Function of the algicidal bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Go58 isolated from the biofilm on a water plant, and its active compounds, pyoluteorins

In the development of applications to mitigate nuisance cyanobacterial blooms, environmentally friendly approaches have gained much attention. Recently, we found a bacterial strain Go58, which was isolated from the biofilm of a water plant, that showed potent algicidal activity against the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Whole genome sequencing of strain Go58 suggested that it is potentially a novel species closely related to Pseudomonas protegens. Pyoluteorins were obtained from the culture broth of this strain, and they demonstrated high toxicity against cultured cyanobacterial species, including M. aeruginosa and Anabaena cylindrica, but less toxicity against eukaryotic microalgae and other aquatic organisms. The production of pyoluteorin was enhanced by the presence of the target cyanobacterium. When a wild-caught microalgal consortium was treated with either strain Go58 or pyoluteorin, both efficiently suppressed the growth of harmful wild cyanobacteria, but promoted the growth of some specific eu-karyotic microalgae. Since P. protegens is globally ubiquitous and highly anticipated to be a biopesticide for infectious diseases in the field of agriculture, the similar bacterial group identified in this study may also have potential as a safe on-site collectable biological countermeasure for controlling cyanobacterial blooms.

Automated summary

In this study, a bacterial strain Go58 with potent algicidal activity against bloom-forming cyanobacterium was discovered. The strain is closely related to Pseudomonas protegens and produces pyoluteorins, which exhibit high toxicity against cyanobacteria. This bacterial group has the potential to be a safe biological countermeasure for controlling cyanobacterial blooms.