Adedipe, DT, Chen, C, Lai, RWS, Xu, S, Luo, Q, Zhou, G-J, Boxall, A, Brooks, BW, Doblin, MA, Wang, X, Wang, J & Leung, KMY 2024, 'Occurrence and potential risks of pharmaceutical contamination in global Estuaries: A critical review and analysis', Environment International, vol. 192, pp. 109031-109031.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Alderdice, R, Voolstra, CR, Lendo, CIN, Boote, C, Suggett, DJ, Edmondson, J, Goyen, S, Haydon, T & Camp, EF 2024, 'Loss of coral thermotolerance following year-long in situ nursery propagation with a consecutively high summer heat-load', Coral Reefs, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 919-933.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractExposure to more frequent ocean warming events is driving the loss of coral reef cover as the window of recovery between episodes of bleaching reduces. Coral propagation via in situ nurseries and subsequent outplanting have increased worldwide to support replenishing coral cover on degraded reefs. However, challenges in identifying fast-growing and bleaching-resistant target corals have limited how informative we can be regarding the resilience of outplanted corals. Here, we employed short-term thermal stress assays using the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS) to assess the thermal threshold of a fast-growing coral pre- and post-propagation on in situ nursery frames. We show that year-long nursery-propagated corals exhibit a statistically significant reduction in thermal thresholds (i.e., ED50s) compared to their corresponding reef-based donor colonies based on dose–response modelling of dark acclimated photosynthetic efficiency. RNA-Seq was then used to assess the underlying drivers of this thermotolerance reduction, identifying that processes involved in metabolic and oxidative stress management were disrupted in nursery versus donor heat-treated corals. Whether trade-offs during potential growth-focused phases (post-fragmentation), nursery conditions, and/or a consecutively high summer heat-load drove the lower thermal capacity remains to be determined. However, nursery corals expressed genes associated with telomere maintenance, which are typically expressed in stress-sensitive fast-growing corals under seasonal environmental stress, suggesting consecutively high summer heat-loading contributed to the observed patterns. Our results highlight that thermal tolerance is (i) variable and (ii) subject to acclimation to varying degrees across colonies. Thus, a path forward for reef practitioners to improve propagation efforts may entail the initial screening of a larger reef population from which the...
Buckley, T, Vuong, T, Karanam, K, Vo, PHN, Shukla, P, Firouzi, M & Rudolph, V 2024, 'Response to ‘Comment on “Using foam fractionation to estimate PFAS air-water interface adsorption behaviour at ng/L and µg/L” by T. Buckley, T. Vuong, K. Karanam, P.H.N. Vo, P. Shukla, M. Firouzi & V. Rudolph, Water research 239, 120028’', Water Research, vol. 249, pp. 120811-120811.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Danaee, S, Naghoosi, H, Badali Varzaghani, N & Vo, PHN 2024, 'Biodegradation of human faecal sludge for photosynthetic bioelectricity generation and seawater desalination in a microbial desalination cell', Environmental Technology, vol. 45, no. 23, pp. 4887-4899.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Dilernia, NJ, Woodcock, S, Camp, EF, Hughes, DJ, Kühl, M & Suggett, DJ 2024, 'Intra‐colony spatial variance of oxyregulation and hypoxic thresholds for key Acropora coral species', Ecology and Evolution, vol. 14, no. 3, p. e11100.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractOxygen (O2) availability is essential for healthy coral reef functioning, yet how continued loss of dissolved O2 via ocean deoxygenation impacts performance of reef building corals remains unclear. Here, we examine how intra‐colony spatial geometry of important Great Barrier Reef (GBR) coral species Acropora may influence variation in hypoxic thresholds for upregulation, to better understand capacity to tolerate future reductions in O2 availability. We first evaluate the application of more streamlined models used to parameterise Hypoxia Response Curve data, models that have been used historically to identify variable oxyregulatory capacity. Using closed‐system respirometry to analyse O2 drawdown rate, we show that a two‐parameter model returns similar outputs as previous 12th‐order models for descriptive statistics such as the average oxyregulation capacity (Tpos) and the ambient O2 level at which the coral exerts maximum regulation effort (Pcmax), for diverse Acropora species. Following an experiment to evaluate whether stress induced by coral fragmentation for respirometry affected O2 drawdown rate, we subsequently identify differences in hypoxic response for the interior and exterior colony locations for the species Acropora abrotanoides, Acropora cf. microphthalma and Acropora elseyi. Average regulation capacity across species was greater (0.78–1.03 ± SE 0.08) at the colony interior compared with exterior (0.60–0.85 ± SE 0.08). Moreover, Pcmax occurred at relatively low pO2 of <30% (±1.24; SE) air saturation for a...
