; it is characteristic of classical bacterial probiotics. Nevertheless, it is to be expected that a mixed algae–bacteria culture will prove to be still more efficient in eliminating nocuous substances, since a synergistic stimulatory effect is typical of such a mixed culture and involves both its components [ 40 ]. In addition, microalgae per se actively bind various harmful substances.…”

“…The nervous system is protected by them against oxidative stress, aging, and neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, dementia, etc.). It suffices to point out that representatives of the genus Arthrospira possess neuroprotective properties and facilitate the performance of normal brain functions [ 40 ]. Their extracts improve brain fatigue symptoms, prevent or mitigate cerebral circulation problems, and promote cognitive, locomotive, and verbal capacities.…”

“…Their extracts improve brain fatigue symptoms, prevent or mitigate cerebral circulation problems, and promote cognitive, locomotive, and verbal capacities. This was established in studies in which undernourished children were treated with Arthrospira (“Spirulina”) preparations [ 40 ].…”