Cosmetic Application of Cyanobacteria Extracts with a Sustainable Vision to Skincare: Role in the Antioxidant and Antiaging Process

Nature-based and sustainably sourced cosmetics have been dominating the area of skincare products worldwide. Due to their antioxidant and antiaging properties, compounds from cyanobacteria, such as carotenoids and phycobiliproteins, may replace synthetic ingredients in cosmetic formulations and may be used in products such as sunscreens, skincare creams, and makeup. In this study, we evaluated the potential of acetonic and aqueous extracts from cyanobacteria strains of the genera Cyanobium and Leptothoe and from strains within Synechococcales and Oscillatoriales orders, for use in cosmetics. Extractions were sequentially performed with acetone and water. Extracts were firstly analyzed for their toxicity to keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells (HaCAT, 3T3L1 and hCMEC/D3, respectively). The non-cytotoxic extracts were characterized in terms of total proteins, carotenoids, chlorophyll, phenols, phycobiliproteins, and analyzed for their antioxidant potential against the superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), and for their ability to inhibit key enzymes associated with the skin aging process. Aqueous extracts were richer in total proteins and phycobiliproteins. The aqueous extracts of Synechococcales cyanobacterium LEGE 181157 and Synechococcales cyanobacterium LEGE 181150 showed the highest value for total proteins (760.81 and 695.25 μg BSA mL⁻¹_{dry extract,} respectively) and the best values regarding O₂^•− scavenging (IC₅₀ = 63.24 and 112.18 μg mL⁻¹_{dry extract}, respectively) with a significant negative correlation observed (p < 0.01). Moreover, aqueous extracts of Synechococcales cyanobacterium LEGE 181150 and Synechococcales cyanobacterium LEGE 181157 inhibited hyaluronidase, (IC₅₀ of 483.86 and 645.06 μg mL⁻¹_{dry extract}, respectively), with a significant negative correlation with total proteins (p < 0.05), pointing out the contribution of these compounds to the biological activities observed. Acetonic extracts were richer in carotenoids and phenols. Zeaxanthin and β-carotene were predominant among all strains, being present in higher amount in Cyanobium sp. LEGE 07175 (53.08 μg mg⁻¹) and Leptothoe sp. LEGE 181156 (47.89 μg mg⁻¹), respectively. The same strains also showed the highest values for collagenase inhibition at 750 μg mL⁻¹_{dry extract} (32.88 and 36.61%, respectively). Furthermore, Leptothoe sp. LEGE 181156 exhibited the lowest IC₅₀ value for tyrosinase inhibition (465.92 μg mL⁻¹_{dry extract}) and Synechococcales cyanobacterium LEGE 181157 presented the best values for elastase inhibition (IC₅₀ of 380.50 and IC₂₅ of 51.43 μg mL⁻¹_{dry extract}). In general, cyanobacteria extracts demonstrated potential for being used for antiaging purposes, with aqueous extracts being more efficient at free radicals scavenging and acetonic ones at avoiding degradation of dermal matrix components.     

蓝细菌16S rRNA双甲基化酶基因ksgA的进化分析、蛋白结构预测及功能验证

为研究核糖体小亚基rRNA双甲基化酶基因ksgA的进化关系、蛋白结构和功能,利用MEGA 5.2软件构建了37种蓝细菌ksgA基因和16S rDNA的系统进化树,通过SWISS-MODEL分析和预测KsgA的蛋白质结构模型,并通过克隆集胞蓝细菌Synechocystis sp.strain PCC 6803、鱼腥蓝细菌Anabaena sp.strain PCC7120和聚球蓝细菌Synechococcus elongates sp.strain PCC 7942的ksgA基因对大肠杆菌ksgA突变体进行了异源互补.结果表明:ksgA基因在蓝细菌中与16S rDNA进化分支高度相似,且体现出蓝细菌进化的聚类特征;蓝细菌KsgA甲基化酶与该蛋白家族的其他蛋白质拥有共同的保守结构、催化位点和配体结合位点;克隆的3种蓝细菌ksgA基因均能在一定程度上互补大肠杆菌ksgA基因的功能.     