Dougan, KE, Bellantuono, AJ, Kahlke, T, Abbriano, RM, Chen, Y, Shah, S, Granados-Cifuentes, C, van Oppen, MJH, Bhattacharya, D, Suggett, DJ, Rodriguez-Lanetty, M & Chan, CX 2024, 'Whole-genome duplication in an algal symbiont bolsters coral heat tolerance', Science Advances, vol. 10, no. 29.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
The algal endosymbiont Durusdinium trenchii enhances the resilience of coral reefs under thermal stress. D. trenchii can live freely or in endosymbiosis, and the analysis of genetic markers suggests that this species has undergone whole-genome duplication (WGD). However, the evolutionary mechanisms that underpin the thermotolerance of this species are largely unknown. Here, we present genome assemblies for two D. trenchii isolates, confirm WGD in these taxa, and examine how selection has shaped the duplicated genome regions using gene expression data. We assess how the free-living versus endosymbiotic lifestyles have contributed to the retention and divergence of duplicated genes, and how these processes have enhanced the thermotolerance of D. trenchii . Our combined results suggest that lifestyle is the driver of post-WGD evolution in D. trenchii , with the free-living phase being the most important, followed by endosymbiosis. Adaptations to both lifestyles likely enabled D. trenchii to provide enhanced thermal stress protection to the host coral.
Espinoza-Corral, R, Iwai, M, Zavřel, T, Lechno-Yossef, S, Sutter, M, Červený, J, Niyogi, KK & Kerfeld, CA 2024, 'Phycobilisome protein ApcG interacts with PSII and regulates energy transfer in Synechocystis', Plant Physiology, vol. 194, no. 3, pp. 1383-1396.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
Abstract Photosynthetic organisms harvest light using pigment–protein complexes. In cyanobacteria, these are water-soluble antennae known as phycobilisomes (PBSs). The light absorbed by PBS is transferred to the photosystems in the thylakoid membrane to drive photosynthesis. The energy transfer between these complexes implies that protein–protein interactions allow the association of PBS with the photosystems. However, the specific proteins involved in the interaction of PBS with the photosystems are not fully characterized. Here, we show in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that the recently discovered PBS linker protein ApcG (sll1873) interacts specifically with PSII through its N-terminal region. Growth of cyanobacteria is impaired in apcG deletion strains under light-limiting conditions. Furthermore, complementation of these strains using a phospho-mimicking version of ApcG causes reduced growth under normal growth conditions. Interestingly, the interaction of ApcG with PSII is affected when a phospho-mimicking version of ApcG is used, targeting the positively charged residues interacting with the thylakoid membrane, suggesting a regulatory role mediated by phosphorylation of ApcG. Low-temperature fluorescence measurements showed decreased PSI fluorescence in apcG deletion and complementation strains. The PSI fluorescence was the lowest in the phospho-mimicking complementation strain, while the pull-down experiment showed no interaction of ApcG with PSI under any tested condition. Our results highlight the importance of ApcG for selectively directing energy harvested by the PBS and imply that the phosphorylation status of ApcG plays a role in regulating energy transfer from PSII to PSI.
Gamba, AG, Oakley, CA, Ashley, IA, Grossman, AR, Weis, VM, Suggett, DJ & Davy, SK 2024, 'Oxylipin Receptors and Their Role in Inter‐Partner Signalling in a Model Cnidarian‐Dinoflagellate Symbiosis', Environmental Microbiology, vol. 26, no. 12.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
ABSTRACTOxylipin signalling is central in biology, mediating processes such as cellular homeostasis, inflammation and molecular signalling. It may also facilitate inter‐partner communication in the cnidarian‐dinoflagellate symbiosis, though this aspect remains understudied. In this study, four oxylipin receptors were characterised using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana (‘Aiptasia’): Prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2) and 4 (EP4), Transient Receptor Potential cation channel A1 (TRPA1) and Glutamate Receptor Ionotropic, Kainate 2 (GRIK2). Receptor abundance and localisation were compared between aposymbiotic anemones and symbiotic anemones hosting either native Breviolum minutum or non‐native Durusdinium trenchii. All receptors were localised to the putative symbiosome of freshly isolated symbionts, suggesting a role in host‐symbiont crosstalk. EP2, EP4 and TRPA1 abundance decreased in the gastrodermis of anemones hosting B. minutum, indicating potential downregulation of pathways mediated by these receptors. In contrast, GRIK2 abundance increased in anemones hosting D. trenchii in both the epidermis and gastrodermis; GRIK2 acts as a chemosensor of potential pathogens in other systems and could play a similar role here given D. trenchii's reputation as a sub‐optimal partner for Aiptasia. This study contributes to the understanding of oxylipin signalling in the cnidarian‐dinoflagellate symbiosis and supports further exploration of host‐symbiont molecular signalling.
Garritano, AN, Zhang, Z, Jia, Y, Allen, MA, Hill, LJ, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Hinkley, C, Raina, J-B, Peixoto, RS & Thomas, T 2024, 'Simple Porifera holobiont reveals complex interactions between the host, an archaeon, a bacterium, and a phage', The ISME Journal, vol. 18, no. 1.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
Abstract The basal metazoan phylum Porifera (sponges) is increasingly used as a model to investigate ecological and evolutionary features of microbe–animal symbioses. However, sponges often host complex microbiomes, which has hampered our understanding of their interactions with their microbial symbionts. Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of the simplest sponge holobiont reported to date, consisting of the deep-sea glass sponge Aphrocallistes beatrix and two newly-described microbial symbionts: an autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing archaeon and a bacterial heterotroph. Omics analyses and metabolic modeling revealed the dependency of the ammonia-oxidizing archaea on sponge-derived ammonia to drive primary production, which in turn supports the bacterium’s growth by providing the dicarboxylate fumarate. Furthermore, virus-mediated archaeal lysis appears crucial to overcome the bacterium’s vitamin B12 auxotrophy. These findings reveal that the exchanges of vitamin B12 and dicarboxylate may be evolutionarily conserved features of symbiosis as they can also be found in interactions between free-living marine bacteria, and between microbes and plants or diatoms.
