Temperature-driven dynamics of Chlorella sorokiniana and its microbiome
- 1Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM), CSIC, Barcelona 08003, Spain
Abstract
Temperature is a critical factor in microalgal production, yet its impact on microalgae and their microbiome remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the responses of Chlorella sorokiniana and its microbial community to temperature increases in four wastewater-based cultures over two months. Two Test cultures were subjected to a thermal gradient from 20 {degrees}C to 34 {degrees}C, and two were Controls at 20 {degrees}C. Eukaryotic and bacterial communities were analyzed using 18S and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the microalga genome was reconstructed using PacBio HiFi sequencing and functionally annotated. Control cultures remained stable, whereas Test cultures showed a decline in C. sorokiniana relative abundance and biomass from approximately 24 {degrees}C. In contrast, photosynthetic efficiency remained stable until temperatures exceeded 33 {degrees}C. Above 22-24 {degrees}C, the bacterial community, dominated by Fontibacter, Flavobacterium, and Luteolibacter, was replaced by taxa whose relative abundance increased with rising temperature and microalgal decline, pointing to bacteria better adapted to the stress conditions. Candidate predator-prey dynamics with the protist Cercozoa also intensified as temperature increased. Microalgal genome annotation identified 28 candidate genes corresponding to seven of eight literature-informed high-temperature/heat-stress targets, primarily associated with protein homeostasis, Reactive oxygen species protection, membrane lipid remodeling, and protein degradation. Collectively, these genes likely support the microalga's response and adaptation to environmental stress. Overall, culture destabilization resulted from interacting thermal, microbial, and grazing-related processes rather than temperature alone. Early microbiome changes may therefore provide useful warning signals of culture instability and help improve the management of large-scale microalgal production systems.
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BibTeX
@misc{traverazuara2026temperaturedriven,
title = {{Temperature-driven dynamics of Chlorella sorokiniana and its microbiome}},
author = {J. Traver-Azuara and C. Garcia-Comas and F. Latorre and L. Montiel and C. R. Giner and M. Salinas-Garcia and M. Ciardi and S. Villaro-Cos and A. Sanchez-Zurano and G. Acien and P. Cermeno and R. Logares},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.19.752680},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.752680v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Temperature-driven dynamics of Chlorella sorokiniana and its microbiome
AU - J. Traver-Azuara
AU - C. Garcia-Comas
AU - F. Latorre
AU - L. Montiel
AU - C. R. Giner
AU - M. Salinas-Garcia
AU - M. Ciardi
AU - S. Villaro-Cos
AU - A. Sanchez-Zurano
AU - G. Acien
AU - P. Cermeno
AU - R. Logares
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/19
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.19.752680
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.19.752680v1
AB - Temperature is a critical factor in microalgal production, yet its impact on microalgae and their microbiome remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the responses of Chlorella sorokiniana and its microbial community to temperature increases in four wastewater-based cultures over two months. Two Test cultures were subjected to a thermal gradient from 20 {degrees}C to 34 {degrees}C, and two were Controls at 20 {degrees}C. Eukaryotic and bacterial communities were analyzed using 18S and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the microalga genome was reconstructed using PacBio HiFi sequencing and functionally annotated. Control cultures remained stable, whereas Test cultures showed a decline in C. sorokiniana relative abundance and biomass from approximately 24 {degrees}C. In contrast, photosynthetic efficiency remained stable until temperatures exceeded 33 {degrees}C. Above 22-24 {degrees}C, the bacterial community, dominated by Fontibacter, Flavobacterium, and Luteolibacter, was replaced by taxa whose relative abundance increased with rising temperature and microalgal decline, pointing to bacteria better adapted to the stress conditions. Candidate predator-prey dynamics with the protist Cercozoa also intensified as temperature increased. Microalgal genome annotation identified 28 candidate genes corresponding to seven of eight literature-informed high-temperature/heat-stress targets, primarily associated with protein homeostasis, Reactive oxygen species protection, membrane lipid remodeling, and protein degradation. Collectively, these genes likely support the microalga's response and adaptation to environmental stress. Overall, culture destabilization resulted from interacting thermal, microbial, and grazing-related processes rather than temperature alone. Early microbiome changes may therefore provide useful warning signals of culture instability and help improve the management of large-scale microalgal production systems.
ER -