Indigenous Fungi and Yeasts for Protein Nanoparticle Production: A Database-Driven Approach

Indigenous Fungi and Yeasts for Protein Nanoparticle Production: A Database-Driven Approach

Protein nanoparticles are a vital class of advanced materials with diverse applications, yet database-driven studies on indigenous fungi and yeasts for their synthesis remain scarce, limiting the exploration of natural diversity without experimental demands.
This study addresses the gap by compiling a comprehensive AtoZ database of indigenous fungi and yeasts up to July 2022, analyzed via Simple Word Usage Analysis (SWUA) and Database Query Language (DQL) across 22 categories. Characterization employed FTIR for functional groups, TEM and SEM for morphology and size, and UV-VIS for optical properties.
Key findings include 304 indigenous species identified, with 51 capable of producing protein nanoparticles (18 specifically silver-based); these span 11 orders, 18 families, and 21 genera, showing increased density with phylogenetic class. Notable species (e.g., seven yielding nine fully characterized nanoparticles) exhibited yields of 9.29–1,846.9 mg mL⁻¹, particle sizes of 10–300 nm (mostly <100 nm, round, and smaller than silver/gold counterparts), high dispersity, concentration, and functional group variation matching protein biomolecules via FTIR. Global distribution is broader than estimated (Asia-Africa 68:32 ratio, relative frequency 18%:6.4%), with Africa newly prominent, though Europe (56%) and North America (29.8%) dominate.
This work's novelty lies in establishing a continually augmentable database that predicts biogenic extracellular protein nanoparticles, fostering integration with advanced materials like solid-state devices and bioplastics, thus extending indigenous fungi and yeasts' utility beyond biology.