Hamzelou, S, Belobrajdic, D, Broadbent, JA, Juhász, A, Lee Chang, K, Jameson, I, Ralph, P & Colgrave, ML 2024, 'Utilizing proteomics to identify and optimize microalgae strains for high-quality dietary protein: a review', Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, vol. 44, no. 7, pp. 1280-1295.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
Algae-derived protein has immense potential to provide high-quality protein foods for the expanding human population. To meet its potential, a broad range of scientific tools are required to identify optimal algal strains from the hundreds of thousands available and identify ideal growing conditions for strains that produce high-quality protein with functional benefits. A research pipeline that includes proteomics can provide a deeper interpretation of microalgal composition and biochemistry in the pursuit of these goals. To date, proteomic investigations have largely focused on pathways that involve lipid production in selected microalgae species. Herein, we report the current state of microalgal proteome measurement and discuss promising approaches for the development of protein-containing food products derived from algae.
Herdean, A 2024, 'Advancements in biofeedback photobioreactors: using the language of light deciphered from the organisms themselves', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 157, no. 2, pp. 165-172.
View description>>
This paper presents an innovative exploration of biofeedback photobioreactors, which utilise the “language of light” decoded from photosynthetic organisms themselves. Addressing the inherent inefficiencies in photosynthetic conversion under various environmental conditions, the study delves into the potential of optimising abiotic factors in such systems. The core principle involves chlorophyll a fluorescence as a real-time indicator of photosynthetic activity, offering a non-invasive, comprehensive communication method between the researcher and the microorganism. By integrating this approach with advanced machine learning techniques, the paper proposes a method for deconvoluting complex fluorescence signals unique to each species. This approach not only holds the promise of enhancing the efficiency of photosynthetic microorganisms in controlled environments like bioreactors but also paves the way for significant advancements in sustainable biofuel production and other biotechnological applications. The paper underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research in overcoming the challenges of photosynthetic efficiency and highlights the potential of biofeedback photobioreactors to revolutionise the field of algal biotechnology.
Hinners, J, Argyle, PA, Walworth, NG, Doblin, MA, Levine, NM & Collins, S 2024, 'Multi-trait diversification in marine diatoms in constant and warmed environments', Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 291, no. 2019, p. 20232564.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
Phytoplankton are photosynthetic marine microbes that affect food webs, nutrient cycles and climate regulation. Their roles are determined by correlated phytoplankton functional traits including cell size, chlorophyll content and cellular composition. Here, we explore patterns of evolution in interrelated trait values and correlations. Because both chance events and natural selection contribute to phytoplankton trait evolution, we used population bottlenecks to diversify six genotypes of Thalassiosirid diatoms. We then evolved them as large populations in two environments. Interspecific variation and within-species evolution were visualized for nine traits and their correlations using reduced axes (a trait-scape). Our main findings are that shifts in trait values resulted in movement of evolving populations within the trait-scape in both environments, but were more frequent when large populations evolved in a novel environment. Which trait relationships evolved was population-specific, but greater departures from ancestral trait correlations were associated with lower population growth rates. There was no single master trait that could be used to understand multi-trait evolution. Instead, repeatable multi-trait evolution occurred along a major axis of variation defined by several diatom traits and trait relationships. Because trait-scapes capture changes in trait relationships and values together, they offer an insightful way to study multi-trait variation.
Howlett, L, Camp, EF, Locatelli, NS, Baums, IB, Strudwick, P, Rassmussen, S & Suggett, DJ 2024, 'Population and clonal structure of Acropora cf. hyacinthus to inform coral restoration practices on the Great Barrier Reef', Coral Reefs, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 1023-1035.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractA key goal of coral restoration is to re-establish self-sustaining coral populations and ensure resilience to future stressors, which requires that genetic diversity is maximised. However, coral genetic and genotypic (clonal) diversity is variable across reef sites via success of sexual recruitment, and cryptic species diversity can complicate breeding efforts. Assessing genotypic and genetic diversity of colonies to be used in restoration is therefore critical to avoid founder, inbreeding or outbreeding effects. Considering recent efforts to upscale coral propagation on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), we examined species, population and clonal structure of a commonly out-planted tabular Acropora species—Acropora hyacinthus (Dana, 1864). A total of 189 colonies were sampled from six reef systems throughout the northern-central GBR and genotyped using an Acropora-specific Affymetrix microarray, which resulted in 1387 variant sites that passed quality control. Cryptic species were readily resolved and all sampled A. hyacinthus colonies represented unique genotypes within sites at three reefs. At reefs that contained multi-ramet genets (clonal genotypes), the mean and maximum between-ramet distances were 0.68 and 1.99 m, respectively. Therefore, sampling colonies > 2 m apart increases the likelihood these colonies represent distinct genets. Such a sampling design therefore maximises genotypic diversity when sourcing colonies for propagation and out-planting. Based on these variant sites, we found no between-reef genetic divergence based on locality. Furthermore, through unintentional sampling of non-target tabular Acroporid species, we show how this genotyping method may be used for resolving taxonomic uncertainty as well as population dynamics.
