Influence of Aeration on Biomass and Polyhydroxyalkanoate Accumulation in Priestia flexa JP1: A Foundation for Nano-Biomaterial Development

Year : 2026 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 02 | Page : 42 50
By

Rakhi Pandey,

Garima Mathur,

  1. Research Scholar, Centre of Excellence for Microbial and Plant Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, Uttar Pradesh, India
  2. Associate Professor, Centre of Excellence for Microbial and Plant Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are microbial polymers that have attracted substantial interest in recent times due to their use as biodegradable substitutes for petroleum-derived plastics and also as precursors for nano-enabled biomaterials. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of static and shaking culture conditions on growth kinetics, biomass formation, and PHA synthesis by Priestia flexa JP1. The bacterial strain was cultured in mineral salt media (MSM) at 37 ± 0.2°C under static and shaking culture conditions (120 rpm) for 24-hour intervals. PHA was isolated using a conventional solvent extraction procedure and was weighed. Functional groups of the isolated polymer were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. Results showed that agitation led to enhanced PHA synthesis (0.47 g/L) when compared with static cultures (0.42 g/L), while the reverse was observed with biomass formation where static cultures yielded more biomass (0.65 g/L) than shaking cultures (0.57 g/L). Growth kinetics revealed better exponential growth under shaking condition showing increased oxygen transfer efficiency and increased metabolism. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups of PHA which include ester carbonyl group (C=O), C–O–C stretching, and aliphatic C–H bonds under both static and agitation conditions.

Keywords: Priestia flexa JP1, PHA, growth kinetics, FTIR, static, agitation

[This article belongs to Research and Reviews : A Journal of Biotechnology ]

How to cite this article: Rakhi Pandey, Garima Mathur. Influence of Aeration on Biomass and Polyhydroxyalkanoate Accumulation in Priestia flexa JP1: A Foundation for Nano-Biomaterial Development. Research and Reviews : A Journal of Biotechnology. 2026; 16(02):42-50.
How to cite this URL: Rakhi Pandey, Garima Mathur. Influence of Aeration on Biomass and Polyhydroxyalkanoate Accumulation in Priestia flexa JP1: A Foundation for Nano-Biomaterial Development. Research and Reviews : A Journal of Biotechnology. 2026; 16(02):42-50. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjobt/article=2026/view=257737

References

1. Koller M, Heeney D, Mukherjee A. Biodegradability of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolyesters in nature: A review. Biodegradation. 2025 Aug;36(4):76.

2. Ahuja V, Singh PK, Mahata C, Jeon JM, Kumar G, Yang YH, Bhatia SK. A review on microbes mediated resource recovery and bioplastic (polyhydroxyalkanoates) production from wastewater. Microb Cell Fact. 2024 Jul 1;23(1):187.

3. Acedos MG, Hermida A, Gomez E, Santos VE, Garcia-Ochoa F. Effects of fluid-dynamic conditions in Shimwellia blattae (p424IbPSO) cultures in stirred tank bioreactors: Hydrodynamic stress and change of metabolic routes by oxygen availability. Biochem Eng J. 2019 Sep 15;149:107238.

4. Kshirsagar PR, Suttar R, Nilegaonkar SS, Pradhan S, Kanekar PP. Scale up production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) at different aeration, agitation and controlled dissolved oxygen levels in fermenter using Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027. J Biochem Technol. 2013 Jul 4;4(1):512–7.

5. Biedendieck R, Knuuti T, Moore SJ, Jahn D. The “beauty in the beast”—the multiple uses of Priestia megaterium in biotechnology. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021 Aug;105(14):5719–37.

6. Bai X, Xu L, Li K, Zhang G, Zhang M, Huang Y. Unlocking efficient polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Gram-positive Priestia megaterium using waste-derived feedstocks. Microb Cell Fact. 2025 Sep 30;24(1):210.

7. Chathalingath N, Kingsly JS, Gunasekar A. Biosynthesis and biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) from Priestia flexa; A promising mangrove halophyte towards the development of sustainable eco-friendly bioplastics. Microbiol Res. 2023 Feb;267:127270. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S094450132200310X

8. Pandey R, Mathur G. Production and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoates by a novel strain Priestia flexa JP1. Biologia. 2026 May;81(5):116.

