The response of Prorocentrum sigmoides and its associated culturable bacteria to metals and organic pollutants

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and tellurium) and organic pollutants (benzene, diesel, lindane, and xylene) on a dinoflagellate-Prorocentrum sigmoides Böhm-and its associated culturable bacteria. Two bacterial cultures (Bacillus subtilis strain PD005 and B. xiamensis strain PD006) were isolated from P. sigmoides and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, biochemical analyses, and growth curve studies. This study points to a mutualistic relationship between P. sigmoides and its associated Bacillus isolates. P. sigmoides enhanced the growth of its associated Bacillus spp., through the secretion of extracellular exudates. In return, both Bacillus isolates contributed to the resistance of P. sigmoides to metals and organic pollutants. P. sigmoides and both Bacillus isolates exhibited concentration-dependent responses to metals and organic pollutants. An intriguing feature was the similar response of P. sigmoides and its associated Bacillus isolates to mercury and cadmium, indicating a co-selection of mercury and cadmium resistance. This provides support to the "dinoflagellate hostphycosphere bacteria" behaving as a single functional unit. However, the sensitivity profiles of P. sigmoides and its associated Bacillus isolates are different with respect to metals versus organic pollutants. These aspects need to be addressed in future studies to unravel the effect of metal and organic pollutants on dinoflagellates, an important component of the phytoplankton community, and to discern the influence of associated "phycosphere" bacteria on the response of dinoflagellates to pollutants. K E Y W O R D Sassociated bacteria, Bacillus spp., co-selection, metals, organic pollutants, Prorocentrum sigmoides

OMICS Approaches to Assess Dinoflagellate Responses to Chemical Stressors

“…The downregulation of cell surface receptors involved in cell dissociation suggests that nanoplastic exposure might cause the disruption of symbiosis in corals [ 25 ]. Despite the dozen of studies available, transcriptomic responses of dinoflagellates to micro and nanoparticles remain poorly investigated, and current studies are focusing on the physiological responses of dinoflagellates to these pollutants [ 42 , 43 ].…”

“…The downregulation of cell surface rece tors involved in cell dissociation suggests that nanoplastic exposure might cause the d ruption of symbiosis in corals [25]. Despite the dozen of studies available, transcriptom responses of dinoflagellates to micro and nanoparticles remain poorly investigated, an current studies are focusing on the physiological responses of dinoflagellates to these po lutants [42,43]. While a reallocation of iron in the synthesis of iron-containing superoxide dismutase might be a trade-off strategy in the Symbiodiniacea, Fugacium kawagutii [24], to cope with ROS accumulation under iron deficiency, numerous transcriptional modifications under chemical stressors are still poorly understood.…”