Kumar Mondal, A, Hinkley, C, Kondaveeti, S, Vo, PHN, Ralph, P & Kuzhiumparambil, U 2024, 'Influence of pyrolysis time on removal of heavy metals using biochar derived from macroalgal biomass (Oedogonium sp.)', Bioresource Technology, vol. 414, pp. 131562-131562.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Leong, RC, Bugnot, AB, Ross, PM, Erickson, KR, Gibbs, MC, Marzinelli, EM, O'Connor, WA, Parker, LM, Poore, AGB, Scanes, E & Gribben, PE 2024, 'Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales', Ecological Applications, vol. 34, no. 4.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractUnderstanding how habitat attributes (e.g., patch area and sizes, connectivity) control recruitment and how this is modified by processes operating at larger spatial scales is fundamental to understanding population sustainability and developing successful long‐term restoration strategies for marine foundation species—including for globally threatened reef‐forming oysters. In two experiments, we assessed the recruitment and energy reserves of oyster recruits onto remnant reefs of the oyster Saccostrea glomerata in estuaries spanning 550 km of coastline in southeastern Australia. In the first experiment, we determined whether recruitment of oysters to settlement plates in three estuaries was correlated with reef attributes within patches (distances to patch edges and surface elevation), whole‐patch attributes (shape and size of patches), and landscape attributes (connectivity). We also determined whether environmental factors (e.g., sedimentation and water temperature) explained the differences among recruitment plates. We also tested whether differences in energy reserves of recruits could explain the differences between two of the estuaries (one high‐ and one low‐sedimentation estuary). In the second experiment, across six estuaries (three with nominally high and three with nominally low sedimentation rates), we tested the hypothesis that, at the estuary scale, recruitment and survival were negatively correlated to sedimentation. Overall, total oyster recruitment varied mostly at the scale of estuaries rather than with reef attributes and was negatively correlated with sedimentation. Percentage recruit survival was, however, similar among estuaries, although energy reserves and condition of recruits were lower at a high‐ compared to a low‐sediment estuary. Within each estuary, total oyster recruitment increased with patch area and decreased with increasing tidal height. Our results sho...
Li, Y, Key, TA, Vo, PHN, Porman, S, Thapalia, A, McDonough, JT, Fiorenza, S, Barnes, CM, Mueller, JF & Thai, PK 2024, 'Distribution and release of PFAS from AFFF-impacted asphalt: How does it compare to concrete?', Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 466, pp. 133627-133627.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Mehmood, MA, Amin, M, Haq, MAU, Shahid, A, Malik, S, Siddiqui, AJ, Wang, N, Zhu, H, Rasul, A, Chaudhry, AH, Nadeem, K, Boopathy, R, Zaman, QU & Musharraf, SG 2024, 'Assessment of molecular and metabolic traits of a newly isolated Spirulina platensis BERC15 in a low-cost cultivation alternative for its use as functional food', Bioresource Technology Reports, vol. 26, pp. 101816-101816.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Nguyen, HAD, Le, TH, Azzi, M & Ha, QP 2024, 'Monitoring and estimation of urban emissions with low-cost sensor networks and deep learning', Ecological Informatics, vol. 82, pp. 102750-102750.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Nguyen, HM, Hong, UVT, Ruocco, M, Dattolo, E, Marín-Guirao, L, Pernice, M & Procaccini, G 2024, 'Thermo-priming triggers species-specific physiological and transcriptome responses in Mediterranean seagrasses', Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, vol. 210, pp. 108614-108614.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Parker, LM, Scanes, E, O'Connor, WA, Dove, M, Elizur, A, Pörtner, H-O & Ross, PM 2024, 'Resilience against the impacts of climate change in an ecologically and economically significant native oyster', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 198, pp. 115788-115788.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Peixoto, RS, Voolstra, CR, Baums, IB, Camp, EF, Guest, J, Harrison, PL, Montoya-Maya, PH, Pollock, FJ, Smith, DJ, Wangpraseurt, D, Banaszak, AT, Chui, APY, Shah, N, Moore, T, Fabricius, KE, Vardi, T & Suggett, DJ 2024, 'The critical role of coral reef restoration in a changing world', Nature Climate Change, vol. 14, no. 12, pp. 1219-1222.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Ritchie, RJ, Sma-Air, S, Johnson, MS, Murray, SA, Nguyen, A, Larkum, AWD & Dummee, V 2024, 'Photosynthesis in a green alga (zoochlorella), Chlorella cf. vulgaris in the soft coral Sarcophyton sp.', Phycologia, vol. 63, no. 1, pp. 60-73.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Roper, CD, Matthews, JL, Camp, EF, Padula, MP, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Edmondson, J, Howlett, L & Suggett, DJ 2024, 'Lipid composition of coral propagules and reproductive material in coral restoration nurseries', Coral Reefs, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 1483-1496.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractCoral restoration efforts have rapidly increased worldwide, including the development of several programmes on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in recent years. While many restoration programmes utilise in-water nurseries to accelerate coral biomass yields, the impact of nursery environments on propagule quality has not been examined despite the importance of coral fitness for ensuring resistant populations. Here, we investigated two fitness indicators (lipid diversity and tissue protein abundance) of Acropora millepora adults and eggs grown on coral nurseries versus native reef on the GBR, with adults assessed at two sites (Blue Lagoon and Rayban) and eggs assessed at one site (Blue Lagoon). Lipid profiles of adult colonies varied by site and origin (nursery versus wild reef), with adult nursery corals exhibiting an elevated relative abundance of storage lipids (diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols) and lipid classes responsible for regulating membrane structure (phosphatidylcholines and sterol esters), while wild corals were characterised by a greater relative abundance of fatty acids and classes involved in immunoregulation. Comparing eggs from different origins, nursery offspring were richer in energy-storing triacylglycerols, as well as ceramides and phosphatidylcholines essential for membrane structure, while wild eggs had a greater relative abundance of wax ester species also important for energy storage. No differences were found in total protein abundance (adult or eggs) or egg physical characteristics (count and size) between nursery and wild origins. Variations in lipid profiles are consistent with differences in environmental conditions between reef sites and origin (nursery versus wild), highlighting the need to consider site selection and propagation conditions when planning restoration projects. Importantly, these findings demonstrate that the lipid classes with the highest r...
