Toxic metals pose a threat to marine environments due to their bioaccumulation and noxious effects. Removal of metals can be achieved via bioremediation, for which marine microalgae and bacteria present themselves as promising candidates. Consortia of such microbes, which may exist together in symbiosis, can provide higher efficiency systems for multi-metal removal both as free-living and immobilised cells, but the specific algal-bacterial symbiosis should be understood. This study explored the growth dynamics of the microalgal species Nannochloropsis oceanica, strain CCMP1779 and Tetraselmis convolutae, strain BS14 when each species is co-cultured with the bacterium Lysinibacillus sphaericus, strain PG22 under different multi-metal stress conditions. The results showed the enhancement of microalgae survival under multi-metal stress conditions with PG22, specifically for CCMP1779. However, no benefit to bacterial growth was observed in either co-culture. Additionally, the study further aimed to explore different immobilisation methods for the consortium of CCMP1779 plus PG22 within alginate-based beads to establish an efficient system to further apply for in-situ decontamination. Future work should aim to further refine immobilisation methods to increase cell activity and bead stability.
promotor/supervisor feedback
nothing yet
