Congratulations!
Oksana Tingajeva, an MSc student in the Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology curriculum, has successfully defended her thesis “Rhodotorula toruloides bioprocess analysis for biopolymer production”.
Supervisor: Rahul Kumar, Senior Researcher – Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology
Co – supervisor: Henrique Sepulveda Del Rio Hamacek ,PhD student & Early Stage Researcher – Division of Food and biotechnology: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology
Reviewer: Kaarel Adamberg, Senior Researcher – Division of Food and biotechnology: Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology
(Summary of the thesis)
Although Rhodotorula toruloides is widely studied for lipid production, its potential for exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis in bioreactor conditions remains underexplored. This study investigated how cultivation parameters—such as pH control, nutrient composition, and osmotic stress—affect biomass formation, EPS production, and cell morphology.
Bioreactor cultivations showed that buffered, pH-controlled, and urea-supplemented conditions significantly increased biomass (≈14–20 g L⁻¹), while control and high-salt conditions resulted in lower biomass (≈6–7 g L⁻¹). EPS production was highest under control and buffered conditions (≈3–4 g L⁻¹), with minimal production under other conditions. Protein content and morphology varied, with filamentous and aggregated structures observed under certain conditions, highlighting the influence of pH and nutrient balance on cellular adaptation.
Overall, the results demonstrate that cultivation conditions strongly impact biomass composition and EPS synthesis in R. toruloides, supporting its potential as a versatile platform for biopolymer production. Further research should focus on process optimization and molecular-level analyses to better understand EPS biosynthesis and carbon allocation.
This work provides a strong foundation for a planned scientific publication. 📄
We look forward to seeing where your passion for science will take you next! 🔬
