Euglena mutabilis exists in a FAB consortium with microbes that enhance cadmium tolerance.
Background Synthetic algal-fungal and algal-bacterial cultures have been investigated as a means to enhance the technological applications of the algae. This inclusion of other microbes has enhanced growth and improved stress tolerance of the algal culture. A goal of the current study was to investigate natural microbial consortia to gain an understanding of the occurrence and benefits of these associations in nature. The photosynthetic protist Euglena mutabilis is often found in association with other microbes in acidic environments with high heavy metal (HM) concentrations. This may suggest that microbial interactions are essential for the protists ability to tolerate these extreme environments. Our study assessed the Cd tolerance of a natural fungal-algal-bacterial (FAB) association whereby the algae is E. mutabilis. Results This study provides the first assessment of antibiotic and antimycotic agents on an E. mutabilis culture. The results indicate that antibiotic and antimycotic application significantly decreased the viability of E. mutabilis cells when they were also exposed to Cd. Similar antibiotic treatments of E. gracilis cultures had variable or non-significant impacts on its Cd tolerance. E. gracilis also recovered better after pre-treatment with antibiotics and Cd than did E. mutabilis. The recoveries were assessed by heterotrophic growth without antibiotics or Cd. In contrast, both Euglena species displayed increased chlorophyll production upon Cd exposure. PacBio full-length amplicon sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing identified the microbial species present in the E. mutabilis culture to be the fungus Talaromyces sp and the bacterium Acidiphilium acidophilum. Conclusion This study uncovers a possible fungal, algal, bacterial relationship, what we refer to as a FAB consortium. The members of this consortium interact to enhance the response to Cd exposure. This results in a E. mutabilis culture that has higher tolerance to Cd than the axenic E. gracilis. The description of this interaction provides a base to explore the benefits of natural interactions. This will provide knowledge and direction for use when creating or maintaining FAB interactions for biotechnological purposes including bioremediation.