Xenobiotic drivers of phytoplankton succession and cyanobacterial proliferation and cyanotoxin production assessed by metagenomic analyses of metabolic and resistance pathways

Funding period: 2024-2029
Lead: Arthur Zastepa
Total GRDI funding: $140,320

Understanding how phytoplankton and bacterial communities and their functional potential respond to xenobiotics is increasingly considered vital to predicting responses to future environmental change. We propose to investigate differences/changes in microbial composition and their functional potential in watercourses impacted by xenobiotics (Great Lakes/Thames River and the St. Lawrence River). Recent advances in metagenomics make it possible to elucidate the functional response of entire microbial communities. Our analyses will leverage ongoing sampling (FWAP, WQMSD, ACRD) and sequencing (STAGE, GRDI-AMR2) efforts to investigate the differences or changes in the microbial community's metabolic and resistance pathways, including cyanotoxins. Whole genome sequencing of microbial isolates, with particular focus on cyanobacteria, will reveal species-specific profiles of metabolic and resistance functional potential to respond to xenobiotics.