About the centre

Kazakh-Japanese-Chinese International Research Center AlgaBioTech

The Kazakh-Japanese-Chinese International Research Center AlgaBioTech advances research in photobiotechnology on the basis of the scientific school established by Bolatkhan Kazykhanovich Zayadan, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the field of “Phototrophic microorganisms and their application in biotechnology and bioenergy.”

Under the leadership of B.K. Zayadan, an independent research direction has been established at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University focusing on microalgae and cyanobacteria, including their biology, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular-genetic features, and biotechnological potential. The Laboratory of Photobiotechnology operates at the Research Institute of Biology and Biotechnology Problems of Al-Farabi KazNU, and its accumulated expertise and long-term research experience have become one of the principal scientific platforms of the AlgaBioTech Center.

Photobiotechnology is a promising interdisciplinary field of modern biotechnology that integrates fundamental research on phototrophic microorganisms with the development of practical solutions for medicine, environmental protection, agriculture, the food industry, and bioenergy.

Aim of the center

The primary aim of AlgaBioTech is to conduct fundamental and applied research on phototrophic microorganisms and to develop innovative, environmentally sustainable biotechnologies based on these organisms for bioenergy, environmental protection, agriculture, food biotechnology, and medical biotechnology.

Particular attention is given to preserving and studying the biodiversity of microalgae and cyanobacteria, isolating promising natural strains, investigating their functional and biotechnological potential, and creating conditions for the transfer of scientific results into practical technologies.

Main objectives of the center

The main objectives of AlgaBioTech include:

• isolation, identification, cultivation, and preservation of promising strains of microalgae and cyanobacteria;
• investigation of their morphological, physiological-biochemical, molecular-genetic, and biotechnological characteristics;
• development and expansion of the collection of phototrophic microorganisms;
• screening for strains producing valuable metabolites, lipids, biologically active compounds, and molecular hydrogen;
• development of bioremediation technologies for contaminated aquatic and soil ecosystems;
• development of methods for environmental biomonitoring and bioindication;
• development of bioproducts, biofertilizers, and other biotechnology-based products for agriculture;
• development of technologies for the production of biodiesel, biohydrogen, and other environmentally sustainable biofuels;
• advancement of modern molecular-genetic, genomic, metagenomic, and bioinformatic approaches to the study of phototrophic and associated microorganisms;
• development of international scientific cooperation, joint projects, and academic exchange;
• training of young scientists and highly qualified specialists in photobiotechnology and related fields.

Main research areas

1. Biologically active supplements and bioproducts for agriculture and the food industry.

Development and production of feed biologically active supplements and novel bioproducts with probiotic and antioxidant properties based on phototrophic microorganisms. Research is focused on identifying promising strains of microalgae and cyanobacteria capable of synthesizing biologically active compounds and evaluating their potential applications in agriculture, feed technologies, and the food industry.

2. Bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems.

Development of integrated biotechnologies for the treatment and restoration of aquatic and soil ecosystems contaminated with organic compounds, heavy-metal ions, oil, and petroleum products. These technologies are based on the natural ability of microalgae, cyanobacteria, and microbial consortia to absorb and transform pollutants and reduce their toxic effects. A separate promising direction is the development of algal-cyanobacterial biofilms and complex microbial systems for the restoration of saline and anthropogenically disturbed soils.

3. Environmental biomonitoring and genetic monitoring.

Development of new methods for biomonitoring the ecological status of contaminated aquatic ecosystems using sensitive and mutant microalgal test strains. Research includes assessment of the physiological and genetic responses of phototrophic microorganisms to pollutants, as well as development of approaches to environmental genetic monitoring to determine the potential mutagenicity of the studied environment.

4. Agricultural biotechnology and biofertilizers.

Development of bioproducts based on consortia of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria for use as biofertilizers and for the advancement of environmentally sustainable agricultural biotechnology. A promising research direction is the construction of complex microbial consortia that include phototrophic microorganisms and associated soil bacteria that promote plant growth and development. These developments are aimed at increasing crop productivity, enhancing resistance to stress factors, and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.

