Chlamydomonas reinhardtii modulates and decreases cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of CUSO₄

One of the promising waste removal methods involves the treatment of contaminants with microalgae. Questions we addressed in this work are: i) whether Chlamydomonas reinhardtii possesses ability to modulate the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of CuSO₄; ii) whether the products released in the nutrition medium as a result of algal normal living activity possess cytotoxic and genotoxic activities and could modulate the harmful effect of CuSO₄. Algal supernatants and cell extracts are applied in different experimental designs. Two test-systems at different levels of hierarchical scale were used -a higher plant and human lymphocytes, because it is well known that heavy metals are presented in different trophic levels. Mitotic index was used as endpoint for cytotoxicity, the frequency of chromosome aberrations -as endpoint for genotoxicity. Our finding demonstrates that: i) Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and its metabolic products can modulate the harmful effect of CuSO₄; ii) this effect is expressed as a reduction, but not as complete elimination of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of copper. Our study provides additional experimental evidence that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can be used for treatment of contaminants such as copper in order to decrease its harmful effect and thereby leading to reduction of health risks.