Search Results (35)

Wound healing is a complex, multi-stage process governed by tightly regulated molecular mechanisms. However, effective regenerative therapies remain with limitations. This study presents a novel marine-derived biocomposite, JPC-ALG-CT, designed to improve wound healing through synergistic bioactive mechanisms. The material incorporates collagen extracted from the jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo, chitosan derived from the crab Pachygrapsus mormoratus, and polysaccharide-rich extracts from the green alga Cladophora vagabunda, all sourced from the Black Sea. The study is based on the biochemical analysis of these three marine-derived components, highlighting the collagen content of jellyfish, the polysaccharides present in algae, and the bioactive properties of chitosan. The biochemical and physico-chemical properties of each component were characterized, with particular emphasis on the structural features of jellyfish collagen and the functional bioactivity of chitosan and algal polysaccharides. The research findings are supported by the identification of the collagen type extracted from jellyfish, as well as by the characterization of chitosan and green algal extracts. The resulting composite demonstrated significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, indicating its potential to integrate key processes involved in wound repair, including inflammation control and microbial protection. In vitro studies using fibroblast and keratinocyte models showed that the JPC-CT-ALG biocomposite supported cell viability at lower tested concentrations and promoted scratch closure in cell monolayers, suggesting preliminary wound-relevant biological activity. These findings suggest that the combined marine-derived components interact to enchance wound healing at the cellular level. This work evidenced the potential of marine biomaterials as sources for next-generation regenerative therapies and supports further investigation into their molecular mechanisms and in vivo applications for improved wound care. Full article

Filamentous opportunistic algae, which behave as opportunistic species, are frequently observed in Eriocheir sinensis aquaculture ponds. These algae can entangle Eriocheir sinensis and release harmful substances during decomposition, thereby negatively impacting farming performance. At present, their management largely depends on non-selective herbicides, while fundamental research on species composition and biomass dynamics remains limited. In this study, 19 aquaculture ponds across five E. sinensis farms in Shanghai were monitored over a two-year period. Filamentous algae species were identified using both morphological and molecular techniques, and their biomass and coverage were quantified. Concurrently, physicochemical parameters of the water were measured to analyze algal occurrence patterns and key environmental drivers. A total of 19 species belonging to four genera of the phyla Chlorophyta and Charophyta were identified. Rhizoclonium was the most common genus, followed by Cladophora and Spirogyra. These genera exhibited distinct seasonal succession, with Cladophora and Spirogyra dominating in spring, while Rhizoclonium predominanted in summer and autumn. Filamentous algal biomass reached its peak in May 2024, with a dry weight of 42.92 g/m². The two-way ANOVA results indicated significant main effects of month and region, as well as a significant month × region interaction. The Spearman correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between algal biomass and pH. This pattern is consistent with the effect where the intense algal photosynthesis raises water pH through the uptake of dissolved carbon dioxide. The total biomass was significantly correlated with the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio, suggesting that nitrogen and phosphorus availability influenced algal growth. Moreover, filamentous algal coverage was positively associated with maximum algal biomass. The linear regression analysis further revealed that multiple environmental factors jointly contributed to algal proliferation, with total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) showing relatively strong associations with maximum biomass. These findings provide a scientific basis for the ecological control and targeted management of filamentous algae in aquaculture systems. Full article

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly degraded by Cladophora blooms, prompting a need to understand its reproductive characteristics for effective control. We combined continuous microscopical monitoring and single-factor and orthogonal experiments, to characterize the life history and reproductive and growth response to different nutrients, pH, temperature, and light conditions of a bloom-forming Cladophora sp. A novel mode was observed, in which mature sporangia and gametangia rupture to extrude a pyknotic cytoplasmic mass, inside which zoospores and gametes complete maturation and release. The peak zoospore production occurred in Aquatic No. 6 medium at pH 5, 35 °C, and 54 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, whereas maximum gamete release was recorded in Knop medium at pH 4, 30 °C, and the same irradiance, with temperature being the principal driver for zoospores and nutrient regime for gametes. Growth trials further revealed that low-N and -P conditions sustain growth, whereas nutrient-rich conditions favor reproduction. In addition, pH 4–5, 35 °C, and 54 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ conditions favored propagule formation, while pH 7–8, 25 °C, and 81 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ maximized biomass. These findings provide a basis for predicting Cladophora bloom dynamics and offer references for sustainable management of Cladophora in freshwater ecosystems. Full article

