Towards Morphological Variability of Symbiotic Algae

Green hydra is the host to unicellular algae in its gastrodermal myoepithelial cells. It is known that different xenobiotics can damage this symbiotic relationship. The effects of sublethal doses of antibiotics on the hydra-alga symbiotic relationship are assessed using cTEM microscopy. Chloroplasts showed changes in thylakoid structures. Pronounced changes in mitochondria of both hydra and algae are noted. In some algae plastoglobules are visible and the number of ribosomes in cytoplasm of algae is changed. Results show that endosymbiotic algae represent a stronger partner with less pronounced damages compared to hydra host in the studied symbiotic model.