Biofuel production and bioconversion
Researchers assessed whether centrate left from industrial Fusarium venenatum fermentation could supply nutrients for producing additional fungal biomass. After analysing its composition, they created a synthetic equivalent and tested nutrient combinations in 46 runs using Box-Behnken experimental design and response-surface modelling. Biomass yields varied from 0.22 to 3.87 g/L, with glucose and ammonia exerting the largest, nonlinear effects. Optimisation predicted 4.17 g/L and produced 3.99 g/L experimentally. Carbon conversion reached 29.02%, supporting centrate’s use for nutrient recovery and mycoprotein production.
27 September 2026
Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
Porcine PK15 kidney epithelial cells adapted better through staged serum reduction than direct reduction, offering a possible route to scalable seed cell growth for cultivated meat. Researchers compared both methods, moved low-serum adherent cells into serum-free suspension, returned them to adherent culture, and analysed gene expression. Sequential adaptation preserved proliferation, cell-cycle progression and epithelial traits, while suspension cells shifted towards more efficient energy use. Re-adherence partly restored morphology, growth features and oxidative-stress measures. Reversible genes centred on adhesion and metabolism, making staged adaptation the stronger method tested.
27 September 2026
Insect Utilization and Effects
A multidisciplinary review compares plant, microbial, algal, insect, fermented and cultivated proteins to assess their role in future food supply and the trade-offs that could limit it. The authors examine amino acids, digestibility, micronutrients and health effects, alongside life-cycle measures and evidence on consumer uptake. They identify tensions around processing, energy use and production scale. Taste, culture, price and aversion to unfamiliar foods also affect adoption. The proposed framework shows that no single measure can judge protein alternatives.
27 September 2026