Exopolysaccharides from bacteria and fungi: current status and perspectives in Africa

Abstract

Bacterial and fungal exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are extracellular metabolites of living organisms (plants, animals, algae, bacteria and fungi) associated with adaptation, survival and functionalities. The EPSs also afford humans multiple value-adding applications across different spheres of endeavors. The variable chemical and biochemical architecture that characterizes an EPS presets its biological functionality and potential biotechnological benefits. Suffices to say that it is amenable to genetic, biotechnological and biochemical maneuverability for desired bioactivity or application during their production and extraction. EPSs have been shown to have, antioxidant, anti-tumor and antiviral activities; enhance soil aridity and nutritional value of food consumed by humans. Their innocuous domestic and commercial versatility and biotechnological relevance is a reliable confirmation of the recent attention accorded EPSs by the global research community. This is especially with respect to their biosynthesis, composition, production, structure, characterization, sources, functional properties and applications. It is also responsible for the development of newer strategies for their extraction. EPSs' relative prospects, perspectives and orientation in the African context are seldom reported in recognized scientific literature data bases. A random preliminary study showed that EPS applications, biotechnological and research orientations are still developing, and influenced by preponderant vegetation, level of industrialization, political will and culture. Africa is endowed with untapped bioresources (biomaterials), bioproducts and bioequivalents that can mediate several global foods, industrial and technological challenges for which EPS may be a potential remedy.

Biomedical Applications of Bacterial Exopolysaccharides: A Review

“…Administration of nasal formulations [4] Sphingomonas paucimobilis Tissue engineering and bone regeneration [25] n.a. Injectable gellan-based hydrogel to treat a bone defect [38,39] Nano-hydrogel for drug delivery [19] Composite scaffold for skin regeneration [27] Lactic acid bacteria Microencapsulation matrix for drug delivery [12] Levan Halomonas smyrnensis Levan-based scaffold for tissue engineering [40] Multilayer film for the enhancement of live cell adhesive properties, harbor aldehyde groups for antitumor properties [41] Disintegration agent in immediate-release tablets [16] Sulfated levan for cardiac tissue engineering [42] Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius…”

“…The classification of bacterial EPSs is shown in Figure 2. Exopolysaccharides produced by bacteria can promote intestinal health, altering microbes' composition, enhancing immune activity, and improving blood flow [4,11,12]. Cellulose, dextran, xanthan gum, HA, ALG, kefiran, gellan, levan, and curdlan are some of the microbial EPSs with biomedical applications.…”

“…Bacteria are the most commonly used EPS source because they reproduce rapidly, are easily renewed, and are compatible with most EPS isolation methods. Among the different continents, the most research on EPS, as indexed in Scopus, has been in Europe (1334 publications, 43%), followed by Asia (893 publications, 29%), North America (504 publications, 16%), South America (232 publications, 7%), Africa (92 publications, 3%), and Australia (50 publications, 2%) [ 4 ] ( Figure 1 ). The research trend might depend on the bioresource of EPS, advances in industries and technology, the knowledge of EPS, and the political stability of these regions.…”

Bioactivity assessment of exopolysaccharides produced by Pleurotus pulmonarius in submerged culture with different agro-waste residues

“…(2019) revealed that, species of genus Pleurotus capable of utilizing different agrowastes to produce polysaccharides. Fungal polysaccharides, especially EPS possess therapeutic properties like antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer ( Osemwegie et al., 2020 ). This has made EPS to receive greater interest for extensive applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries ( Ozcan and Oner, 2015 ).…”

Seleção E Produção De Exo E/Ou Polissacarídeos De Origem Microbiana Da Amazônia Para O Uso Em Odontologia / Selection and Production of Exo and/or Polysaccharides of Microbial Origin From the Amazon for Use in Dentistry

“…A classificação dessas macromoléculas se dá conforme sua localização no organismo produtor, em polissacarídeos citosólicos (fontes de carbono e energia para a célula), polissacarídeos de parede celular, ligados ou não a proteínas, e polissacarídeos secretados para o meio extracelular, formando cápsulas ou biofilme, denominados exopolissacarídeos (EPS). Em destaque, os exopolissacarídeos produzidos por bactérias e fungos têm sido amplamente aplicados nas indústrias de alimentos, medicamentos, cosméticos, entre outras (Osemwegie, 2020).…”