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Harmful algal blooms are preceded by a predictable and quantifiable shift in the oceanic microbiome
Miranda C Mudge1, Michael Riffle1, Gabriella Chebli2
1Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Nature Communications
|April 28, 2025
Summary
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a global threat. This study found specific bacterial peptide changes that may predict HABs before they occur, offering a new forecasting tool.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose significant global environmental and health risks, necessitating effective forecasting.
- The dynamic interplay between algae and bacteria influences water chemistry, with bacteria responding rapidly to environmental shifts at the proteomic level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if bacterial proteomic changes, specifically at the peptide level, can serve as early indicators of impending HAB events.
- To identify potential peptide biomarkers for forecasting HAB initiation in coastal ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- A high-resolution metaproteomic time series analysis was conducted on a free-living marine microbiome.
- Samples were collected from a coastal ecosystem to capture physiological changes preceding bloom onset.
Main Results:
- Twelve candidate HAB biomarkers were identified as detectable, quantifiable, and correlated during pre-bloom periods.
- Proteomic shifts in bacterial peptides were observed, indicating a measurable response before rapid phytoplankton growth.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial peptide shifts can be utilized as predictive biomarkers for forecasting HAB initiation.
- This approach offers a potential method for early detection, aiding in the mitigation of HABs and their detrimental impacts.
