Kumar Subhash, Kumar Vijay, Ambika A A A, Nag Deepika, Kumar Virender, Darnal Sanyukta, Thakur Vikas, Patial Vijeta, Singh Dharam
Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA-176 061.
Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR- Human Resource Development Centre (CSIR-HRDC), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh-201 002, INDIA.
J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2022 Aug 6;49(5). doi: 10.1093/jimb/kuac017.
Pigments are an essential part of life on earth, ranging from microbes to plants and humans. The physiological and environmental cues induce microbes to produce a broad spectrum of pigments, giving them adaptation and survival advantages. Microbial pigments are of great interest due to their natural origin, diverse biological activities, and wide applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and textile industries. Despite noticeable research on pigment-producing microbes, commercial successes are scarce, primarily from higher, remote, and inaccessible Himalayan niches. Therefore, substantial bioprospection integrated with advanced biotechnological strategies is required to commercialize microbial pigments successfully. The current review elaborates on pigment-producing microbes from a Himalayan perspective, offering tremendous opportunities for industrial applications. Additionally, it illustrates the ecological significance of microbial pigments and emphasizes the current status and prospects of microbial pigments production above the test tube scale.
色素是地球上生命的重要组成部分，涵盖从微生物到植物和人类的各类生物。生理和环境线索促使微生物产生多种多样的色素，赋予它们适应和生存优势。微生物色素因其天然来源、多样的生物活性以及在食品、制药、化妆品和纺织工业中的广泛应用而备受关注。尽管对产色素微生物已有显著研究，但商业上的成功案例却很少，主要来自喜马拉雅地区高海拔、偏远且难以到达的生态位。因此，需要将大量的生物勘探与先进的生物技术策略相结合，才能成功实现微生物色素的商业化。本综述从喜马拉雅地区的视角阐述产色素微生物，为工业应用提供了巨大机遇。此外，它还阐明了微生物色素的生态意义，并强调了试管规模以上微生物色素生产的现状和前景。
