A comparative review of recent advances in cellulases production by Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma strains and their use for lignocellulose deconstruction

Lignocellulosic biomass is an excellent raw material for the production of fuels, chemicals and energy. However, its use in a more productive way is conditioned to the use of highly efficient enzymatic cocktails, which can be produced by a plethora of microorganisms. Among them, strains of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma are some of the most relevant, corresponding to over 50% of the studies related to cellulases. In this context, molecular biology tools should be used to favor the enzyme production economics, whereas approaches such as product engineering and supplementation with additives (e.g. surfactants or accessory proteins) should be used to increase the efficiency of the hydrolytic process. In this paper, we shortly address these issues, and discuss some recent advances in the production and use of cellulases from the abovementioned fungal genera.