Cladophora glomerata is a species of green algae from the Cladophoraceae family belonging to the class Ulvophyceae. This filamentous macroalga is generally associated with freshwater habitats, especially in nutrient-rich ecosystems. It produces high biomass and occupies large areas of freshwater. The robust filaments of Cladophora glomerata form dense mats that are easy to harvest. It is also rich in proteins, macro- and micronutrients, and other bioactive compounds. Therefore, its biomass could be used in various fields of sustainable agriculture, for example, promoting plant growth and yield, purifying soil, improving crop properties against biotic and abiotic stress, or it could be used in husbandry as a feed supplement. It is also becoming increasingly attractive for use in sustainable farming. This review provides an update with the latest information on the use of freshwater Cladophora glomerata in sustainable farming and suggests the most promising fields of research. Full article

This study investigates the capacity of green and brown algae to sustainably remove oxyanions from contaminated waters, highlighting their cost-effectiveness. Often considered biomass waste and contributors to organic contamination, these algae can be used as effective biosorbents, aligning with circular economy principles and sustainable waste management. Various pre-treatments were tested to enhance adsorption capacity, with mixed results regarding their effectiveness. The focus then shifted to the use of Cladophora sericea algae for the uptake and removal of selenium species, specifically selenite (Se(IV)) and selenate (Se(VI)). The effects of different operational parameters on oxyanion uptake by algae were studied in batch mode. The assessments were conducted on a single-component and a multi-component synthetic matrix. The results indicate that pH significantly impacts biosorption, with equilibrium achieved in 90 min. Both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models provided a good fit to the experimental data. The algae’s retention capacity for selenium remained largely unaffected by the presence of other anions, a key advantage for application in complex real effluent matrices. Kinetic studies performed under different values of initial pollutant concentration and biosorbent mass indicate a biosorbed amount at an equilibrium of 570 µg g⁻¹. Full article

Ulva intestinalis holds promise for sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea, but success has so far been limited by high environmental variability. This study examines how environmental factors influence sporogenesis, attachment, and growth of U. intestinalis in the low-salinity Baltic Sea. Optimal sporogenesis was observed at nutrient levels of 4–7 g/L, with peak zoospore release at 22–24 °C. Artificial substrates showed limited attachment success, as competing algae like Pylaiella littoralis and Cladophora glomerata often outperformed Ulva. Mesh cage cultivation demonstrated potential, achieving growth rates similar to controlled systems, though storm-induced turbidity lowered growth. These findings highlight the importance of tailored Baltic Sea cultivation strategies, focusing on nutrient, temperature, water stability, and competition management to enhance Ulva production. As the first pilot experiments in the region, they provide essential input for developing informed strategies that support more detailed trials and future scaled-up production. Full article

A novel, strictly aerobic, non-motile, and pink-pigmented bacterium, designated 7Alg 153^T, was isolated from the Pacific green alga Cladophora stimpsonii. Strain 7Alg 153^T was able to grow at 4–32 °C in the presence of 1.5–4% NaCl and hydrolyze L-tyrosine, gelatin, aesculin, Tweens 20, 40, and 80 and urea, as well as produce catalase, oxidase, and nitrate reductase. The novel strain 7Alg 153^T showed the highest similarity of 96.75% with Pseudaestuariivita rosea H15^T, followed by Thalassobius litorarius MME-075^T (96.60%), Thalassobius mangrovi GS-10^T (96.53%), Tritonibacter litoralis SM1979^T (96.45%), and Marivita cryptomonadis CL-SK44^T (96.38%), indicating that it belongs to the family Roseobacteraceae, the order Rhodobacteales, the class Alphaproteobacteria, and the phylum Pseudomonadota. The respiratory ubiquinone was Q-10. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified aminolipids, and one unidentified lipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>5%) were C_18:1 ω7c, C_16:0, C_18:0, and 11-methyl C_18:1 ω7c. The 7Alg 153^T genome is composed of a single circular chromosome of 3,786,800 bp and two circular plasmids of 53,157 bp and 37,459 bp, respectively. Pan-genome analysis showed that the 7Alg 153^T genome contains 33 genus-specific clusters spanning 92 genes. The COG20-annotated singletons were more often related to signal transduction mechanisms, cell membrane biogenesis, transcription, and transport, and the metabolism of amino acids. The complete photosynthetic gene cluster (PGC) for aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis (AAP) was found on a 53 kb plasmid. Based on the phylogenetic evidence and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the novel isolate represents a novel genus and species within the family Roseobacteraceae, for which the name Algirhabdus cladophorae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7Alg 153^T (=KCTC 72606^T = KMM 6494^T). Full article

