Biology subjects

Dufour, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Dufour, T..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Pigment and isoprostanoid responses to cold atmospheric plasma-induced oxidative conditions in a natural epipelic diatom assemblage

Intertidal mudflats hosting diatom-dominated microphytobenthic communities experience strong variability in environmental conditions, which can lead to cellular oxidative stress. These constraints can, in some cases, affect diatom metabolism and photosynthetic performance in the short term, potentially compromising their survival and even leading to cell death. This study investigates pigment, isoprostanoid, and photophysiological changes in a diatom assemblage originating from a natural microphytobenthic biofilm under different durations of helium-oxygen bubbling cold atmospheric plasma experimental treatments, mimicking complex oxidative conditions of the environment. To this end, 2-min and 5-min treatments were applied to the diatom assemblage, and metabolic parameters were monitored over time up to +180 min after plasma treatment cessation. Despite physicochemical changes and slight perturbations in metabolite profiles induced by plasma treatments, photosynthetic capacities of the diatoms remained largely preserved. The duration-dependent effects of plasma treatments induced selective and mostly reversible changes, primarily characterized by an increase in the relative proportions of pheopigments and a decrease in the relative proportions of {beta}-carotenes following the 5-min treatment. A transient decrease in the relative proportions of the isoprostanoids 10-F4t-neuroP and 5-F2t-IsoP was also observed. By exposing natural diatom assemblage to plasma-generated oxidative conditions, this study provides novel insights into how marine microbiome respond to oxidative perturbations, contributing to our understanding of diatom success in fluctuating intertidal environments.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Reactive oxygen species drive downward vertical migration in diatom microphytobenthic biofilms as a strategy to cope with oxidative stress

Diatom-dominated intertidal microphytobenthic biofilms experience daily fluctuations in irradiance, which can lead to oxidative stress within the photosynthetic apparatus through the production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. To maintain photosynthetic efficiency, benthic diatoms have developed protective strategies, including mobilization of the antioxidant xanthophyll cycle and the ability to migrate vertically through sediments. However, mechanistic understanding of signaling pathways underlying migration remains poorly characterized. This study investigated the triggering effect of reactive oxygen species on behavioral and photophysiological responses through the analysis of lipophilic pigments and fluorescence parameters. To this end, two microphytobenthic communities, one with sediment allowing vertical migration and another without sediment restricting it, were exposed to irradiance, cold atmospheric plasma, and hydrogen peroxide stresses. Results showed a consistent downward migration response under all oxidative stresses, highlighting the key role of reactive oxygen species, especially hydrogen peroxide, in triggering this microphytobenthic behavior. Moreover, a difference was observed between the pathways involved in vertical migration and those underlying photoprotective responses. Hydrogen peroxide and cold atmospheric plasma stresses highlighted the necessity for substantial microphytobenthic migration, whereas irradiance induced a specific and controlled response involving engagement of the xanthophyll cycle, acting in synergy with the migration strategy by showing stronger activation when migration was impaired. By establishing that a rapid and efficient migration could be induced by reactive oxygen species and could act in synergy with the xanthophyll cycle in epipelic cells, this study provides key insights into the molecular basis of microphytobenthic responses to cellular and environmental oxidative stresses.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Molecular Acclimation of Halobacterium salinarum to Halite Brine Inclusions

1Halophilic microorganisms have long been known to survive within the brine inclusions of salt crystals, as evidenced by the change in color for salt crystals containing pigmented halophiles. However, the molecular mechanisms allowing this survival has remained an open question for decades. While protocols for the surface sterilization of halite (NaCl) have enabled isolation of cells and DNA from within halite brine inclusions, "-omics" based approaches have faced two main technical challenges: (1) removal of all contaminating organic biomolecules (including proteins) from halite surfaces, and (2) performing selective biomolecule extractions directly from cells contained within halite brine inclusions with sufficient speed to avoid modifications in gene expression during extraction. In this study, we present methods to resolve these two technical challenges. In addition, we apply these methods to perform the first examination of the early acclimation of a model haloarchaeon (Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1) to halite brine inclusions. Examinations of the proteome of Halobacterium cells two months post-evaporation revealed a high degree of similarity with stationary phase liquid cultures, but with a sharp down-regulation of ribosomal proteins. Low quantities of RNA from halite brine inclusions corroborate the hypothesis of low transcriptional and translational activities. While proteins for central metabolism were part of the shared proteome between liquid cultures and halite brine inclusions, proteins involved in cell mobility (archaellum, gas vesicles) were either absent or less abundant in halite samples. Proteins unique to cells within brine inclusions included transporters, suggesting modified interactions between cells and the surrounding brine inclusion microenvironment. The methods and hypotheses presented here enable future studies of the survival of halophiles in both culture model and natural halite systems.

microbiology↗