Ross, PM, Pine, C, Scanes, E, Byrne, M, O’Connor, WA, Gibbs, M & Parker, LM 2024, 'Meta-analyses reveal climate change impacts on an ecologically and economically significant oyster in Australia', iScience, vol. 27, no. 12, pp. 110673-110673.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Saha, M, Dittami, SM, Chan, CX, Raina, J, Stock, W, Ghaderiardakani, F, Valathuparambil Baby John, AM, Corr, S, Schleyer, G, Todd, J, Cardini, U, Bengtsson, MM, Prado, S, Skillings, D, Sonnenschein, EC, Engelen, AH, Wang, G, Wichard, T, Brodie, J, Leblanc, C & Egan, S 2024, 'Progress and future directions for seaweed holobiont research', New Phytologist, vol. 244, no. 2, pp. 364-376.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
SummaryIn the marine environment, seaweeds (i.e. marine macroalgae) provide a wide range of ecological services and economic benefits. Like land plants, seaweeds do not provide these services in isolation, rather they rely on their associated microbial communities, which together with the host form the seaweed holobiont. However, there is a poor understanding of the mechanisms shaping these complex seaweed–microbe interactions, and of the evolutionary processes underlying these interactions. Here, we identify the current research challenges and opportunities in the field of seaweed holobiont biology. We argue that identifying the key microbial partners, knowing how they are recruited, and understanding their specific function and their relevance across all seaweed life history stages are among the knowledge gaps that are particularly important to address, especially in the context of the environmental challenges threatening seaweeds. We further discuss future approaches to study seaweed holobionts, and how we can apply the holobiont concept to natural or engineered seaweed ecosystems.
Sandor, R, Wagh, SG, Kelterborn, S, Großkinsky, DK, Novak, O, Olsen, N, Paul, B, Petřík, I, Wu, S, Hegemann, P, Strnad, M, Červený, J & Roitsch, T 2024, 'Cytokinin‐deficient Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CRISPR‐Cas9 mutants show reduced ability to prime resistance of tobacco against bacterial infection', Physiologia Plantarum, vol. 176, no. 3.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractAlthough microalgae have only recently been recognized as part of the plant and soil microbiome, their application as biofertilizers has a tradition in sustainable crop production. Under consideration of their ability to produce the plant growth‐stimulating hormone cytokinin (CK), known to also induce pathogen resistance, we have assessed the biocontrol ability of CK‐producing microalgae. All pro‐ and eukaryotic CK‐producing microalgae tested were able to enhance the tolerance of tobacco against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci (PsT) infection. Since Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Cre) proved to be the most efficient, we functionally characterized its biocontrol ability. We employed the CRISPR‐Cas9 system to generate the first knockouts of CK biosynthetic genes in microalgae. Specifically, we targeted Cre Lonely Guy (LOG) and isopentenyltransferase (IPT) genes, the key genes of CK biosynthesis. While Cre wild‐type exhibits a strong protection, the CK‐deficient mutants have a reduced ability to induce plant defence. The degree of protection correlates with the CK levels, with the IPT mutants showing less protection than the LOG mutants. Gene expression analyses showed that Cre strongly stimulates tobacco resistance through defence gene priming. This study functionally verifies that Cre primes defence responses with CK, which contributes to the robustness of the effect. This work contributes to elucidate microalgae‐mediated plant defence priming and identifies the role of CKs. In addition, these results underscore the potential of CK‐producing microalgae as biologicals in agr...
