Bacteria–algae synergy in carbon sequestration: Molecular mechanisms, ecological dynamics, and biotechnological innovations

Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels require innovative strategies to increase carbon sequestration. Bacteria–algae interactions, as pivotal yet underexplored drivers of marine and freshwater carbon sinks, involve multiple mechanisms that amplify CO₂ fixation and long-term storage. This review systematically describes the synergistic effects of bacteria–algae consortia spanning both microalgae (e.g., Chlorella vulgaris and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) and macroalgae (e.g., Macrocystis and Laminaria) on carbon sequestration. These effects include (1) molecular-level regulation (e.g., signal transduction via N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), and horizontal gene transfer), (2) ecological facilitation of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon (RDOC) formation, and (3) biotechnological applications in wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. We highlight that microbial crosstalk increases algal photosynthesis by 20–40 % and contributes to 18.9 % of kelp-derived RDOC storage. Furthermore, engineered systems integrating algal–bacterial symbiosis achieve greater than 80 % nutrient removal and a 22–35 % increase in CO₂ fixation efficiency (compared with axenic algal systems), demonstrating their dual role in climate mitigation and a circular economy. This review is the first to integrate molecular mechanisms (e.g., quorum sensing), ecological carbon transformation processes (e.g., the formation of RDOC), and applications in synthetic biology (e.g., CRISPR-engineered consortia) into a unified framework. Moreover, the novel strategy “microbial interaction network optimization” for enhancing carbon sinks is proposed. However, scalability challenges persist, including light limitations in photobioreactors and the ecological risks of synthetic consortia. By bridging microbial ecology with synthetic biology, this work provides a roadmap for harnessing bacteria–algae synergy to achieve carbon neutrality.