On 15 July 2025, Professor Isabel Sá-Correia delivered an invited oral presentation at FEMS MICRO Milan 2025.
Her talk, “Multistress tolerance in the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides: underlying mechanisms and impact in lignocellulosic biorefinery”, addressed the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms that support multistress tolerance in this promising non-Saccharomyces yeast. Rhodotorula toruloides, an oleaginous red yeast, is considered a strong candidate as a cell factory for lignocellulosic-based biorefinery processes.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for guiding yeast and bioprocess engineering to withstand the stresses commonly encountered in bio-based industries. Such advances pave the way for greater efficiency, reduced costs, and more sustainable practices.
Why this matters
Lignocellulosic biomass is a sustainable and widely available feedstock for producing bio-based, value-added compounds. However, its hydrolysis generates a mixture of carbon sources that cannot be efficiently metabolized by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and only by a limited number of other yeasts. Inhibitory compounds such as acetic and formic acids, hydroxymethylfurfural, and furfural are also released, significantly impairing bioprocess performance and, in particular, lipid production by oleaginous yeasts.
Rhodotorula toruloides stands out for its ability to accumulate high lipid levels while utilizing diverse carbon streams, including those derived from lignocellulosic hydrolysates containing inhibitory compounds. Its emerging multistress tolerance—resistance to weak acids, furans, and other process stresses—positions this yeast as a promising platform for sustainable bioprocessing and the production of bio-based fuels and chemicals.
The FEMS MICRO Congress, organized by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS), is a key international event that connects microbiologists worldwide, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across disciplines and sectors.