Scanes, E, Kutti, T, Fang, JKH, Johnston, EL, Ross, PM & Bannister, RJ 2024, 'The long-lived deep-sea bivalve Acesta excavata is sensitive to the dual stressors of sediment and warming', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 202, pp. 116323-116323.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Scanes, E, O’Connor, WA, Seymour, JR, Siboni, N, Parker, LM & Ross, PM 2024, 'Emerging diseases in Australian oysters and the challenges of climate change and uncertain futures', Australian Zoologist, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 185-193.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
ABSTRACT Oysters are a valuable and iconic seafood, deeply rooted in Australian culture. However, oysters have always been vulnerable to disease, with disease outbreaks leading to mass mortality events that regularly cost the oyster aquaculture industry millions of dollars and affect livelihoods. Notably, there is evidence that climate change is rapidly causing the emergence of new diseases alongside the amplification of impacts of existing diseases. This is because warming, acidification and freshening of coastal and estuarine habitats is affecting the three axes of disease; the host, the external environment and the pathogens. Here we explore how climate change is likely to impact all three axes of disease in Australian oyster aquaculture. Climate change is affecting oyster physiology, leading to weaker immune defences that allow for increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. For example, there is evidence that recent heavy rain events precede oyster disease in estuaries. In addition, climate change is increasing the abundance and virulence of bacterial and viral pathogens, potentially resulting in the introduction of novel disease into new habitats. In order to remain viable, we suggest that the Australian oyster industry needs to enhance selective breeding programs currently underway with a diversification of products and research on emerging diseases to ensure resilience in the sector.
Scardifield, K, McLean, N, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Ralph, PJ, Neveux, N, Isaac, G & Schork, T 2024, 'Biomasonry products from macroalgae: A design driven approach to developing biomaterials for carbon storage', Journal of Applied Phycology, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 935-950.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractLowering the embodied carbon of building materials requires a transition away from fossil derived products towards bio-based alternatives, alongside the design and development of new clean tech biomaterials that can function as carbon sinks. This paper presents an overview of historical and existing uses of seaweeds in construction to identify gaps and opportunities for the development of seaweed-based construction materials that can support atmospheric carbon removal through algal photosynthesis. This study highlights the value of interdisciplinary research collaborations that can be situated within the expanding field of biodesign where design research and methods are used to influence the development materials science. It presents as a case study the design of seaweed bricks utilising a biorefinery framework that aims to valorise residual seaweed biomass being grown for waste-water management, identifying value-adding opportunities for this seaweed by-product and new possibilities for carbon storage in the built environment. It details the development of a 1:1 scale prototype for the purposes of an exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia in order to demonstrate what biomasonry products from macroalgae can look like, to build social acceptance and to encourage future uptake of sustainable seaweed construction products.
Scott, RI, Edmondson, J, Camp, EF, Agius, T, Coulthard, P, Edmondson, J, Edmondson, K, Hosp, R, Howlett, L, Roper, CD & Suggett, DJ 2024, 'Cost‐effectiveness of tourism‐led coral planting at scale on the northern Great Barrier Reef', Restoration Ecology, vol. 32, no. 4.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
Stakeholder‐led coral reef restoration efforts, aimed at locally retaining or rebuilding coral populations, have rapidly grown over the last two decades. However, the cost‐effectiveness—and in turn viability—of coral restoration projects remains rarely reported. We therefore evaluated coral planting (often termed “outplanting”) cost‐effectiveness across the first 3.5 years of the Coral Nurture Program (CNP), a coral restoration approach integrated within tourism operations on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. CNP operator activity reporting forms (63,632 corals planted, 5 tourism operators, and 23 reef sites) were used to opportunistically calculate coral planting costs (PC; US$ coral−1 trip−1) for “routine” planting versus when additional stewardship activities—that regulate planting effectiveness—were undertaken (e.g., nursery maintenance). Mean PC (±standard error) was US$2.34 ± 0.20 coral−1 trip−1 (ranging US$0.78–6.03, 5th–95th percentile), but increased 2‐ to ‐6‐fold on trips where nursery propagation, site maintenance, or staff training was conducted to support planting efforts. The “realized” cost (PCR) of establishing coral biomass was subsequently determined by evaluating survivorship of planted corals across space (9 sites, single survey timepoint, n = 4,723 corals up to 3 years old) or over time (2 sites, over 9–12 months, n = 600 corals), resulting in costs increasing from PC to PCR by 25–71%. We demonstrate how integration of practices into tourism operations creates potential for cost‐effective coral planting at “high‐value” tourism reef sites, and discuss important steps for improving cost‐accounting in stakeholder‐led restoration programs that may be similarly positioned to routinely determine their cost‐effectiveness.