To explore the impact of sedimentary nitrogen and phosphorus on Cladophora occurrence, we conducted a microecosystem experiment simulating different nitrogen and phosphorus content as well as nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios in the sediment. Subsequently, to further explore the specific mechanism of influence that epiphytic algae have on Cladophora, we designed various microsystem culture experiments. These results revealed that an N/P ratio of 40:1 was relatively unfavorable for Cladophora growth. Additionally, there was an extremely significant negative correlation between the benthic cyanobacteria coverage on the sediment surface and the wet weight of Cladophora (p < 0.01), indicating that benthic cyanobacteria could inhibit the growth of Cladophora. Total nitrogen levels in the water column showed a significant positive correlation with phytoplankton biomass (p < 0.05), while benthic cyanobacteria coverage exhibited an extremely significant positive correlation with phytoplankton biomass through phosphorus absorption and nitrogen release (p < 0.01). Metabolite analysis of benthic cyanobacteria identified annotations for 313 metabolites; among them cis,cis-muconic acid (32.48‰), erucamide (9.52‰), phosphoric acid (6.97‰), fenpropidin (6.53‰), and propionic acid (5.16‰) accounted for proportions exceeding 5‰. However, none of these metabolites have been recognized as allelochemicals or toxins at present. This study provides novel insights into controlling Cladophora occurrence by considering sediment nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, along with allelochemicals. Full article

Human activities have resulted in the eutrophication of rivers, leading to heightened concerns regarding the occurrence of filamentous algal blooms. With the increasing utilization of rivers by humans, the occurrence of these nuisance filamentous algae is expected to increase in frequency in the future. Blooms primarily occur due to energy congestion at the trophic level of primary producers, resulting from inefficient energy flow in both the bottom-up and top-down pathways. To investigate the mechanism underlying the outbreak of filamentous algae, two streams in the southern Taihang catchment with different nutrient conditions were selected for this study. The objective of this study was to understand the effects of nutrient levels and other potential factors on the distribution and succession of filamentous algae. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between nutrient conditions and the biomass of filamentous algae. Cladophora and Spirogyra were identified as the dominant species among filamentous algae, each exhibiting unique distribution patterns in the two streams. Spirogyra thrived predominantly in the Baligou stream, where lower nutrient levels and warmer temperatures prevailed. In contrast, Cladophora flourished in the nutrient-rich Nanping stream at colder temperatures. Results from the generalized linear model indicated that the biomass of Cladophora was influenced by nutrient concentration, water depth, water temperature, and macrobenthic biomass. The biomass of Spirogyra, on the other hand, was primarily determined by water temperature, nutrient concentrations, water depth, and velocity. The positive correlation between Cladophora and macrobenthos revealed a possible mutually beneficial relationship, suggesting that macrobenthos may promote the growth of Cladophora by inhibiting periphytic diatoms. In return, the macrobenthos benefit from a secure refuge and an environment conducive to foraging and reproduction. This study suggested that to alleviate energy flow congestion in the benthic food chain, it is advisable to address this issue by either reducing nutrient loadings in rivers or enhancing the presence of benthivorous fishes in streams. Full article

