Cited by 87Algal biology and biofuel productionMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyPlant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity

Attachment between heterotrophic bacteria and microalgae influences symbiotic microscale interactions

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Samo, Ty J., Kimbrel, Jeffrey A., Nilson, Daniel J., Pett‐Ridge, Jennifer, Weber, Peter K., Mayali, Xavier·2018·Environmental Microbiology

Abstract

The surface and surroundings of microalgal cells (phycosphere) are critical interaction zones but have been difficult to functionally interrogate due to methodological limitations. We examined effects of phycosphere-associated bacteria for two biofuel-relevant microalgal species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Nannochloropsis salina) using stable isotope tracing and high spatial resolution mass spectrometry imaging (NanoSIMS) to quantify elemental exchanges at the single-cell level. Each algal species responded differently to bacterial attachment. In P. tricornutum, a high percentage of cells had attached bacteria (92%-98%, up to eight bacteria per alga) and fixed 64% more carbon with attached bacteria compared to axenic cells. In contrast, N. salina cells were less commonly associated with bacteria (42%-63%), harboured fewer bacteria per alga, and fixed 10% more carbon without attached bacteria compared to axenic cells. An uncultivated bacterium related to Haliscomenobacter sp. was identified as an effective mutualist; it increased carbon fixation when attached to P. tricornutum and incorporated 71% more algal-fixed carbon relative to other bacteria. Our results illustrate how phylogenetic identity and physical location of bacteria and algae facilitate diverse metabolic responses. Phycosphere-mediated, mutualistic chemical exchanges between autotrophs and heterotrophs may be a fruitful means to increase microalgal productivity for applied engineering efforts.

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Crossref · 10.1111/1462-2920.14357

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  • Attachment defines a differential response in cell-cell exchange: 92-98% of P. tricornutum cells had attached bacteria and fixed 64% more carbon than axenic cells, whereas only 42-63% of N. salina cells had associations and fixed just 10% more carbon.

    “The authors reported that attachment defines a differential response, while 92–98% of cells of P. tricornutum had attached bacteria and fixed 64% more carbon than axenic cells. In contrast, only 42–63% of N. salina cells had associations with bacteria and fixed just 10% more carbon compared to axenic cells.”
  • Microalgae exude photosynthesized organics as dissolved organic carbon (DOC); heterotrophic bacteria assimilate them, and in return bacteria contribute to algal growth through generation of CO2, micronutrients such as Fe, vitamins, macronutrients specifically fixed N, and phytohormones.

    “Microalgae exude a part of the photosynthesized organics as dissolved organic carbon (DOC); these are assimilated by heterotrophic bacteria, and in return, bacteria contribute to algal growth through the generation of CO2, micronutrients (such as Fe), vitamins, macronutrients, specifically fixed N and phytohormones [15,17].”

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  1. Redfield, A.C. (1934) On the proportions of organic derivatives in sea water and their relation to the composition of plankton. In, Daniel,R.J. (ed), James Johnstone Memorial Volume. University Press of Liverpool, Liverpool, pp. 176-192.

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Authors
Samo, T. J., Kimbrel, J. A., Nilson, D. J., Pett‐Ridge, J., Weber, P. K., & Mayali, X.
Affiliations
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US)
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Nuclear and Chemical, Sciences Division 7000 East Avenue, Livermore California
Corresponding author
Samo, Ty J.
Venue
Environmental Microbiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-10-24
Volume
20
Issue
12
Pages
4385-4400
ISSN
  • 1462-2912 (ISSN-L)
  • 1462-2920
OpenAlex
W2883631392
Cited by
87
References
92
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
FWCI
1.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (AC52‐07NA27344)
  • Texas A and M University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
Keywords
phycosphere, algal-bacterial symbiosis, heterotrophic bacteria, microalgae, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Nannochloropsis salina, CO2 fixation, mutualism, stable isotope tracing, NanoSIMS
MeSH terms
Bacteria, Carbon, Phylogeny, Symbiosis, Diatoms, Heterotrophic Processes, Biofuels, Microalgae

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