Seymour, JR, Brumley, DR, Stocker, R & Raina, J-B 2024, 'Swimming towards each other: the role of chemotaxis in bacterial interactions', Trends in Microbiology, vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 640-649.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Siboni, N, King, WL, Williams, NLR, Scanes, E, Giardina, M, Green, TJ, Ostrowski, M, O'Connor, W, Dove, M, Labbate, M & Seymour, JR 2024, 'Increased abundance of potentially pathogenic Vibrio and a marine heatwave co-occur with a Pacific Oyster summer mortality event', Aquaculture, vol. 583, pp. 740618-740618.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Strader, ME, Wright, RM, Pezner, AK, Nuttall, MF, Aichelman, HE & Davies, SW 2024, 'Intersection of coral molecular responses to a localized mortality event and ex situ deoxygenation', Ecology and Evolution, vol. 14, no. 4.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractIn July 2016, East Bank of Flower Garden Banks (FGB) National Marine Sanctuary experienced a localized mortality event (LME) of multiple invertebrate species that ultimately led to reductions in coral cover. Abiotic data taken directly after the event suggested that acute deoxygenation contributed to the mortality. Despite the large impact of this event on the coral community, there was no direct evidence that this LME was driven by acute deoxygenation, and thus we explored whether gene expression responses of corals to the LME would indicate what abiotic factors may have contributed to the LME. Gene expression of affected and unaffected corals sampled during the mortality event revealed evidence of the physiological consequences of the LME on coral hosts and their algal symbionts from two congeneric species (Orbicella franksi and Orbicella faveolata). Affected colonies of both species differentially regulated genes involved in mitochondrial regulation and oxidative stress. To further test the hypothesis that deoxygenation led to the LME, we measured coral host and algal symbiont gene expression in response to ex situ experimental deoxygenation (control = 6.9 ± 0.08 mg L−1, anoxic = 0.083 ± 0.017 mg L−1) in healthy O. faveolata colonies from the FGB. However, this deoxygenation experiment revealed divergent gene expression patterns compared to the corals sampled during the LME and was more similar to a generalized coral environmental stress response. It is therefore likely that while the LME was connected to low oxygen, it was a series of interconnected stressors that elicited the unique gene expression responses observed here. These in situ and ex situ data highlight how field responses to stressors are unique from those in controlled laboratory conditions, and that the complexities of deoxy...
Strudwick, P, Camp, EF, Seymour, J, Roper, C, Edmondson, J, Howlett, L & Suggett, DJ 2024, 'Impacts of plastic‐free materials on coral‐associated bacterial communities during reef restoration', Environmental Microbiology Reports, vol. 16, no. 1.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractCoral propagation and out‐planting based restoration approaches are increasingly being applied to assist natural recovery of coral reefs. However, many restoration methods rely on plastic zip‐ties to secure coral material which is potentially problematic for the marine environment. Plastic‐free biodegradable alternatives may however pose unique risks to coral‐associated bacterial communities integral to coral health. Therefore, to identify whether biodegradable materials differentially impact coral‐associated bacterial communities we examined Acropora millepora coral‐associated bacterial communities during propagation in two experiments on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral fragments were secured to coral nurseries with conventional plastic, metal, or biodegradable (polyester and polycaprolactone) ties. Tie failure and coral‐associated bacterial communities were then characterized over six months. Minimal coral mortality was observed (3.6%–8%) and all ties had low failure rates (0%–4.2%) except for biodegradable polyester ties (29.2% failure). No differences were observed between coral‐associated bacterial communities of fragments secured with different ties, and no proliferation of putatively pathogenic bacteria was recorded. Overall, our findings suggest that reducing reliance on conventional plastic is feasible through transitions to biodegradable materials, without any notable impacts on coral‐associated bacterial communities. However, we caution the need to examine more coral taxa of different morphologies and new plastic‐free materials prior to application.
Tahir, F, Ashfaq, H, Khan, AZ, Amin, M, Akbar, I, Malik, HA, Abdullah, M, Alessa, AH, Alsaigh, AA, Ralph, PJ, Mehmood, MA & Malik, S 2024, 'Emerging trends in algae farming on non-arable lands for resource reclamation, recycling, and mitigation of climate change-driven food security challenges', Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 869-896.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Tansirichaiya, S, Songsomboon, K, Chaianant, N, Lertsivawinyu, W & Al‐Haroni, M 2024, 'Impact of cell lysis treatment before saliva metagenomic DNA extraction on the oral microbiome and the associated resistome', Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, vol. 10, no. 4.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
AbstractObjectivesThe human oral microbiome, a complex ecosystem linked to oral and systemic health, harbors a diverse array of microbial populations, including antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). As a critical component of the One Health approach to tackle antibiotic resistance, comprehending the oral resistome's composition and diversity is imperative. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of chemical cell lysis treatment using MetaPolyzyme on the detectability of the oral microbiome, resistome, and DNA quality and quantity.Materials and MethodsSaliva samples were collected from five healthy individuals, and each of the samples was subjected to DNA extraction with and without the treatment with MetaPolyzyme. Through metagenomic sequencing, we analyzed, assessed, and compared the microbial composition, resistome, and DNA characteristics between both groups of extracted DNA.ResultsOur study revealed that MetaPolyzyme treatment led to significant shifts in the detectability of microbial composition, favoring Gram‐positive bacteria, notably Streptococcus, over Gram‐negative counterparts. Moreover, the MetaPolyzyme treatment also resulted in a distinct change in ARG distribution. This shift was characterized by an elevated proportion of ARGs linked to fluoroquinolones and efflux pumps, coupled with a reduction in the prevalence of tetracycline and β‐lactam resistance genes when compared with the nontreated group. Alpha diversity analysis demonstrated altered species and ARG distribution without affecting overall diversity, while beta diversity analysis confirmed significant differences in the taxonomical composition and oral resistome between treated and nontreated groups.Conclusions
