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Enhancing environmental decontamination and sustainable production through synergistic and complementary interactions of actinobacteria and fungi

Summary

Actinobacteria and fungi are powerful microorganisms that can be used together to clean up polluted environments and improve agriculture. When these two types of organisms work together in co-cultures, they can degrade toxic substances like pesticides and heavy metals more effectively than either could alone. This approach offers a sustainable way to address environmental contamination while potentially reducing reliance on chemical treatments.

Background

Actinobacteria and fungi are known for their metabolic diversity and ability to adapt to various environments. Both microorganisms excel in producing secondary metabolites and enzymes with applications in industry and environmental remediation. Recent research emphasizes studying mixed microbial populations rather than single cultures, as co-cultures can mimic natural processes and provide enhanced metabolic capabilities.

Objective

This review critically analyzes the potential of actinobacteria-fungi co-cultures with focus on novel functionalities and heightened production efficiency. The aim is to evaluate these consortia for environmental decontamination, sustainable agriculture, and biosynthesis of industrially relevant metabolites and enzymes.

Results

The review demonstrates that actinobacteria-fungi co-cultures exhibit superior performance compared to single cultures for bioremediation of PAHs, pesticides, and heavy metals. Examples include up to 96-99% mineralization of hydrocarbons and enhanced degradation efficiency in soil treatment. Co-cultures also show promise for sustainable agriculture through nutrient uptake improvement and biocontrol applications.

Conclusion

Actinobacteria-fungi co-cultures represent a promising strategy for environmental decontamination, sustainable agriculture, and bioactive compound production. Despite existing challenges, their demonstrated potential for addressing complex environmental and agricultural problems warrants further investigation and development for practical applications.
  • Published in:Heliyon,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39991206, DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42135
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