Open AccessConstruction of an artificial symbiotic community using a Chlorella –symbiont association as a model
Author(s) -
Imase Masato,
Watanabe Keiji,
Aoyagi Hideki,
Tanaka Hideo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2007.00434.x
Subject(s) - chlorella sorokiniana , biology , bipolaris , symbiosis , axenic , chlorella , botany , bacteria , propionate , microorganism , algae , biochemistry , genetics
Chlorella sorokiniana IAM C‐212 produces a polysaccharide gel, termed a sheath, under photoautotrophic conditions. The C. sorokiniana sheath is a suitable habitat for several symbiotic microorganisms because it ensures close proximity between the C. sorokiniana and symbionts. In this study, we established a method for increasing the volume of the sheath produced by C. sorokiniana , and proposed a method for constructing artificial communities of Chlorella and symbiotic microorganisms. The C. sorokiniana sheath was increased by addition of calcium chloride solution. The sheath resulted in coflocculation of C. sorokiniana and the associated symbiotic bacteria, thus strengthening the bacterial– Chlorella symbiotic association. An application of this technique was demonstrated by constructing a complex of C. sorokiniana and a propionate‐degrading bacterium (PDS1). Although propionate inhibited the growth of axenic C. sorokiniana , the C. sorokiniana –PDS1 complex showed good growth in a medium containing a high concentration of propionate.