5. Biodiesel based on microalgae and cyanobacteria.

Development of technology for biodiesel production from the biomass of microalgae and cyanobacteria capable of actively accumulating lipids. Research includes isolation of promising strains, their molecular-genetic identification, screening of lipid-producing strains, optimization of cultivation and biomass accumulation conditions, and determination of the fatty-acid composition of microalgal and cyanobacterial cells. This integrated approach makes it possible to assess individual strains as potential feedstocks for renewable biofuel production.

6. Biologically active compounds and immunomodulators.

Development of novel biologically active supplements and immunomodulatory products based on phototrophic microorganisms for domestic food, preventive, and prospective medical bioproducts. Research covers the search for and characterization of natural biologically active compounds from microalgae and cyanobacteria with antioxidant and other functional properties.

7. Biohydrogen and photobiological energy.

Isolation and identification of active cyanobacterial strains capable of producing molecular hydrogen, including strains from extreme natural ecosystems. Research focuses on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular-genetic mechanisms of hydrogen metabolism, optimization of cultivation conditions for promising strains, and improvement of the efficiency of photobiological hydrogen production. This area considers cyanobacteria as a promising biological platform for solar-energy conversion and the development of environmentally sustainable biofuel technologies.

Collection of phototrophic microorganisms

One of the key resource foundations of AlgaBioTech research is the CCMKazNU Collection of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria established under the leadership of B.K. Zayadan. The collection has been developed over many years using cultures obtained from scientific collections as well as strains isolated from diverse natural ecosystems of Kazakhstan. At present, the collection contains approximately 50 strains of cyanobacteria and green microalgae representing 13 genera and 25 species. The collection is not only a repository for biological resources but also an active scientific and experimental platform.

Collection strains are used for fundamental studies of the biology and physiology of phototrophic microorganisms; molecular-genetic identification; screening of producers of biologically active substances; research in bioremediation and biomonitoring; development of bioproducts and biofertilizers; investigation of lipid metabolism and biodiesel potential; studies of biological hydrogen-production mechanisms; and training of Master’s students, PhD students, and early-career researchers.

The collection is gradually expanding through the addition of new natural isolates and other functionally important microorganisms, enabling the study of more complex microbial communities and the development of promising consortia.

Research projects

Currently, the collection and the scientific and methodological resources of the laboratory and the Center are used in the implementation of a number of research projects:

• AP23485416 “Establishment of a biobank of a collection of microalgae and cyanobacteria and investigation of their biotechnological potential for applied research” (Project Leader: B.K. Zayadan, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan);
• AP26101745 “Application of cyanobacterial strains for the production of organic fertilizers and plant biostimulants in agriculture” (Project Leader: F.K. Sarsekeyeva);
• AP23488028 “Development and testing of a technology for producing algal-bacterial bioproducts that enhance the resilience and productivity of agricultural plants” (Project Leader: A.K. Sadvakassova);
• AP23488308 “Investigation of the biotechnological potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria in pesticide biodegradation and their effect on improving soil fertility” (Project Leader: N.R. Akmukhanova);
• AP23485836 “Development of a technology for bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated wastewater using an algal-cyanobacterial consortium for potential biofuel production” (Project Leader: K. Bolatkhan);
• AP22685516 “Production of pigments from phototrophic microorganisms and investigation of their immunomodulatory properties and antibacterial activity” (Project Leader: S. Sandybaeva);
• International Project No. 202EO1032 “Research and development of Chinese-Kazakh agricultural products in an antibiotic implementation system, study of their adaptive capacity, and application” (Project Leader: B.K. Zayadan);
• AP22788030 “Production and investigation of algal-cyanobacterial biofilms for the restoration of saline and contaminated soils” (Project Leader: M.O. Bauenova);
• AP26194471 “Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic studies of extreme ecosystems to investigate the unique metabolic capabilities of microorganisms in green biofuel technologies” (Project Leader: A.B. Kakimova);
• AP32521343 “Development of methods for integrated assessment of contaminated aquatic ecosystems using microalgae and bacteria” (Project Leader: G.A. Akhmetova).