Usman, M, Khan, AZ, Malik, S, Xiong, W, Lv, Y, Zhang, S, Zhao, A, Solovchenko, AE, Alam, MA, Alessa, AH, Mehmood, MA & Xu, J 2024, 'A novel integrated approach employing Desertifilum tharense BERC-3 for efficient wastewater valorization and recycling for developing peri-urban algae farming system', Chemosphere, vol. 361, pp. 142527-142527.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, PHN, Danaee, S, Hai, HTN, Huy, LN, Nguyen, TAH, Nguyen, HTM, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Kim, M, Nghiem, LD & Ralph, PJ 2024, 'Biomining for sustainable recovery of rare earth elements from mining waste: A comprehensive review', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 908, pp. 168210-168210.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, PHN, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Kim, M, Hinkley, C, Pernice, M, Nghiem, LD & Ralph, PJ 2024, 'Biomining using microalgae to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from bauxite', Bioresource Technology, vol. 406, pp. 131077-131077.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, PHN, Ky Le, G, Huy, LN, Zheng, L, Chaiwong, C, Nguyen, NN, Nguyen, HTM, Ralph, PJ, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Danaee, S, Toft, S, Madsen, C, Kim, M, Fenstermacher, J, Hai, HTN, Duan, H & Tscharke, B 2024, 'Occurrence, spatiotemporal trends, fate, and treatment technologies for microplastics and organic contaminants in biosolids: A review', Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 466, pp. 133471-133471.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, PHN, Nguyen, TTP, Nguyen, HTM, Baulch, J, Dong, S, Nguyen, CV, Thai, PK & Nguyen, AV 2024, 'PFAS removal from landfill leachate by ozone foam fractionation: System optimization and adsorption quantification', Water Research, vol. 253, pp. 121300-121300.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, PHN, Vogel, C, Nguyen, HTM, Hamilton, BR, Thai, PK, Roesch, P, Simon, F-G & Mueller, JF 2024, 'µ-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fluorine K-edge µ-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy for detection of PFAS distribution in the impacted concrete', Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, vol. 5, pp. 100134-100134.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, TP, Danaee, S, Chaiwong, C, Pham, BT, Poddar, N, Kim, M, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Songsomboon, C, Pernice, M, Ngo, HH, Ralph, PJ & Vo, PHN 2024, 'Microalgae-bacteria consortia for organic pollutants remediation from wastewater: A critical review', Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, vol. 12, no. 6, pp. 114213-114213.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vo, TP, Nguyen, DQ, Thi Ho, TA, Nguyen, TM, Huy Ha, NM & Vo, PHN 2024, 'Novel extraction of bioactive compounds from algae using green solvent: Principles, Applications, and Future perspectives', Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, vol. 18, pp. 101535-101535.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Voolstra, CR, Raina, J-B, Dörr, M, Cárdenas, A, Pogoreutz, C, Silveira, CB, Mohamed, AR, Bourne, DG, Luo, H, Amin, SA & Peixoto, RS 2024, 'The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world', Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 460-475.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Vu, HP, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Cai, Z, Wang, Q, Ralph, PJ & Nghiem, LD 2024, 'Enhanced biomethane production from Scenedesmus sp. using polymer harvesting and expired COVID-19 disinfectant for pretreatment', Chemosphere, vol. 356, pp. 141869-141869.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Windhagauer, M, Doblin, MA, Signal, B, Kuzhiumparambil, U, Fabris, M & Abbriano, RM 2024, 'Metabolic response to a heterologous poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) pathway in Phaeodactylum tricornutum', Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 108, no. 1, pp. 1-16.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Xu, X, Li, Y, Vo, PHN, Shukla, P, Ge, L & Zhao, C-X 2024, 'Electrochemical advanced oxidation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs): Development, challenges and perspectives', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 500, pp. 157222-157222.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
Zavřel, T, Segečová, A, Kovács, L, Lukeš, M, Novák, Z, Pohland, A-C, Szabó, M, Somogyi, B, Prášil, O, Červený, J & Bernát, G 2024, 'A Comprehensive Study of Light Quality Acclimation in Synechocystis Sp. PCC 6803', Plant And Cell Physiology, vol. 65, no. 8, pp. 1285-1297.
View/Download from: Publisher's site
View description>>
Abstract Cyanobacteria play a key role in primary production in both oceans and fresh waters and hold great potential for sustainable production of a large number of commodities. During their life, cyanobacteria cells need to acclimate to a multitude of challenges, including shifts in intensity and quality of incident light. Despite our increasing understanding of metabolic regulation under various light regimes, detailed insight into fitness advantages and limitations under shifting light quality remains underexplored. Here, we study photo-physiological acclimation in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 throughout the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) range. Using light emitting diodes (LEDs) with qualitatively different narrow spectra, we describe wavelength dependence of light capture, electron transport and energy transduction to main cellular pools. In addition, we describe processes that fine-tune light capture, such as state transitions, or the efficiency of energy transfer from phycobilisomes to photosystems (PS). We show that growth was the most limited under blue light due to inefficient light harvesting, and that many cellular processes are tightly linked to the redox state of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool, which was the most reduced under red light. The PSI-to-PSII ratio was low under blue photons, however, it was not the main growth-limiting factor, since it was even more reduced under violet and near far-red lights, where Synechocystis grew faster compared to blue light. Our results provide insight into the spectral dependence of phototrophic growth and can provide the foundation for future studies of molecular mechanisms underlying light acclimation in cyanobacteria, leading to light optimization in controlled cultivations.
