Abstract:
During the screening of lytic bacteria, plaques were obtained on Microcystis lawns. In the plaques, at
least five distinct morphotypes of bacteria were found. The plumb rod-shaped bacilli were the most
abundant and were found aggregated around unhealthy Microcystis cells and were the probable cause
of deflation and lysis. These bacteria may have utilized the cyanobacteria cell contents as their nutrient
source. In contrast to the control areas, the cyanobacteria cells were healthy and did not show any
visible distortion of cell structure. The presence and possible role of the free-bacteria, that is, bacteria
that were not attached or associated with the cyanobacteria in the plaque is not clear. Maybe their
function is to scavenge the skeletal remains of Microcystis cells. Bacillus mycoides B16 were found to
have a lytic effect on Microcystis cells. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) images of B. mycoides
B16 did not reveal any unique attachments that may have allowed them to adhere to Microcystis cells.
The Microcystis cells were exposed to copper, B. mycoides B16 and Triton X-100, in order to ascertain
the level of cell membrane damage. The membrane cell damage was most severe with copper stripping
the entire Microcystis cell membrane leaving a honeycomb skeletal structure and B. mycoides B16,
leaving perforations on the cell membrane. The electron microscopy observations appeared to reveal at
least two mechanisms of Microcystis lysis (contact and parasitism). The light and electron microscope
(LEM) observations did not reveal any endoparasitism of B. mycoides B16 or Bdellovibrio-like
behaviour.