In southwest Florida, the Caloosahatchee River flows from Lake Okeechobee into a biologically productive tidal estuarine system. A combination of excess water during the wet season, insufficient fresh water in the dry season, and poor quality of the river water are damaging the estuarine ecosystem. To better control the quality and quantity of the water entering the estuary, reservoirs are being constructed to store excess, poor quality water during the wet season and return it to the river for discharge into the estuary at an appropriate time. This stored water is enriched in nutrients and organic carbon. Because of the subtropical nature of the climate in southwest Florida and potential increases in temperature in the future, the return flow of water from the reservoirs must be treated before it can be returned to the river. Hence, an experimental water treatment system was developed and operated to compare biological treatment processes consisting of solely wetland plants versus adding some engineered processes, including slow sand filtration and a combination of slow sand filtration and ultraviolet (UV) treatment. These three treatment trains were operated and monitored through a seasonal cycle in 2021–2022. All three treatment methods significantly reduced the concentrations of nutrients and total organic carbon. While the enhanced engineered wetlands’ treatment trains did slightly outperform the wetland train, a comparison of the three process trains showed no statistically significant difference. It was concluded that upscaling of the slow sand filtration and UV process could improve the treatment efficiency, but this change would have to be evaluated within a framework of long-term economic benefits. It was also concluded that the Caloosahatchee River water quality is quite enriched in nutrients so that reservoir storage would increase the organic carbon concentrations, making it imperative that it be treated before being returned to the river. It was also discovered that the green alga Cladophora sp. grew rapidly in the biological treatment tubs and will present a significant challenge for the treatment of the reservoir discharge water using the currently proposed alum treatment. Full article

The main goal of this study was to assess the bioactive and polysaccharide compositions, along with the antioxidant and antibacterial potentials, of five seaweeds collected from the northeastern coast of Algeria. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, the study investigated the elemental composition of these seaweeds and their chemical structure. In addition, this study compared and identified the biochemical makeup of the collected seaweed by using cutting-edge methods like tandem mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, and it searched for new sources of nutritionally valuable compounds. According to the study’s findings, Sargassum muticum contains the highest levels of extractable bioactive compounds, showing a phenolic compound content of 235.67 ± 1.13 µg GAE·mg⁻¹ and a total sugar content of 46.43 ± 0.12% DW. Both S. muticum and Dictyota dichotoma have high concentrations of good polyphenols, such as vanillin and chrysin. Another characteristic that sets brown algae apart is their composition. It showed that Cladophora laetevirens has an extracted bioactive compound content of 12.07% and a high capacity to scavenge ABTS⁺ radicals with a value of 78.65 ± 0.96 µg·mL⁻¹, indicating high antioxidant activity. In terms of antibacterial activity, S. muticum seaweed showed excellent growth inhibition. In conclusion, all five species of seaweed under investigation exhibited unique strengths, highlighting the variety of advantageous characteristics of these seaweeds, especially S. muticum. Full article

Cladophora qinghaiensis, an endemic species of Cladophora in saltwater lakes, was scientifically named in 2021 (hereafter referred to as Cladophora). Cladophora exists in different morphologies, including attached submerged Cladophora (AC), grown floating Cladophora (GFC), and death floating Cladophora (DFC). Previous satellite remote sensing has mainly focused on identifying floating algae. In this study, Qinghai Lake served as a case study, and a classification decision tree model (CDTM) was proposed. The model employed the chlorophyll spectral index (CSI) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to differentiate AC, Floating Cladophora (FC), and water. Additionally, the floating Cladophora index (FCI) was introduced to further distinguish GFC and DFC within FC. The method was applicable to Sentinel-2 images from 2016–2023. Visual interpretation methods were used for Landsat series images from the summer months (July to September) to obtain the AC and FC. The results demonstrate that over the past 30 years, the areas inhabited by AC and FC have increased gradually. The three morphologies of Cladophora also exhibited seasonal variations, with growth observed annually in May–June, reaching peaks in August–September, and gradually declining in October. In addition, by combining factors such as water surface area and climatic factors, we analyzed the driving forces influencing the changes in Cladophora. In this research, AC and FC showed significant correlations with the water surface area, with correlation coefficients (r) of approximately 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. These new findings provide valuable insights regarding the spatiotemporal changes and underlying causes for different morphologies of Cladophora in global saline lakes. Full article

