Epiphytic and endophytic microbiome of the seagrass Zostera marina: Do they contribute to pathogen reduction in seawater?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168422
• Publication Date: 2023-11-11T16:30:10Z
• Authors: Deniz Tasdemir; Silvia Scarpato; Caroline Utermann...; Timo Jensen; Martina Blümel; Arlette Wenzel-St...; Claudia Welsch; Vivien Anne Echel...
• Keywords: Zostera marina; Metabolome; Epiphyte; Marine ecosystem

Seagrass ecosystems provide crucial ecosystem services for coastal environments and were shown to reduce the abundance of pathogens linked infections in humans marine organisms. Among potential drivers, seagrass phenolics released into seawater have been pathogen suppression, but involvement microbiome has not investigated. We hypothesized that eelgrass Zostera marina, especially leaf epiphytes are at direct interface between host surrounding seawater, inhibit waterborne thereby contributing their removal. Using a culture-dependent approach, we isolated 88 bacteria fungi associated with surfaces inner tissues leaves (healthy decaying) roots. assessed antibiotic activity microbial extracts against large panel common aquatic, human (fecal) plant pathogens, mined metabolome most active extracts. The healthy epibiotic bacteria, particularly Streptomyces sp. strain 131, displayed broad-spectrum superior some control drugs. Gram-negative abundant on surfaces, few endosphere-associated also remarkable activities. UPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics analyses showed rich specialized metabolite repertoires low annotation rates, indicating presence many undescribed antimicrobials This study contributes our understanding chemical ecology seagrasses, implying suppression seawater. Such effect is beneficial health ocean human, context climate change expected exacerbate all infectious diseases. It may assist future conservation management strategies.