Prokaryotic Communities from Pristine Cave Environments: Biotechnological Potential with Sustainable Production

Patrícia Gatinho, Cátia Salvador, Amélia M. Silva and Ana Teresa Caldeira ()
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Patrícia Gatinho: Department of Engineer, School of Science and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Cátia Salvador: HERCULES Laboratory & IN2PAST—Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage, Arts, Sustainability and Territory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Amélia M. Silva: Center for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Teresa Caldeira: HERCULES Laboratory & IN2PAST—Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage, Arts, Sustainability and Territory, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Pristine environments, such as caves, are unique habitats that are isolated from human activity and are exposed to extreme environmental conditions. These environments are rich sources of microbial diversity, and the microorganisms that thrive in these conditions have developed unique survival skills. One such skill is the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites with potential bioactivities, which provide the organisms with a competitive advantage in these extreme environments. The isolation and characterization of microbial strains from the surfaces of pristine cave environments are important for exploring the biotechnological potential of these organisms. These studies can reveal new products with antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, among others. In addition, the identification of specific compounds responsible for these biological activities can contribute to the development of new drugs and products for sustainable biotechnological applications. Recent developments in genomics, bioinformatics, chemoinformatics, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology have opened new possibilities for drug discovery, making the exploration of bacterial secondary metabolites more promising. In recent years, several bacteria with bioactive potential have been described, and several compounds with bioactivity have been identified. These findings are essential for the development of new drugs and products for the benefit of society. This paper discusses the potential of microorganisms found in pristine cave surfaces as a source of new metabolites with bioactivity that could have sustainable biotechnological applications. The authors suggest that more research should be conducted in these environments to better understand the microorganisms and the biosynthesis of these metabolites and to identify new compounds and metabolic pathways that could be of interest for the development of new drugs and products. The aim is to highlight the importance of these habitats as a potential source of new bioactive compounds that could be used for sustainable biotechnological applications.

Keywords: anticancer activity; antimicrobial activity; bioactive compounds; microorganisms; pristine environments; sustainable resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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