Microalgae of Technogenic Landscapes: Search for Valuable Producers of Lipids and Fatty Acids

The study and conservation of biodiversity are of paramount importance for the stable functioning of ecosystems and ensuring the life and health of people. At the same time, the diversity of living organisms is also a valuable resource for industrial production. The demand for natural resources is constantly growing, which stimulates the development of resource-saving technologies, as well as the search for new sources of raw materials. Microalgae can be used to replace traditional sources of fuel, feed, and a number of food products. This is a large group of photosynthetic organisms that live in various natural conditions, as well as in areas modified by mining. It is known that extreme environmental conditions often stimulate lipid synthesis by microalgae, thereby protecting them from stress. Thus, the biodiversity of technogenic territories is of particular interest in terms of isolating strains of microalgae characterized by high activity of lipid synthesis. Previous studies of microalgae biodiversity in the Gurovo quarry have created a collection of strains that may be of biotechnological interest. The purpose of this application is to screen the lipid and fatty acid profile of microalgal strains from the Gurovo quarry belonging to phylogenetic clades and lines for which the ability of increased lipid accumulation and synthesis of valuable fatty acids is already known, as well as to assess the biotechnological potential of these strains.