Maria Teresa Mata

In samples of harmful algal blooms (HABs), seawater can contain a high abundance of microorganisms and elemental ions. Along with the hardness of the walls of key HAB dinoflagellates such as Prorocentrum triestinum, this makes RNA extraction very difficult. These components interfere with RNA isolation, causing its degradation, in addition to the complex seawater properties of HABs that could hinder RNA isolation for effective RNA sequencing and transcriptome profiling. In this study, an RNA isolation technique was established through the modification of the Trizol method by applying the Micropestle System on cell pellets of P. triestinum frozen at −20 °C, obtained from 400 mL of culture with a total of 10⁷ cells/mL. The results of the modified Trizol protocol generated quality RNA samples for transcriptomics sequencing, as determined by their measurement in Analyzer Agilent 4150.

The wide rocky coastline of the Antofagasta hosts an intertidal ecosystem in which the species that inhabit it are routinely exposed to a wide range of physical and chemical conditions and have therefore evolved to tolerate extremes. In the search for new species of potential biotechnological interest with adaptations to a wide range of environmental conditions, the isolation and characterization of microalgae from these ecosystems is of great interest. Here, a new microalgal strain, Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO, is described, which was isolated from a biofilm collected on the intertidal rocks of the Antofagasta coast (23°36′57.2″ S, 70°23′33.8″ W). In addition to the morphological characterization, 18S and ITS sequence as well as ITS-2 secondary structure analysis revealed an identity of 99.76% and 100% with the species Tetraselmis marina, respectively. The analyses of the culture characteristics and biochemical content showed similarities with other strains that are frequently used in aquaculture, such as the species Tetraselmis suecica. In addition, it is tolerant of a wide range of salinities, thus allowing its culture in water of varying quality. On the other hand, added to these characteristics, the results of the improvement of the lipid content in stressful situations of salinity observed in this study, together with other antecedents such as the potential in bioremediation already published for this strain by the same research group, present a clear example of its biotechnological plasticity. It is noteworthy that this strain, due to its characteristics, allows easy collection of its biomass by decantation and, therefore, a more cost-efficient harvesting than for other microalgal strains. Therefore, this new strain of Tetraselmis marina, first report of this species in Chile, and its morphologically, molecularly and biochemically description, presents promising characteristics for its use in biotechnology and as feed for aquaculture.

Microalgae are a valuable natural resource for a variety of biocompounds such as carotenoids. The use of different light spectra and irradiance has been considered as a promising option to improve the production of these compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different wavelengths (white, red, and blue) and irradiances (80 and 350 µmol photons/m²/s) on the photosynthetic state, total carotenoids and lutein productivity (HPLC), lipids (Nile red method) and antioxidant activity (DPPH) of the microalgae Muriellopsis sp. (MCH-35). This microalga, which is a potential source of lutein, was isolated from the coastal desert of Antofagasta, Chile, and adapted to grow in seawater. The results indicate that the culture exposed to high-intensity red light showed the highest biomass yield (2.5 g/L) and lutein productivity (>2.0 mg L⁻¹day⁻¹). However, blue light was found to have a stimulating effect on the synthesis of lutein and other carotenoids (>0.8% dry wt). Furthermore, a direct relationship between lipid accumulation and high light intensity was evidenced. Finally, the highest antioxidant activity was observed with high-intensity white light, these values have no direct relationship with lutein productivity. Therefore, the findings of this study could be utilized to obtain biocompounds of interest by altering certain culture conditions during the large-scale cultivation of MCH-35.

Biosorption refers to a physicochemical process where substances are removed from the solution by a biological material (live or dead) via adsorption processes governed by mechanisms such as surface complexation, ion exchange, and precipitation. This study aimed to evaluate the adsorption of Zn²⁺ in seawater using the microalgal biomass of Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO “in vivo” and “not alive” at different concentrations of Zn²⁺ (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg L⁻¹) at 72 h. Analysis was carried out by using the Langmuir isotherms and by evaluating the autofluorescence from microalgae. The maximum adsorption of Zn²⁺ by the Langmuir model using the Q_max parameter in the living microalgal biomass (Q_max = 0.03051 mg g⁻¹) was more significant than the non-living microalgal biomass of T. marine AC16-MESO (Q_max = 0.02297 mg g⁻¹). Furthermore, a decrease in fluorescence was detected in cells from T. marina AC16-MESO, in the following order: Zn²⁺ (0 < 20 < 5 < 10) mg L⁻¹. Zn²⁺ was adsorbed quickly by living cells from T. marine AC16-MESO compared to the non-living microalgal biomass, with a decrease in photosystem II activities from 0 to 20 mg L⁻¹ Zn²⁺ in living cells.