干旱区不同降雨模式对藻结皮覆被区土壤碳释放的影响

[目的]探究干旱区不同降雨模式对藻结皮覆被区土壤碳释放的影响,为精确估算干旱区生态系统土壤碳释放量提供科学依据。[方法]以乌兰布和沙漠为例,通过人工增雨和改变降雨频率来模拟全球气候变化,对藻结皮覆被区土壤碳释放量进行长期野外监测。[结果]降雨能够刺激藻结皮覆被区土壤呼吸速率迅速大幅度提升,并在1 h内达到峰值,12 h左右降至较低水平。但随着干湿交替次数的不断增大,土壤再湿润后所产生的呼吸脉冲逐渐减弱,最后1次降雨与第1次相比土壤呼吸峰值降低了40%～60%。在降雨后16 h累积碳释放量、总碳释放量都随着降雨量的增大而增大,但当降雨量增大到一定程度后,其对土壤碳释放量的促进作用不再明显。就单次降雨而言,低频率、大雨量的降雨事件所引起的碳释放量明显高于高频率、小雨量的降雨事件。但总降雨量一致的情况下,则是高频率的小降雨事件所释放的总碳量最高,其次为低频率的大降雨事件,正常降雨频率下最小。[结论]气候变化所引起的降雨量增加和降雨频率的变化将会增加藻结皮覆被区的碳排放量,在预测碳收支时,也应将藻结皮的碳排放量变化作为考虑因素之一。     

罗非鱼养殖池塘水和表层沉积物中蓝藻的群落结构及影响因素研究

为了研究罗非鱼养殖池塘水和表层沉积物中蓝藻(蓝细菌)的群落结构、多样性状况和影响因素,采用高通量测序技术平台对细菌16S rRNA基因进行测序,对其中的蓝藻组成进行分析。结果表明:水和表层沉积物中的蓝藻群落结构存在显著差异,但其中的优势目是相同的,为聚球藻目、Cyanobacteria_norank和色球藻目;水中的蓝藻群落结构受到月份变化的影响比较大,并且与系统中氮净输入量有关。表层沉积物中的蓝藻群落受到池塘差异的影响更大,且与系统中磷净输入量有关。试验条件下,罗非鱼对系统中蓝藻群落多样性的影响主要来自于直接或间接的营养物质输入。     

蓝藻爆发机理研究进展

湖泊富营养化依然是我国目前以及今后相当长一段时期内的重大水环境问题.研究蓝藻水华的形成机制,具有重要的生态和环境意义.对近20年来国内外对蓝藻的研究状况做一个总结,提出自己的一些看法.     

Microcystin production during algal bloom occurrence in Laguna de Bay, the Philippines

ABSTRACT:   The amount of microcystin in Microcystis aeruginosa bloom was investigated during the rainy season of 1999 in Laguna de Bay, the Philippines. Bloom samples taken from the West Bay and East Cove stations of the lake were studied in relation to the characteristics of environmental conditions. Four types of microcystins, microcystin-LR (MC-LR), microcystin-RR (MC-RR), 6(Z)-Adda-microcystin-RR, and 3-desmethylmicrocystin-LR were identified from the natural bloom samples among which MC-LR was the most dominant type of microcystin. Production of microcystin (88.6 µg/100 mg dried cells) was highest during the first sampling week that coincided with high water transparency and high conductivity. The occurrence of a strong typhoon during the second sampling week had changed the environment drastically, which was characterized by low water transparency, high turbidity, low water temperature, and with trace amounts of MC-LR detected at the East Cove station. Thus, toxin production over time as well as the relationship between Microcystis production and toxin concentration could not be fully evaluated.     