Aquatic pollution is a burning issue nowadays due to urbanization and industrialization. Industrial wastewater (IWW) contains pollutants that pose a great risk to the environment and human beings and is a big challenge for industries. The remediation of IWW by microorganisms is an environmentally friendly technique. This study was carried out to evaluate the pollution of IWW and to use consortia of Bacillus pakistanensis, Lysinibacillus composti, and Cladophora glomerata for bioremediation. The IWW was obtained from the Hayatabad Industrial Estate and was evaluated for physicochemical parameters and metal concentration. A pot experiment was carried out for two weeks to assess the efficiency of the developed consortia. The IWW and tap water (control) were treated with three different consortia (Bacillus pakistanensis-Cladophora glomerata (CT1, E1), Lysinibacillus composti-Cladophora glomerata (CT2, E2), and Bacillus pakistanensis-Lysinibacillus composti-Cladophora glomerata (CT3, E3). The three pots (CT1, CT2, and CT3) serving as the control were provided with tap water, and the three experimental pots (E1, E2, and E3) were provided with IWW. After treatment, substantial reductions were obtained in the following parameters and percentages: colour 85.7%, electrical conductivity (EC) 40.8%, turbidity 69.6%, sulphide 78.5%, fluoride 38.8%, chloride 62.9%, biological oxygen demand (BOD) 66%, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 81.8%, total suspended solids (TSSs) 82.7%, total dissolved solids (TDSs) 24.6%, Ca hardness 37.2%, Mg hardness 50%, and total hardness 39%. The samples of water were also examined for metal concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The selected species removed 98.2% of Mn, 94% of Cu, 97.7% of Cr, 91.6% of Cd, 92.8% of Co, 79.6% of Ag, 82.6% of Ni, 98% of Ca, 90% of Mg, and 82.1% of Pb. The BCF values showed by the consortia for Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co, Ag, Ni, Ca, Mg, and Pb were 91.8, 67, 97.5, 83.3, 85.7, 48.1, 80.4, 84.3, 82.5, and 80.3%, respectively. The t-test analysis showed that the treatment with the selected species significantly decreased the metal concentrations in the IWW (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, the study concludes that metal concentration in the water was decreased significantly by the consortia of algae-bacteria. Full article

Macroalgae are widely used for bioindication and assessment; however, in the case of pollutants of different origin, it is still unclear which contaminants in thalli can be regarded as indicative because too many factors influence the ability of algae to uptake them. The present study is a part of an international HAZLESS project and was conducted in the eastern Gulf of Finland (GoF). The main goal of our study was the application of metal concentrations in macroalgae as a tool for environmental quality assessment. To achieve this goal, we calculated the threshold metal concentrations in macroalgae (Cladophora glomerata) and compared our obtained values with actual concentrations. We found significant Spearman correlations in May between metals in sediments and pore water (−0.73 for Zn, −0.62 for Cd, 0.85 for Pb) and also between metals in algae and metals in pore water (1 for Cu and Cd, 0.98 for Zn and Pb). In July, Pb in algae were significantly correlated with Pb in pore water (0.88). The application of the calculated environmental quality standard (EQS_MPC) for macroalgae has shown moderate pollution by Cu and Pb in the coastal zone of the eastern GoF. This was confirmed by an assessment based on the comparisons of metal concentrations in water with Environmental Quality Standards for water (EQS_w). However, differences in the bioaccumulation factor and EQS_MPC between May and July have shown that it is necessary to compare samples taken during the same period every year for adequate results in long-term monitoring. Considering the sensitivity of accumulating processes to the surrounding environment, we believe that in the case of habitats with diverse conditions, even for the same species of algae, threshold values should be calculated and used individually for every habitat. Our results have shown that this approach can be widely used for an assessment of environmental quality via metal concentrations in opportunistic macroalgae and can be recommended for further use. Full article

Three green algae, collected from the Romanian Black Sea coast, are studied: Ulva lactuca, Enteromorpha intestinalis, and Cladophora vagabunda, which were collected from six different coastal areas. This paper aims to identify the bioactive compounds of these green algae and their beneficial properties, in order to use them as potential nutraceuticals using different analytical methods. Pharmacognostic, microbiological, and physico-chemical methods used for the analysis of algal materials revealed a rich and diverse array of biocompounds with nutritional value. In the case of green algae, a high percentage of sulphates, carbohydrates and dietary fibers were identified. Moisture, ash, total nitrogen, protein and lipid contents were determined. The contents of pigments, vitamins, and metals determined complement the nutritional qualities of the three seaweed species studied as future nutraceuticals. The content of flavonoid and phenolic compounds identified in the composition of seaweeds justifies their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The antioxidant capacity was tested by means of DPPH, reducing power, and TEAC methods, and the algae studied exhibit important antioxidant properties that can be used to enhance their potential as nutraceuticals. The studied algae show good antibacterial activity on both Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria, with slightly better activity on Gram (−) bacteria. Biocompounds from green algae from the Black Sea coast may represent an important source of marine nutraceuticals with medical and nutritional potential. Full article