The use of collection strains and newly isolated strains within these projects ensures continuity of scientific research and makes it possible to integrate information on the origin, taxonomic affiliation, and biological properties of cultures with their functional characterization and assessment of practical potential. This creates an integrated research system extending from the isolation and preservation of microorganisms to their molecular characterization, functional screening, and the development of specific biotechnological applications.

International scientific cooperation

International cooperation is one of the key areas of activity of the Kazakh-Japanese-Chinese International Research Center AlgaBioTech. For many years, the scientific school of Professor B.K. Zayadan has been building sustainable partnerships with leading universities, research institutes, and biotechnology organizations across Europe and Asia.

The Center's international activities include joint research, implementation of scientific projects, preparation of publications, academic exchange, research internships, co-supervision of Master's and PhD theses, participation in international conferences and forums, exchange of strains and methodological approaches, and implementation of modern methods in photobiotechnology, molecular biology, and bioenergy.

Of particular importance is the fact that AlgaBioTech's international cooperation is developing across several complementary scientific areas.

One of the key international partners is Tokyo University of Science, Japan. Scientific cooperation is being developed with Professor Tatsuya Tomo, a specialist in photosynthesis, photosynthetic electron transport, and the molecular organization of photosystems. The joint research direction focuses on mechanisms of solar-energy conversion by phototrophic microorganisms, the physiological and molecular basis of photosynthesis, and the prospects for using cyanobacteria and microalgae to produce environmentally sustainable energy carriers, including biohydrogen. Cooperation includes scientific exchanges, research internships, discussion of joint experimental tasks, preparation of publications, and participation of young scientists in international research. This partnership is particularly important for the bioenergy direction of AlgaBioTech because it enables the integration of Kazakhstan’s collection and natural strains of phototrophic microorganisms with modern approaches to studying photosynthetic processes and molecular mechanisms of energy conversion.

Long-term scientific cooperation also links the AlgaBioTech scientific school with leading Russian researchers. In molecular biology and physiology of phototrophic organisms, collaboration is developing with Professor D.A. Los of the Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology. Joint scientific interests include molecular-genetic mechanisms of adaptation in cyanobacteria and microalgae, regulation of physiological processes, sequencing, and the application of modern molecular-biology methods.

An important place is occupied by cooperation with Professor S.I. Allakhverdiev, a recognized expert in photosynthesis, photosystems, electron transport, and solar-energy conversion. Shared scientific interests concern the fundamental mechanisms of photosynthesis and their potential application in developing new photobiotechnological and bioenergy approaches.

A separate long-term research direction is associated with Professor D.N. Matorin of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Cooperation covers environmental photobiotechnology, biomonitoring, and assessment of aquatic ecosystem conditions using microalgae. Within this area, the physiological responses of phototrophic microorganisms to pollutants and the possibility of using sensitive strains as test objects for environmental monitoring have been investigated. The results of this scientific cooperation are reflected in joint studies, publications, and monographic works in the field of biomonitoring and bioremediation of aquatic ecosystems.

An important area of international cooperation is linked to the ALGATECH Centre, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic. Scientific interaction is developing, in particular, with Professor Jiří Masojídek, a recognized specialist in microalgal physiology and biotechnology, photobioreactor technologies, and large-scale cultivation of phototrophic microorganisms. This cooperation is particularly valuable for the applied development of AlgaBioTech, facilitating the transition from laboratory studies of individual strains to controlled and scalable microalgal cultivation technologies. Shared scientific interests include microalgal physiology, optimization of light and cultivation conditions, photobioreactor technologies, production of valuable biomass and promising metabolites, and training of young specialists. Scientific visits and internships at ALGATECH support the exchange of modern experimental methods and allow European expertise in industrial algal biotechnology to be integrated into research conducted in Kazakhstan.

Cooperation with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, is related to research on the ecological and bioremediation potential of microalgae. In collaboration with Polish algologists, the capacity of microalgae to remove and accumulate heavy metals has been investigated, and their potential for restoring contaminated aquatic ecosystems has been evaluated. An important result of this cooperation has been the involvement of young researchers in international scientific projects and the preparation of dissertation research, contributing to the development of environmental photobiotechnology in Kazakhstan.

