Understanding Fungal-Algal Symbiosis for Screening Productive Strains for Co-Production of Valuable Bioproducts
Fungi and algae are two organisms that are commonly found in many different environments, and they can often be found living together in symbiotic relationships. The study of these relationships has become increasingly important in recent years, as researchers have discovered that fungal-algal symbiosis can be used to produce valuable bioproducts. In this blog post, we will discuss the research of Abi and Kayla, two undergraduate researchers who presented their work on understanding fungal-algal symbiosis at the REU Symposium.
Understanding Fungal-Algal Symbiosis
Fungal-algal symbiosis is a mutually beneficial relationship between a fungus and an alga. In this relationship, the fungus provides a protective environment for the alga to grow in, while the alga provides the fungus with photosynthetic products that it can use for energy. This type of symbiosis is commonly found in lichens, which are composite organisms that consist of a fungus and an alga living together.
While the relationship between fungi and algae has been studied for many years, there is still much to learn about the mechanisms underlying this symbiosis. Abi and Kayla’s research focused on understanding the ways in which fungi and algae interact with one another and how these interactions can be harnessed for the production of valuable bioproducts.
Screening Productive Strains
One of the primary goals of Abi and Kayla’s research was to identify fungal-algal symbioses that were particularly productive in terms of producing valuable bioproducts. To do this, they screened a large number of different strains of fungi and algae, looking for those that showed promise in terms of co-production of bioproducts.
The screening process involved growing both the fungi and the algae separately, and then combining them to observe the ways in which they interacted. Abi and Kayla used a variety of techniques to analyze the symbiotic relationships between the fungi and algae, including microscopy, DNA sequencing, and metabolite analysis.
Through their screening process, Abi and Kayla were able to identify a number of fungal-algal symbioses that showed particular promise in terms of co-production of valuable bioproducts. These symbioses were then further studied to determine the mechanisms underlying their productivity.
Co-Production of Valuable Bioproducts
One of the most exciting aspects of fungal-algal symbiosis is the potential for co-production of valuable bioproducts. Because the alga provides the fungus with photosynthetic products, the fungus is able to use these products to produce a wide range of different bioproducts, including pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and food additives.
Abi and Kayla’s research focused on the production of two specific bioproducts: carotenoids and fatty acids. Carotenoids are pigments that are found in many different organisms, and they have a wide range of uses in industry and agriculture. Fatty acids are important components of many different types of lipids, and they can be used as a source of energy or as a precursor for the production of other bioproducts.
To produce these bioproducts, Abi and Kayla focused on optimizing the symbiotic relationship between the fungi and algae. They manipulated a variety of different factors, including light intensity, temperature, and nutrient availability, to determine the optimal conditions for co-production of carotenoids and fatty acids.
Through their research, Abi and Kayla were able to demonstrate that fungal-algal symbiosis can be used to produce high yields of both carotenoids and fatty acids. These results suggest that fungal-algal symbiosis
