Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah 52377, Saudi Arabia
2
Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority
10.21608/ejabf.2025.433029.6797
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs), a sign of ecosystem imbalance, are frequently brought on by the numerous environmental changes that show the growing global human footprint and climate change. Phaeocystis globosa blooms are common in coastal waters and have had detrimental effects on biological environments by producing harmful hemolytic chemicals, creating nuisance foam depleting oxygen, and forming ichthyotoxic algal blooms. Cycloheximide is a fungicide that occurs naturally and is a protein synthesis inhibitor in eukaryotic cells generated by the Gram-positive Streptomyces griseus bacteria. The data revealed that cycloheximide treatment (250 µg/ml) with algal cells of P. globosa induced a decrease in photosynthetic pigment content (chlorophyll a, carotenoid), photosynthetic efficiency, total algal biomass production, total soluble protein, activities of antioxidant enzymes of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, as compared to the control samples. However, there is an increased level of caspase-3 activity, malondialdehyde, and dichlorofluorescein compared to the control samples. The alteration in cell morphology and cell membrane integrity of P. globosa was detected by transmission electron microscopy technologies. In control cells, the morphology was normal, with intact organelle structure, typical normal nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and other organelles. After being exposed to cycloheximide for 72 hours, P. globosa algae cells displayed increased cytoplasmic vacuolization and the disintegration of numerous organelles, including the nucleus and chloroplasts. Furthermore, the nucleus was significantly swollen and blurry, and intracellular materials leaked out of the cell via a damaged plasma membrane. The results indicate that application of cycloheximide (250 µg/ml) possesses the potential to be used as an eco-friendly biological control agent for managing harmful effects of P. globosa algal blooms, particularly in water treatment processes.
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