microorganisms Review The Anaerobic Fungi: Challenges and Opportunities for Industrial Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production Luke M. G. Saye 1,2, Tejas A. Navaratna 3 , James P. J. Chong 1 , Michelle A. O’Malley 3 , Michael K. Theodorou 2,* and Matthew Reilly 1,* 1 Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK;
[email protected] (L.M.G.S.);
[email protected] (J.P.J.C.) 2 Department of Agriculture and the Environment, Harper Adams University, Newport TF10 8NB, UK 3 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA;
[email protected] (T.A.N.);
[email protected] (M.A.O.) * Correspondence:
[email protected] (M.K.T.);
[email protected] (M.R.) Abstract: Lignocellulose is a promising feedstock for biofuel production as a renewable, carbohydrate- rich and globally abundant source of biomass. However, challenges faced include environmental and/or financial costs associated with typical lignocellulose pretreatments needed to overcome the natural recalcitrance of the material before conversion to biofuel. Anaerobic fungi are a group of underexplored microorganisms belonging to the early diverging phylum Neocallimastigomycota and are native to the intricately evolved digestive system of mammalian herbivores. Anaerobic fungi have promising potential for application in biofuel production processes due to the combination of Citation: Saye, L.M.G.; Navaratna, their highly effective ability to hydrolyse lignocellulose and capability to convert this substrate to H2 T.A.; Chong, J.P.J.; O’Malley, M.A.; and ethanol. Furthermore, they can produce volatile fatty acid precursors for subsequent biological Theodorou, M.K.; Reilly, M.