AlgaBioTech maintains scientific links with researchers at Yıldız Technical University and Karadeniz Technical University, Türkiye. International partners include Professor Didem Özçimen of Yıldız Technical University and Professor Zihni Demirbağ of Karadeniz Technical University. Cooperation covers microalgal biotechnology, production of valuable products from biomass, bioenergy-related areas, and exchange of experience in applied biotechnology. These contacts contribute to joint research, international publications, academic mobility, and expansion of the AlgaBioTech scientific network in the region.

The Chinese direction is one of the strategically important components of the Center's international cooperation. AlgaBioTech develops scientific links with researchers in Tianjin, China, including Huang Zhiyong and Wang Jingjing, representing TIB. Shared interests include modern industrial biotechnology, microorganism research, molecular-genetic approaches, and promising biotechnology products.

A separate area of cooperation is associated with Kelun Pharmaceutical and the pharmaceutical sector of China. It is of considerable interest for the search and investigation of biologically active compounds from microalgae and cyanobacteria, the development of new bioproducts, and the transition from fundamental research to practical biotechnological development. Chinese partnerships expand the Center’s opportunities in technology transfer, interaction between science and industry, and the exploration of promising pathways for commercialization of biotechnology developments.

AlgaBioTech's scientific links also include cooperation with researchers in the United States, in particular Professor Barry Bruce of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. Scientific interests in this direction are associated with the study of photosynthetic systems, solar-energy conversion, and the prospects for using components of the photosynthetic apparatus in modern bioenergy technologies. Cooperation with U.S. research groups broadens the fundamental component of AlgaBioTech's work and promotes integration of the Center's research into the international scientific community in photosynthesis and renewable energy.

The collection of phototrophic microorganisms, natural isolates from Kazakhstan, and the accumulated expertise of B.K. Zayadan's scientific school provide the biological foundation for the research, while cooperation with international partners expands access to modern molecular-biology methods, photosynthesis research, genomic technologies, photobioreactor cultivation, and industrial biotechnology. International cooperation is particularly important for the training of young scientists. Participation of Master's students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers in joint projects, scientific visits, and internships supports the transfer of modern methodological approaches and helps train a new generation of specialists capable of working in an international research environment.

AlgaBioTech's international links form a sustainable scientific network connecting Kazakhstan with research centers in Japan, China, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Türkiye, and the United States. This network supports the development of fundamental photobiology and photobiotechnology, environmental biotechnology, bioenergy, molecular-genetic research, and applied technologies based on microalgae and cyanobacteria.

Scientific results and practical significance

The long-term activity of the scientific school has enabled the establishment in Kazakhstan of an integrated research direction on phototrophic microorganisms, ranging from the study of their fundamental biological properties to the development of applied biotechnological solutions.

Promising strains of microalgae and cyanobacteria have been obtained and characterized, the CCMKazNU collection has been established, approaches to biomonitoring and bioremediation have been developed, promising biofertilizers and bioproducts have been investigated, lipid- and hydrogen-producing strains have been identified, and selected biologically active and food products have been developed.

Research results have been reported in scientific publications, monographs, educational materials, dissertations, and patents, and have also been presented at international scientific conferences and forums.

Prospects for the development of AlgaBioTech

Further development of the Center is associated with expanding research on Kazakhstan's unique natural and extreme ecosystems, enriching the collection with new microorganisms, and comprehensively characterizing their biotechnological potential.

Modern genomic, metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and bioinformatic approaches are becoming particularly important because they make it possible to study not only individual cultivable strains but also complex natural microbial communities and to identify new functional genes and metabolic pathways with potential applications in bioenergy, environmental biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology.

Development of international collaborations and joint projects, together with the training of young researchers, should support the further integration of AlgaBioTech into international scientific networks.

AlgaBioTech is a research platform that integrates the long-term experience of Kazakhstan's photobiotechnology scientific school, collection-based bioresources, modern molecular technologies, international scientific links, and ongoing research projects. The Center's activities are aimed at preserving and studying phototrophic microorganisms and translating fundamental knowledge into practical solutions for environmental protection, agriculture, the food industry, medicine, and green bioenergy.