Located in Třeboň, South Bohemia
Head: Mgr. Pavel Přibyl, Ph.D.
People ׀ Projects ׀ Publications
Research topics
- Taxonomy and diversity of cyanobacteria and algae
- Ecology and ecophysiology of cyanobacteria and algae in extreme environments
- Physiology and biochemistry of cyanobacteria and algae
Selected recent results
1/ Hibberdia magna (Chrysophyceae): a promising freshwater fucoxanthin and polyunsaturated fatty acid producer
This work brings pioneer insight into the biotechnology potential of freshwater autotrophic flagellates, especially members of the class Chrysophyceae. The initial screening of tens strains turned our attention to the chrysophyte alga Hibberdia magna. We performed a comprehensive cultivation experiments using a temperature × light cross-gradient to assess the impact of these conditions on the target compounds (fucoxanthin, PUFA) productivity. H. magna demonstrated different optimal conditions for biomass, fucoxanthin, and fatty acid accumulation.
- Střížek A., Přibyl P., Lukeš M., Grivalský T., Kopecký J., Galica T. & Hrouzek P. 2023: Hibberdia magna (Chrysophyceae): a promising freshwater fucoxanthin and polyunsaturated fatty acid producer. Microbial Cell Factories 22, 1 – 19. doi:10.1186/s12934-023-02061-x
Mean fucoxanthin content (up) and productivity (below) in Hibberdia magna as optimized using crossed-gradients of temperature and light
2/ Trebonskia zoosporica, gen. et sp. nov., a new member of the Goniochloridales (Eustigmatophyceae, Stramenopiles) with an unusual mode of reproduction
New genus and species of eustigmatophyte algae from the clade Goniochloridales, Trebonskia zoosporica, was described using polyphasic approach. This alga morphologically resembles some previously described members of this group, however, it differs by an unusual mode of reproduction – obligate zoosporogenesis. Its phylogenetic position was confirmed by sequencing both 18S rDNA a rbcL markers.
- Přibyl P. & Procházková L. 2023: Trebonskia zoosporica, gen. et sp. nov., a new member of the Goniochloridales (Eustigmatophyceae, Stramenopiles) with an unusual mode of reproduction. European Journal of Phycology 58, 199 – 213. doi:10.1080/09670262.2022.2089913
Light microscopy images of Trebonskia zoosporica cells showing different stages of the life cycle
3/ Very long chain fatty acids
Very long chain fatty acids are important components of various lipid classes in most organisms, including some algae. This review summarizes their occurrence and analysis in different organisms, as well as obtaining standards from natural sources. Attention is paid to the biosynthesis of these interesting, not fully explored compounds.
- Kyselová L., Vítová M. & Řezanka T. 2022: Very long chain fatty acids. Progress in Lipid Research 87, 1 – 16. doi:10.1016/j.plipres.2022.101180.
Biosynthesis pathways of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids (VLC-FA) and Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (VLC-PUFA).
4/ Lactylated acidic exopolysaccharide produced by the cyanobacterium Nostoc cf. linckia
Cultivating the freshwater cyanobacterium Nostoc cf. linckia, about 5.4 g L-1 of crude exopolysaccharide (EPS) was obtained. One of its fractions was analyzed structurally revealing that 4 dominant sugars, glucose, galactose and xylose are 1,4-linked in the backbone with side chains of mannose residues. Moreover, every second glucose was branched at C6 by 3-O-lactyl-β-D-glucuronic acid. Two in vitro assays showed antioxidant properties of this EPS.
- Uhliariková I., Matulová M., Košťálová Z., Lukavský J. & Capek P. 2022: Lactylated acidic exopolysaccharide produced by the cyanobacterium Nostoc cf. linckia. Carbohydrate Polymers 276, 1 – 11. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118801.
5/ Phosphorus dynamics during early soil development in a cold desert: insights from oxygen isotopes in phosphate
The work focused on soil microbes and how they affect the size and cycling of organic and inorganic soil P pools along a soil chronosequence in the Chamser Kangri glacier forefield (Western Himalayas). Biological P transformations were studied with the help of the isotopic composition of oxygen (O) in phosphate from four sites of different age spanning 0 to 100–150 years. Results provide evidence that, by driving short-term P dynamics, microbes play an important role in controlling the redistribution of primary P into inorganic and organic soil P pools.
- Frkova Z., Pistocchi C., Vystavna Y., Capkova K., Dolezal J. & Tamburini F. 2022: Phosphorus dynamics during early soil development in a cold desert: insights from oxygen isotopes in phosphate. Soil 8, 1 – 15. doi:10.5194/soil-8-1-2022
Chamser Kangri glacier forefield chronosequence in India (adapted outline map from coloringhome.com) with sampling sites (M for soils and W for stream water and glacier snout) indicated on a satellite map (35_5705500 N, 78_2402500 E. © Google Earth, CNES/Airbus, 12 April 2016).
