Characterization of microorganisms and by-products beneficial to human and environmental health: A perspective from a local dairy to industrial use

Microbial communities are crucial in several ecosystems and pivotal in helping various human, animal, and environmental health aspects. Microbial cells act as mini-biofactories, synthesizing economically and ecologically essential compounds that benefit and improve several fields. In a world seeking biological, sustainable, and safe methods, microbial communities and their by-products offer a green, low-cost alternative to chemical and polluting industrial processes. These bacterial communities help several industrial sectors by providing eco-friendly and secure solutions for biotechnologies processes. This PhD project, funded by the European project PON 2014 -2020 and the Fondo per lo Sviluppo e la Coesione (FSC), aims to reinforce the innovation capacity of regional production systems. Developed in collaboration with Tenuta Manchi, an organic dairy farm in Caccamo (Palermo, Italy), the project seeks to contribute to the challenge of food safety issues and enhance the products of an inland area of Sicily. Organic farms provide excellent sources of microbial biodiversity for biotechnological applications. This thesis aims to characterize bacteria from soil and acid curd (derived from goat milk) to produce various by-products, such as bacteriocins, antibiofilm compounds, antibiotics, and enzymes, to improve agricultural products' organoleptic and sensory properties while promoting local community development. In this context, the results of this PhD project advance the exploitation of environmental microbial biodiversity in an uncontaminated Sicilian environment and highlight the potential of microbial resources for industrial improvement and biotechnological applications.