Daphnia magna and Gammarus pulex, novel promising agents for biomedical and agricultural applications

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 13690
• Main Authors: Khattab, Abdelrahman M., Abo-Taleb, Hamdy A., Abdelaziz, Amer M., El-Tabakh, Mohamed A. M., El-feky, Mohamed M. M., Abu-Elghait, Mohammed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 11-08-2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326; 631/601; 631/61; Animals; Antibacterial activity; Antibiotics; Antifungal activity; Aquaculture; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biological control; Crustaceans; Daphnia magna; Drainage water; Drug resistance; Fungi; Fungicides; Gammarus pulex; Germination; Gram-positive bacteria; Humanities and Social Sciences; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Plant diseases; Plant growth; Proteins; Salinity; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Zooplankton
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17790-z

Various studies have shown the importance of using different types of Zooplankton biomasses as an additional substance in the diet of fish. In addition, the drainage water of the fish cultures could be used in plant irrigation. In this study, biomasses of water flea
Daphnia magna and Gammarus pulex
collected and tested, for the first time, their effect against pathogenic microorganisms and on plant germination. The results showed significant antibacterial activity of
D. magna
and
G. pulex
against
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
bacteria, as well as antifungal activity against
Alternaria solani
and
Penicillium expansum
, which gives the possibility to be used as biocontrol against these bacteria and plant pathogenic fungi. Furthermore, both animals showed positive activity in the germination rate of
Vicia faba
seed, reaching 83.0 ± 3.5 and 86.0 ± 3.8%, respectively. In conclusion, the biomasses of
D. magna
and
G. pulex
are promising and effective agents for their use in the medical field against some pathogenic microbes and as stimulators of plant growth.