6/ Early spring subglacial discharge plumes fuel under-ice primary production at a Svalbard tidewater glacier
Subglacial upwelling of nutrient-rich bottom water is known to sustain elevated summer primary production in tidewater-glacier-influenced fjord systems. We evaluated the effects of the submarine discharge on primary production in a seasonally fast-ice covered Svalbard fjord influenced by a tidewater outlet glacier in April and May 2019. We found clear evidence for subglacial discharge and upwelling and observed substantial impact on the fjord ecosystem and primary production in this time of the year.
- Vonnahme T. R., Persson E., Dietrich U., Hejduková E., Dybwad C., Elster J., Chierici M. & Gradinger R. 2021. Early spring subglacial discharge plumes fuel under-ice primary production at a Svalbard tidewater glacier. Cryosphere 15, 2083 – 2107. doi:10.5194/tc-15-2083-2021.
Schematic representation of the C cycle at SG (ice edge of Nordenskiöld tidewater glacier) and IE (edge of Adolfbukta and Billefjorden) study localities. All units are in milligram of C with median given in the circles and arrows and the minimum and maximum in brackets bellow. The grey area represents sea ice, the light blue area a brackish water layer, and the darker blue area deeper saline water layers.
7/ Life in Extreme Environments, Insights in Biological Capability
From deep ocean trenches and the geographical poles to outer space, organisms can be found living in remarkably extreme conditions. This book provides a captivating account of these systems and their extraordinary inhabitants, extremophiles.
- Di Prisco G., Edwards H. G. M., Elster J. & Huiskes A. H. L. (eds.) 2020: Life in Extreme Environments, Insights in Biological Capability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1 – 364.
8/ Microbial photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments in Himalayan soils originating from different elevations and successional stages
(In cooperation with Institute of Microbiology of the CAS, Centre Algatech.)
Soil microbes evolved complex metabolic strategies including photoprotective pigments to survive the environmental stress as a high UV irradiance. We examine how the composition and content of pigments in soil microbes in the Himalayas differ between major habitats spread across an elevation 4300–6000m including cold deserts, steppes, alpine and subnival vegetation. Scytonemin was the prominent pigment across all of the studied habitats. Rarely documented microbial pigments were detected, e.g. bacteriochlorophyll a. Alpine meadow soils had more diverse microbial and pigment assemblages than desert and steppe soils, or pioneer soils developing behind retreating glaciers. The best soil chemical predictors of pigment compositional variation were total nitrogen and cation contents.
Study location in the area of Ladakh, India, Tibetan Plateau: Habitats and altitudes where the microbial photoprotective pigments from soils were extracted. Photo by K. Čapková
- Řeháková K., Čapková K., Hrouzek P., Koblížek M. & Doležal J. 2019: Microbial photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments in Himalayan soils originating from different elevations and successional stages. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 132: 153-164. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.02.008
9/ Sanguina nivaloides and Sanguina aurantia gen. et spp. nov. (Chlorophyta): the taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography and ecology of two newly recognised algae causing red and orange snow
(In cooperation with Charles University in Prague and Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology.)
Melting snowfields in polar and alpine regions often exhibit a red and orange colouration caused by microalgae. The diversity of these organisms is still poorly understood. We applied a polyphasic approach using three molecular markers and light and electron microscopy to investigate spherical cysts sampled from alpine mountains in Europe, North America and South America as well as from both polar regions. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of a single independent lineage within the Chlamydomonadales. The genus Sanguina is described, with Sanguina nivaloides as its type. It is distinguishable from other red cysts forming alga by the number of cell wall layers, cell size, cell surface morphology and habitat preference. Sanguina nivaloides is a diverse species containing a total of 18 haplotypes according to nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2, with low nucleotide divergence (<= 3.5%). Based on molecular data we demonstrate that it has a cosmopolitan distribution with an absence of geographical structuring, indicating an effective dispersal strategy with the cysts being transported all around the globe, including trans-equatorially. Additionally, Sanguina aurantia is described, with small spherical orange cysts often clustered by means of mucilaginous sheaths, and causing orange blooms in snow in subarctic and Arctic regions.
- Procházková L., Leya T., Křížková H. & Nedbalová L. 2019. Sanguina nivaloides and Sanguina aurantia gen. et spp. nov. (Chlorophyta): the taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography and ecology of two newly recognised algae causing red and orange snow. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 95: 1-21. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiz064