Introduction of Microalgae
Microalgae are a collection of microscopic algae that are invisible to the naked eye. They are unicellular phytoplankton widely distributed in freshwater and marine systems. Also, they can exist alone or in groups. Microalgae comprise many species that vary widely in size from a few micrometers to hundreds of micrometers. Compared with higher plants, the most remarkable feature of these microbes is that they do not have roots, stems and leaves. Another characteristic of them is their fast growth rate, which can grow exponentially under suitable environmental conditions. Common microalgae include eukaryotic protists, prokaryotic cyanobacteria, and cyanobacteria. These microorganisms perform photosynthesis due to their special structure, which is beneficial to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Fig.1 Bioproducts acquired from algal biomass and their applications. (Kusmayadi, 2021)
Species
The biodiversity of microalgae is enormous and they represent a virtually untapped resource. About 200,000-800,000 species in many different genera have been reported, of which about 50,000 species have been described. Common microalgae include Anabena cylindrica, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Chlamydomonas rheinhardii, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Diacronema vlkianum, Dunaliela salina, and Dunaliela bioculata. Additionally, more than 15,000 novel compounds derived from algal biomass were assayed, including antioxidants, fatty acids, peptides, enzymes and toxins. Besides these valuable metabolites, microalgae play a vital role in several fields. At present, microalgae have emerged as a promising class of microorganisms.
Functions in Ecosystem
The photosynthesis of microalgae is crucial to life on earth. They consume the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide for photosynthetic growth and release atmospheric oxygen. In addition, microalgae and bacteria form the basis of the food web, providing food and energy for other living things. Additionally, small plants produce specialized chemical signals that aid in prey selection, defense and avoidance. In addition to this, they are also used as food for numerous aquaculture species, especially filter-water bivalves.
Applications
- Food sources
Microalgae are valuable natural sources that have been consumed in the human diet for a long time. Microalgae contain high-value biologically active compounds such as vitamins and minerals. In addition, microalgae can be used as functional ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of food and reduce the risk of disease. Importantly, unlike traditional crops, microalgae do not require land resources for cultivation. Compared with terrestrial crops, microalgae have higher yields.
- Renewable energy
Microalgae have recently attracted worldwide attention due to their potential for wide-ranging applications in the renewable energy industry. Among the many resources, microalgae are considered to be the most attractive due to their high capacity for vegetable oil production. Additionally, they grow fast and photosynthesize more efficiently than microalgae compared to oil crops. Importantly, they can tolerate high concentrations of salt and have the potential to be produced using an innovative compact photobioreactor. Therefore, as biofuels, microalgae are perfect alternatives to liquid fossil fuels in terms of cost, renewability, and environmental concerns.
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Reference
- Kusmayadi, A.; et al. Microalgae as sustainable food and feed sources for animals and humans–biotechnological and environmental aspects. Chemosphere. 2021, 271: 129800.
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Anti-ATG8 Antibody (Rabbit pAb) (CAT#: MAS-0524-YJ94)
- Host: Rabbit
- Reactivity: C. reinhardtii
- Applications: WB
- Conjugations: Unconjugated
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Anti-c-phycocyanin Antibody (Rabbit pAb) (CAT#: MAS-0524-YJ91)
- Host: Rabbit
- Reactivity: A. platensis
- Applications: ELISA; IHC; ICC
- Conjugations: Unconjugated; Cy3; Cy5; Cy5.5; Cy7; FITC
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Anti-ATG4 Antibody (Rabbit pAb) (CAT#: MAS-0524-YJ93)
- Host: Rabbit
- Reactivity: C. reinhardtii, C. dorsiventrale
- Applications: WB
- Conjugations: Unconjugated
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Anti-Microcystin-LR Monoclonal Antibody (Human mAb, 3A8) (CAT#: MAS-0524-YJ20)
- Host: Human
- Reactivity: M. aeruginosa
- Applications: ELISA
- Conjugations: Conjugation could be customized
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Anti-Microcystin-LR Monoclonal Antibody (Mouse mAb) (CAT#: MAS-0524-YJ21)
- Host: Mouse
- Reactivity: M. aeruginosa
- Applications: ELISA; WB
- Conjugations: Conjugation could be customized
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Anti-AtpA Antibody (Rabbit pAb) (CAT#: MAS-0524-YJ92)
- Host: Rabbit
- Reactivity: C. reinhardtii
- Applications: WB
- Conjugations: Unconjugated
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For Research Use Only. Do NOT use in humans or animals.
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Target
- ATG4(1)
- ATG8(1)
- AtpA(1)
- c-phycocyanin(1)
- Microcystin-LR(2)
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Applications
- ELISA(3)
- IHC(1)
- ICC(1)
- WB(4)
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Reactivity
- A. platensis(1)
- C. reinhardtii(2)
- C. reinhardtii, C. dorsiventrale(1)
- M. aeruginosa(2)
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Host
- Human(1)
- Mouse(1)
- Rabbit(4)
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Conjugations
- Unconjugated(6)
- Biotin(2)
- HRP(2)
- APC(2)
- PE(2)
- FITC(3)
- Dye 350(2)
- Dye 405(2)
- Dye 488(2)
- Dye 532(2)
- Dye 594(2)
- Dye 647(2)
- Cy3(3)
- Cy3.5(2)
- Cy5(3)
- Cy7(3)
- Cy5.5(1)
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Clone
- 3A8(1)
- G5(1)