Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41573313›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2025

Unlocking circular bioeconomy potential of termite-gut yeasts: dual bioremediation and biodiesel production.

Sameh S Ali, Min Xiong, Rania Al-Tohamy, Haixin Jiao, Michael Schagerl, Michael Kornaros, Jianzhong Sun

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sameh S AliBiofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Min XiongBiofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Rania Al-TohamyBiofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Haixin JiaoSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, China.
Michael SchagerlDepartment of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Michael KornarosLaboratory of Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (LBEET), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Jianzhong SunBiofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Lignin-derived aromatics and synthetic azo dyes are among the most persistent and toxic pollutants released by textile processing, petrochemical industries, pulp-and-paper manufacturing, and agricultural waste streams. Their structural complexity, chemical stability, and resistance to degradation impose substantial ecological and health concerns, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable and low-cost biological solutions. Growing evidence positions termite-gut symbioses-particularly yeast populations inhabiting wood-feeding termites-as a promising reservoir of biocatalysts capable of both degrading recalcitrant aromatic pollutants and generating lipids suitable for biodiesel production. This review synthesizes current knowledge on termite-gut-derived oleaginous yeasts, focusing on their enzymatic mechanisms, metabolic capabilities, and biotechnological potential within integrated biorefinery concepts. Recent literature reports demonstrate that termite-associated yeasts harbor diverse oxidative and reductive enzymes, including laccases, dye-decolorizing peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, dioxygenases, and azoreductases, which collectively mediate the depolymerization, detoxification, and mineralization of lignin-derived and dye-derived aromatic compounds. Pollutant-induced oxidative stress responses in oleaginous yeasts have also been widely documented to enhance lipid biosynthesis, linking environmental detoxification to biodiesel precursor generation through an energetically favorable, self-reinforcing metabolic cycle. Advances in genomics, transcriptomics, metabolic engineering, yeast surface display, and directed evolution have further expanded the opportunities to engineer multi-trait yeast chassis optimized for challenging industrial waste streams. This review also evaluates techno-environmental considerations relevant to practical deployment, including process scalability, tolerance to inhibitors, reactor configurations, and integration with lignocellulosic biorefineries and wastewater treatment systems. Particular attention is given to the potential of engineered termite-gut yeasts to function in hybrid microbial consortia, immobilized biocatalytic systems, and continuous-flow platforms. By consolidating the emerging scientific evidence, this review highlights termite-gut yeasts as a promising biological platform capable of bridging aromatic pollutant detoxification with renewable lipid production. Their dual functionality aligns strongly with circular bioeconomy goals, offering a path toward low-carbon, waste-to-value biorefineries.

Indexed as

azo dyesbiodiesel productionbioremediationcircular bioeconomylignin-based aromatic wastesmicrobial biorefineriesoleaginous yeaststermite-gut yeasts

Identifiers

PMID41573313
PMCPMC12819632

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.