Multi-omics reveals coordinated intracellular–extracellular metabolic remodeling underlying lambda-cyhalothrin transformation and tolerance in Chlorella sp. XDA-R55

A highly tolerant Chlorella sp. achieved efficient lambda-cyhalothrin transformation. • Multi-omics revealed coordinated detoxification and metabolic remodeling. • Intracellular–extracellular remodeling drove adaptive LC responses. • XDA-R55 treatment reduced lambda-cyhalothrin-induced oxidative stress and toxicity. • Mechanisms underlying microalgal pesticide adaptation were elucidated. Lambda-cyhalothrin (LC), a widely used pyrethroid insecticide, poses persistent ecological risks due to its toxicity and environmental persistence. In this study, a microalga strain, Chlorella sp. XDA-R55, was investigated as a potential biological platform for LC-contaminated water remediation. XDA-R55 maintained active growth under 20 mg/L LC exposure and promoted 96.6% LC removal within 6 days without external carbon supplementation. Physiological analyses revealed that XDA-R55 alleviated LC-induced oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant defense systems and maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that XDA-R55 facilitates the detoxification and transformation of LC by upregulating genes associated with glutathione metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and ABC transporters. Several putative transformation products, such as 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, were identified and exhibited transient accumulation followed by decline. Ecological safety assessments demonstrated that water treated with XDA-R55 significantly alleviated oxidative stress, metabolic disturbances, and immune suppression in zebrafish, with most biomarkers recovering to levels comparable to those in the control group. Moreover, as a photoautotrophic organism, XDA-R55 facilitated LC removal and transformation without external carbon supplementation, providing a sustainable and environmentally compatible strategy for pesticide-contaminated water remediation. These findings provide mechanistic insights into microalgal adaptation and LC transformation under pesticide stress, and highlight the potential of Chlorella sp. XDA-R55 for mitigating the ecological risks associated with LC-contaminated water. Download: Download high-res image (189KB) Download: Download full-size image