Tavčar Verdev Petra, Dolinar Marko
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Microorganisms. 2025 Mar 5;13(3):603. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13030603.
Microorganisms in high-salinity environments play a critical role in biogeochemical cycles, primary production, and the biotechnological exploitation of extremozymes and bioactive compounds. The main challenges in current research include isolating and cultivating these microorganisms under laboratory conditions and understanding their complex adaptive mechanisms to high salinity. Currently, universally recognized protocols for isolating microalgae and cyanobacteria from salt pans, salterns, and similar natural habitats are lacking. Establishing axenic laboratory cultures is essential for identifying new species thriving in high-salinity environments and for exploring the synthesis of high-value metabolites by these microorganisms ex situ. Our ongoing research primarily focuses on photosynthetic microorganisms with significant biotechnological potential, particularly for skincare applications. By integrating data from the existing literature with our empirical findings, we propose a standardized pipeline for the isolation and laboratory cultivation of microalgae and cyanobacteria originating from aqueous environments characterized by elevated salt concentrations, such as solar salterns. This approach will be particularly useful for researchers working with microorganisms adapted to hypersaline waters.
高盐环境中的微生物在生物地球化学循环、初级生产以及极端酶和生物活性化合物的生物技术开发中发挥着关键作用。当前研究的主要挑战包括在实验室条件下分离和培养这些微生物，以及了解它们对高盐度的复杂适应机制。目前，缺乏从盐田、盐场和类似自然栖息地分离微藻和蓝细菌的普遍认可的方案。建立无菌实验室培养物对于鉴定在高盐环境中茁壮成长的新物种以及探索这些微生物在异地合成高价值代谢产物至关重要。我们正在进行的研究主要集中在具有重大生物技术潜力的光合微生物上，特别是用于护肤品应用。通过将现有文献数据与我们的实证研究结果相结合，我们提出了一种标准化流程，用于分离和实验室培养源自盐浓度升高的水环境（如太阳能盐场）的微藻和蓝细菌。这种方法对于研究适应高盐水域的微生物的研究人员将特别有用。