微生物菌群JSM004对微囊藻毒素的生物降解

以太湖水华蓝藻中提取纯化的微囊藻毒素（microcystins,MCs）作为微生物生长的碳源和氮源,从富营养化的太湖水体中分离筛选到MCs高效降解菌群JSM004,24h内可以将初始浓度分别为3．64和2．62mg·L^-1的MC—RR和MC—LR完全降解。在研究关于环境因子对JSM004降解效率的影响中,发现菌群JSM004的生长受温度和pH值影响较大,而且其对MCs的降解效率也随之变化。结果表明,在接近实际水体的中性和弱碱性环境中,JSM004对MCs的降解活性最强,加入不同含碳和含氮化合物能够促进混合微生物菌群的生长,但是对MCs的降解却有明显的延滞作用。与对照组相比,MCs被完全降解的时间至少推迟24h。在实验室条件下,JSM004可在72h内完全降解太湖水中高浓度的MCs。研究结果表明微囊藻毒素降解菌群JSM004具有良好的MCs降解效果,有实际应用前景。     

蓝细菌与福建苏铁(Cycad revoluta)的侵染性重组的研究

将苏铁珊瑚状根及根周围的土壤中分离的蓝细菌分离物与福建苏铁(Cycas revoluta)在实验室条件下进行重组。通过比较重组前后蓝细菌分离物的STRR指纹图谱和16S rRNA的序列得蓝细菌分离物RZHA4能重新侵染苏铁的珊瑚状根。通过NCBI比对,蓝细菌分离物RZHA4的16S rRNA序列与蓝细菌NostocaceaeIL13-1的相似性为99%。     

抗除草剂固氮蓝藻研究进展

分析了近10年来国内外的相关文献,对抗除草剂固氮蓝藻研究进行综述.重点介绍了除草剂对固氮蓝藻生长和固氮能力的影响,探讨了固氮蓝藻抗除草剂的机理,并就今后的研究内容和方向进行展望.     

Extracellular Polymeric Substances Produced by the Thermophilic Cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa gelatinosa: Characterization and Assessment of Their Antioxidant and Metal-Chelating Activities

Cyanobacteria, particularly thermophilic strains, represent an important potential source of EPSs, harboring structural complexity that predicts diverse and specific bioactive potential. The thermophilic cyanobacteria Gloeocapsa gelatinosa, isolated from a natural hot source in Ain Echfa (Tunisia), was cultivated in a cylindrical reactor, and the production of biomass and EPSs was investigated. Results revealed that the strain is amongst the most efficient EPSs producers (0.89 g L⁻¹) and that EPSs production was not correlated with the growth phase. EPSs were sulfated heteropolysaccharides containing carbohydrates (70%) based on nine different monosaccharides, mainly mannose (22%), and with the presence of two uronic acids. EPSs were formed by two polymers moieties with a molecular weight of 598.3 ± 7.2 and 67.2 ± 4.4 kDa. They are thermostable in temperatures exceeding 100 °C and have an anionic nature (zeta potential of −40 ± 2 mV). Atomic force microscopy showed that EPSs formed multimodal lumps with 88 nm maximum height. EPSs presented high water holding capacity (70.29 ± 2.36%) and solubility index (97.43 ± 1.24%), and a strong bivalent metal sorption capacity especially for Cu²⁺ (91.20 ± 1.25%) and Fe²⁺ (75.51 ± 0.71%). The antioxidant activity of G. gelatinosa EPSs was investigated using four methods: the β-carotene-bleaching activity, DPPH assays, iron-reducing activity, and metal-chelating activity. EPS has shown high potential as free radicals’ scavenger, with an IC₅₀ on DPPH (0.2 g L⁻¹) three-fold lower than ascorbic acid (0.6 g L ⁻¹) and as a metal chelating activity (IC₅₀ = 0.4 g L⁻¹) significantly lower than EDTA. The obtained results allow further exploration of the thermophilic G. gelatinosa for several biotechnological and industrial applications.