The other way around: Using eco-cyanomolecules for human welfare

Naveen K. Sharma; Sirasit Srinuanpan; Aprana Singh; Gerard Abraham; Ashwani K. Rai; Naveen K. Sharma; Sirasit Srinuanpan; Aprana Singh; Gerard Abraham; Ashwani K. Rai

doi:10.3934/molsci.2025021

AIMS Molecular Science

2025, Volume 12, Issue 4: 357-384. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025021

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The other way around: Using eco-cyanomolecules for human welfare

1.
Department of Botany, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak (MP) 484 887, India
2.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
3.
Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
4.
Department of Environmental Biology, Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa 486001, M.P., India
5.
Centre for Conservation and Utilization of BGA, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
6.
Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India

Received: 10 July 2025 Revised: 28 September 2025 Accepted: 20 October 2025 Published: 29 October 2025

Cyanobacteria constitute a group of photooxybacteria. It is difficult to provide an estimate of their diversity due to the ongoing debate on the usefulness of various species concepts and methodologies used to delineate them. They occupy, thrive, and proliferate in diverse habitats, exhibiting unparalleled physiological plasticity and adaptations, potentiated by diverse mechanisms and the production of a range of novel molecules. Human use of cyanobacteria (and also other microalgae) and products thereof is not new, with reports from before 2700 BC. In recent times, some ecologically relevant molecules, such as cyanotoxins to deter grazers and osmoprotectants for survival in saline environments, have found multiple human uses, from feeding products to therapeutics and energy. Technological advancements have allowed precise identification and a better mechanistic understanding of their production on a commercial scale. Here, we discussed some of these commercially useful molecules and their production mechanisms, scaling-up possibilities, cost-effectiveness, and challenges and opportunities associated with future research.
- cyanomolecules,
- cyanotoxins,
- metabolic engineering, economics,
- halophiles,
- osmolytes
Citation: Naveen K. Sharma, Sirasit Srinuanpan, Aprana Singh, Gerard Abraham, Ashwani K. Rai. The other way around: Using eco-cyanomolecules for human welfare[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2025, 12(4): 357-384. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025021

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Abstract

Cyanobacteria constitute a group of photooxybacteria. It is difficult to provide an estimate of their diversity due to the ongoing debate on the usefulness of various species concepts and methodologies used to delineate them. They occupy, thrive, and proliferate in diverse habitats, exhibiting unparalleled physiological plasticity and adaptations, potentiated by diverse mechanisms and the production of a range of novel molecules. Human use of cyanobacteria (and also other microalgae) and products thereof is not new, with reports from before 2700 BC. In recent times, some ecologically relevant molecules, such as cyanotoxins to deter grazers and osmoprotectants for survival in saline environments, have found multiple human uses, from feeding products to therapeutics and energy. Technological advancements have allowed precise identification and a better mechanistic understanding of their production on a commercial scale. Here, we discussed some of these commercially useful molecules and their production mechanisms, scaling-up possibilities, cost-effectiveness, and challenges and opportunities associated with future research.

Acknowledgments

NKS acknowledges the financial support from the Nalanda University, Rajgir, India, in the form of the ASEAN-India Network of Universities- Faculty Exchange Program (AINU-FEP) fellowship (ref. no. NU/IR/AINU-FEP/C1/2024-25/10/01), and thanks Chiang Mai University, Thailand, and SS for hosting him. AKR is indebted to Banaras Hindu University for conferring on him the status of Distinguished Professor.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper.

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