9. Sabarinathan D, Chandrika SP, Venkatraman P, Easwaran M, Sureka CS, Preethi K. Production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and its application towards cancer detection. Inform Med Unlocked. 2018 Jan 1;11:61–7.

10. Singh G, Gauba P, Mathur G. Bacterial cellulose production by Acetobacter aceti MTCC 2623 using different carbon sources. Curr Appl Sci Technol. 2024 Aug 2:e0260805-.

11. Manal, Munir F, Safdar W, Abu Bakr Shabbir M, Ahmed S, Navid MT, Ali M, Ahmed I. Production, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesized by Bacillus species against skin pathogens. RSC Adv. 2025 Sep 18;15(42):35182–200.

12. Bhuwal AK, Singh G, Aggarwal NK, Goyal V, Yadav A. Isolation and screening of polyhydroxyalkanoates producing bacteria from pulp, paper, and cardboard industry wastes. Int J Biomater. 2013;2013(1):752821.

13. Christensen M, Chiciudean I, Jablonski P, Tanase AM, Shapaval V, Hansen H. Towards high-throughput screening (HTS) of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of Halomonas sp. R5–57 and Pseudomonas sp. MR4–99. PLoS One. 2023 Mar 8;18(3).

14. Gottardo M, Zanatta S, Modesti M, Lorini L, Pavan P, Valentino F. Oxygen limitation in aerobic polyhydroxyalkanoates production from sewage sludge anaerobic fermentation liquids under low and medium organic loading rate. Chemosphere. 2023 Oct 1;338:139468.

15. Zhao L, Liu J, Meng L, Zhao D, Wang B. Different dissolved oxygen levels drive polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis from hydrolyzed polyacrylamide-containing oil sludge. Process Saf Environ Prot. 2023 Jan 1;169:526–33.

16. Sachan RS, Kumar A, Karnwal A, Paramasivam P, Agrawal A, Ayanie AG. Screening and characterization of PHA producing bacteria from sewage water identifying Bacillus paranthracis RSKS–3 for bioplastic production. BMC Microbiol. 2025 Mar 14;25(1):136.

17. Koller M, Maršálek L, de Sousa Dias MM, Braunegg G. Producing microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolyesters in a sustainable manner. N Biotechnol. 2017 Jul 25;37:24–38.

18. Nguyen TK, Lai NT, Phan MT, Hoa TT, Nguyen DQ. Isolation and preliminary characterization of salt-tolerant polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria from the Hon Khoi Saltern, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. Microorganisms. 2026 Apr 3;14(4):825.

19. Bolla M, Pettinato M, Ferrari PF, Fabiano B, Perego P. Polyhydroxyalkanoates production from laboratory to industrial scale: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 May 1;310:143255.

20. Cal AJ, Chan VJ, Luo WK, Lee CC. Polyhydroxyalkanoate production in Priestia megaterium strains from glycerol feedstock. PLoS One. 2025 Apr 30;20(4).

21. Bai X, Xu L, Li K, Zhang G, Zhang M, Huang Y. Unlocking efficient polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Gram-positive Priestia megaterium using waste-derived feedstocks. Microb Cell Fact. 2025 Sep 30;24(1):210.

22. Ngaopok K, Sooksawat T, Siripornadulsil S, Siripornadulsil W. Strain-specific production of PHB and PHBV-like polyhydroxyalkanoates by Priestia megaterium using agro-waste hydrolysates. Bioresour Technol Rep. 2026 Feb 1;33:102470.

23. Wang K, Hobby AM, Chio A, El Mashad HE, Zhang R. Bioconversion of dairy co-products to polyhydroxyalkanoates by halophilic microbes with salts and nutrients recycling. Bioresour Technol. 2025 May 1;424:132228.

24. Morales-Núñez I, Cancino M, Pérez E, Castro RI, Mamani M, Ramírez-Malule H, Díaz-Barrera Á, Andler R. Comparison of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) synthesis by Bacillus cereus and Azotobacter vinelandii OP: Effect of agitation on the accumulation and physicochemical properties of the biopolymer. Bioresour Bioprocess. 2025 Dec 20;12(1):151.


Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 16
Issue 02
Received 07/08/2026
Accepted 25/08/2026
Published 05/09/2026
Publication Time 29 Days


Login

My IP

PlumX Metrics

Support