The current status of Aureobasidium pullulans in biotechnology

Abstract

Different strains of the saprophytic yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans (Ascomycota: Dothideales) exhibit different biochemical characteristics, while their ubiquitous occurrence across diverse habitats and environmental conditions makes them an easily accessible source for biotechnological exploitation. They are useful in agricultural and industrial applications. Their antagonistic activities against postharvest pathogens make them suitable bioagents for the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables, while they possess antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi. Additionally, A. pullulans appears to be a potent source of single-cell protein. Many strains of A. pullulans harbor a wide range of industrially important enzymes, while the trademark exopolysaccharide pullulan that they produce has been extensively studied and is currently used in many applications. They also produce poly (β-L-malic acid), heavy oil liamocins, siderophore, and aubasidan-like β-glucan which are of interest for future applications. Ongoing studies suggest that A. pullulans holds many more interesting properties capable of further potential biotechnological applications.

The Multiple and Versatile Roles of Aureobasidium pullulans in the Vitivinicultural Sector

“…β-glucan exhibits immune stimulatory activity, and is consumed as a supplement in many countries. Also, A. pullulans culture supernatant is believed to exhibit beneficial effects in delaying the onset of a number of diseases, and has been reported to exhibit antitumor, antiallergy and anti-infectious disease activities in mouse models [58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68]. An interesting review by Li et al [69] on Aureobasidium spp.…”

“…Siderophores are very interesting molecules for medical, agricultural and environmental applications, and have been of interest in biotechnology. Although only one strain of A. pullulans (HN6.2) has been reported in the literature to produce siderophores, studies of A. pullulans isolates report the effect and role of siderophores in biocontrol processes of plant and human pathogens [1,44,65,[83][84][85][86][87][88].…”

Unconventional Yeasts Are Tolerant to Common Antifungals, and Aureobasidium pullulans Has Low Baseline Sensitivity to Captan, Cyprodinil, and Difenoconazole

“…Many species are used for food and beverage production or as sources of enzymes and valuable chemicals. For example, the yeast Aureobasidium pullulans has antifungal or antibacterial properties, is commercially used as a biocontrol agent, and produces a range of metabolites that are of biotechnological interest [22][23][24][25]. Besides A. pullulans, Candida oleophila, Metschnikowia fructicola, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Cryptococcus albidus are or have been registered in different biocontrol products [25].…”

Fifty Aureobasidium pullulans genomes reveal a recombining polyextremotolerant generalist

“…The black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans (Ascomycota, Dothideomycetes, Dothideales) is best known for its considerable biotechnological potential Prasongsuk et al, 2018). It is used for the production of pullulan, a neutral polysaccharide that is composed of maltotriose units, and that has numerous applications in medicine, pharmacy and the food industry (Shabtai and Mukmenev, 1995;Leathers, 2003;Cheng et al, 2011).…”