Deciphering the effect of microalgae-bacteria co-cultivation on the biochemical profile

Abstract

Algae and bacteria consortia have gained significant momentum in research in the recent years. Their ability to produce various essential metabolites, pigments, biofuels, and their aid in bioremediation of wastewater has led to extensive investigation in their potential. In this thesis, we explore the biochemical profile of the algal and bacterial cultures. Initially, monocultures of both algae and bacteria are grown and studied for their growth patterns and production of pigments, specifically chlorophyll a in algae and bacteriochlorophyll a in bacteria. Then, the algal and bacterial cultures are mixed with each other to form a consortium consisting of these two species. The growth parameters, production of pigments, and the biochemical profile, namely the lipid, protein, and carbohydrate content, are calculated from these cultures to check for the changes occurring due to the interactions between the two species. The study aims to understand the metabolic changes occurring in the consortia and their potential for the production of various metabolites, including biofuels and pigments, and their aid in bioremediation. The findings from this thesis can contribute towards the optimization of the algal-bacterial consortia for efficient production of metabolically active compounds and pigments and their possible use in wastewater treatment and bioremediation.