show Abstracthide AbstractThe fungus Penicillium sumatraense AQ67100 is able to assimilate heat-killed Chlorella vulgaris cells by secreting an enzymatic arsenal composed of proteases and glycosidases. The treatment of C. vulgaris with the filtrate from P. sumatraense AQ67100 improves the release of endogenous metabolites from algal cells, highlighting the potential of algal saprophytes in the bioprocessing of microalgae.