Integrating Microbial Communities into Algal Biotechnology: A Pathway to Enhanced Commercialization

Hari Koneru ¹ Safiatou Bamba ¹ Aksel Bell ¹ Adrian A Estrada Graf ¹ Zackary Johnson ^1,2,3*

• ¹ Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, United States
• ² Biology, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Durham, NC, United States
• ³ Duke Microbiome Center, Durham, United States

Microalgae are increasingly recognized for their potential in wastewater treatment and the sustainable production of feedstock for fuel, feed, food and other bioproducts. Like conventional agricultural systems, algal cultivation involves complex microbial communities. However, despite their pivotal role in cultivation outcomes, especially at the commodity-scale, the critical interactions between microalgae and their microbiomes are often overlooked. Here we synthesize current knowledge on the taxonomic diversity, ecological roles, and biotechnological potential of algal microbiomes, with a focus on their interactions with algal hosts through nutrient exchange, growth modulation, pathogen defense, and environmental conditioning. We also examine how environmental factors such as nutrient availability, salinity, and temperature influence these interactions. Advances in microbiome engineering, including synthetic biology and ecological approaches, offer opportunities to enhance beneficial algal-microbiome interactions, thereby improving growth, resilience, and yield. These advancements could lead to more sustainable and economically viable microalgae cultivation, with far-reaching implications for environmental management and biotechnological innovation. By addressing key economic and environmental barriers, microbiome engineering holds transformative potential to revolutionize large-scale algae cultivation and provide sustainable solutions to global challenges.