Industrial Biotechnology

This work investigated artificial intelligence AIand the development of AI in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including AI's applications in biotechnology and the current status of AI in some international patent systems. We explored the importance of granting legal protection under patent laws for inventions derived from AI for GCC countries and address the questions: Can AI be an “inventor” under GCC patent laws and are there are any positive impacts to considering AI as an inventor? We concluded that the issue of recognizing AI as an inventor has become necessary, and updating GCC patent laws and policies is required to keep pace with challenges and technical developments.

The production of biopesticides is challenged by the high costs of production and formulation. For this reason, the concentration of biological broth through advanced technologies such as the membrane separation process (MSP) is an attractive alternative for enhancing the control action of biopesticides. The purpose of this study was to perform the MSP in 40 fermented broths of bioagents obtained by a bioscreening to evaluate the potential control of Chrysodeixis includens, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Euschistus heros. The collected biomaterials were surface sterilized, placed in Petri dishes with Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), and underwent a submerged fermentation process at 28°C and 120 rpm for seven days. Afterward, the broth was centrifuged at 4,000 rpm and 10°C for 10 min and filtered in a vacuum pump. Finally, the assays were submitted to MSP with a 0.45-μm nylon membrane. The control rate varied up to 100% in the broths after MSP for C. includens and E. heros. The control rate for S. frugiperda was up to 40%. Appropriately, the MSP indicated promising results as an advanced technology for the biopesticide formulation process, based on the optimization and improvement of the control potential of injurious pests.

Microalgae cultivation in reused medium can reduce the cost of producing bioproducts and enable lower consumption of water, energy and nutrients. This work gathers the main information about the cultivation of these microorganisms in reused medium over the last 20 years. It uses analysis of patent filings and publications of scientific articles on the main microalgae species used and strategies for medium reuse. Asia produced the highest number of patent filings, with China being the largest provider. Private sector companies are responsible for the largest number of patents filed. The genus Chlorella has been the most studied when it comes to the reuse of medium for the cultivation of microalgae, and this strategy has been applied mainly in crops that use the standard medium for biomass production, and also for crops in wastewater in a smaller number of cases. It was found that the reuse of medium allows multiple cultivation stages/cycles with biomass production in concentrations that can reach values higher than those obtained in fresh medium. However, it may be necessary to employ strategies to reduce the contamination and lack of nutrients of the residual medium.