Microalgae hold promise as antibiotic alternative

bonderic

The search for antibiotic growth promotant alternatives continues, the answer could be under the microscope.

Release Date: 2008年2月26日

As the search for antibiotic growth promotant alternatives continues, the answer could be under the microscope, says Dr. Armen Avagyan, president of Research & Industry, Centre of Photosynthesizing Organisms, Feed Additives and Physiologically Active Compounds LTD, Yerevan, Armenia, who says that microalgae production could be a global way to address feed ingredient issues for livestock. “Market surveys show that microalgae production volume has increased greatly over the past 20 years, and the cultivation of microalgae is well-recognized as the most profitable business in the biotechnological industry. It is a wasteless, ecologically pure, energy-saving and resource-conserving process,” he points out. Dr. Avagyan explains that microalgae are a diverse group of microscopic plants exhibiting a wide range of physiological and biochemical characteristics. They contain, among other things, high-quantity natural proteins, amino acids, vitamins, pigments and enzymes. Microalgae contain up to 50-70 percent protein (compared to up to 50 percent in meat, and 15-17 percent in wheat), 30 percent lipids, over 40 percent glycerol, up to 8-10 percent carotene and a fairly high concentration of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, E, K, and D, compared with other plant or animal sources.  Moreover, microalgae are meant to be an important raw material for amino acids, vitamins and medical production. Biofuel production is expected to be a new, rapidly growing global market for algae products. Research has shown that microalgae improve protein digestibility, sometimes in dramatic ways, resulting in greater weight gains and high production of milk and eggs.  Dr. Avagyan will detail current research into the results of feeding microalgae in the upcoming March issue of Feed International. He believes the use of the microalgae Chlorella as a feed additive could become the best choice for solving problems associated with the use of antibiotics, organic acids, or other ingredients in feed since microalgae contain natural organic acids, reducing the colonization of pathogenes. Thanks to this feature, Chlorella is also used for feed conservation and the reduction of microbiological pollution of wastewaters, he notes. Chlorella has other biological properties making it a good candidate for animal feed:  high concenration of chlorophyll, exhbiting anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and regenerating properties; unique properties of a cell wall, making it capable of adsorbing toxic elements and removing them from organisms; high contents of vitamins; and theA  ability to intensively synthesize high concentration of nucleonic acids with a combination of high contents of fibers, peptides, amino acids, other vitamins, sugars and trace elements. Dr. Avagyan says there are numerous studies available, but all examples show that the use of Chlorella means not only large protein quantities, but also the microalgae complex influence on organisms, including high contents of vitamins, organic acids and other physiologically active components.

monica

呵呵，楼主，您的看法呢？　

bonderic

微藻的发展前景是很被看好的。我认识的一个博士后也在做相关的工作。