Control of the harmful alga Microcystis aeruginosa and absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus by Candida utilis.

This study is aimed at controlling eutrophication through converting the nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into microbial protein and simultaneously inhibiting the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa by Candida utilis. C. utilis and M. aeruginosa (initial cell density was 2.25 × 10(7) and 4.15 × 10(7) cells·mL(-1)) were cultured together in the absence or presence of a carbon source (glucose) during a 10-day experiment. In the absence of carbon source, the measured removal efficiencies of NH(4) (+)-N and PO(4) (3-)-P were 41.39 ± 2.19 % and 82.93 ± 3.95 %, respectively, at the second day, with the removal efficiency of 67.82 ± 2.29 % for M. aeruginosa at the fourth day. In contrast, the removal efficiencies of NH(4) (+)-N and PO(4) (3-)-P were increased to 87.45 ± 4.25 % and 83.73 ± 3.55 %, respectively, while the removal efficiency of M. aeruginosa decreased to 37.89 ± 8.41 % in the presence of the carbon source (C/N = 2:1). These results showed that the growth of M. aeruginosa was inhibited by C. utilis. Our finding sheds light on a novel potential approach for yeast to consume nutrients and control harmful algal during bloom events.