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Review
. 2024 Sep 16;14(9):1162.
doi: 10.3390/biom14091162.

Advances in Microbial Exopolysaccharides: Present and Future Applications

Huu-Thanh Nguyen  1   2 , Thuy-Trang Pham  1   2 , Phu-Tho Nguyen  1   2 , Hélène Le-Buanec  3 , Holy N Rabetafika  4 , Hary L Razafindralambo  4   5
Affiliations
Review

Advances in Microbial Exopolysaccharides: Present and Future Applications

Huu-Thanh Nguyen et al. Biomolecules. .

Abstract

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are receiving growing interest today, owing to their diversity in chemical structure and source, multiple functions, and immense potential applications in many food and non-food industries. Their health-promoting benefits for humans deserve particular attention because of their various biological activities and physiological functions. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of microbial EPSs, covering (1) their chemical and biochemical diversity, including composition, biosynthesis, and bacterial sources belonging mainly to lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or probiotics; (2) their technological and analytical aspects, especially their production mode and characterization; (3) their biological and physiological aspects based on their activities and functions; and (4) their current and future uses in medical and pharmaceutical fields, particularly for their prebiotic, anticancer, and immunobiotic properties, as well as their applications in other industrial and agricultural sectors.

Keywords: exopolysaccharides; immunobiotics; lactic acid bacteria; pharmaceutical applications; probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
EPS chemical structure examples.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Biosynthesis of polysaccharides in microorganisms. Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathway: Responsible for synthesizing lipopolysaccharide O-antigen polysaccharides in Gram-negative bacteria, as well as capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) and EPSs in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. ATP-binding ABC transporter pathway: Facilitates the synthesis of CPS specifically in Gram-negative bacteria. Synthase-dependent pathway: Involved in the synthesis of both CPSs and EPSs in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Extracellular synthesis via a single glycosyltransferase: Responsible for the synthesis of EPSs that fall under the category of HoPS.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Outline of biosynthesis of HePS. The abbreviations are TDP: thymidine diphosphate; UDP: uridine diphosphate; GDP: guanosine diphosphate; Man-1-P: mannose-1-phosphate; Glc: glucose; Gal: galactose; Man: mannose.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Workflow of EPS production.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Physiological functions of EPS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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