Gas-vacuolate Microcystis evolves cyanophage resistance under low nitrogen conditions

Abstract

Cyanophages can influence the dynamics of toxic cyanobacterial blooms. However, cyanobacteria can become resistant to viruses through natural selection processes. Here, we investigate the acquisition of virus resistance in a toxic, freshwater, gas-vacuolate, bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, under different nutrient concentrations. We find that gas-vacuolate M. aeruginosa subpopulations acquire virus resistance in low nitrogen cultures regardless of their phosphorus concentration, whereas non-vacuolate subpopulations do not. After resequencing susceptible and resistant M. aeruginosa variants, we identify a mutation in the transmembrane domain of a nitrogen-related transporter as the most likely genetic cause of the resistance. Infection experiments further reveal a larger viral burst size and higher phycocyanin content in gas-vacuolate cells compared to non-vacuolate ones. Based on these experimental results, we propose an ecological model in which lower nitrogen concentrations, higher light intensities and increased virus-host contact rates facilitate the evolution of virus resistance in upper lake layers during Microcystis-dominated blooms.