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Moreira C, Pimentel A, Vasconcelos V, Antunes A. Preliminary evidence on the presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins from culture enrichments followed by PCR analysis: new perspectives from Africa (Mali) and South Pacific (Fiji) countries. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:31731-31745. [PMID: 33608790 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are a group of microorganisms that can be found in a diverse range of biogeographical areas and produce potent and damaging cyanotoxins, which reveal importance for continuous studies and surveillance efforts. In this study, we analyzed worldwide two-month culture-enriched water samples collected from 12 distinct countries (Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Mali, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, USA, Vietnam) including two undisclosed areas (Fiji and Mali). We performed a PCR-based molecular multi-step scheme that consisted in the detection of the main cyanobacterial species, genera, and cyanotoxins biosynthesis genes. Results from this study indicate that Microcystis aeruginosa followed by Planktothrix agardhii were the most prevalent species of all the 12 countries analyzed. Cylindrospermospis raciborskii was detected in Costa Rica, while P. agardhii was detected in Fiji and South Africa. M. aeruginosa was detected in Fiji and Mali. Regarding the main cyanotoxins biosynthesis genes, a cyrC gene fragment (cylindrospermopsins) was amplified in the African continent (South Africa), while anaC (anatoxin-a) was detected in two distinct locations, Mali and Vietnam. Saxitoxins biosynthesis gene was also detected in Fiji and Vietnam. Microcystins biosynthesis gene (mcyA) was co-detected with anatoxin-a biosynthesis gene in Mali and with saxitoxins biosynthesis gene (sxtI) in Portugal. This study therefore constitutes a major contribution to the global biogeography of cyanobacteria and its cyanotoxins and recommends continuous vigilance of toxic cyanobacteria particularly in the more undisclosed areas of the world. The PCR analysis data obtained in our 2-month culture-enriched water samples supports molecular methods as a preliminary tool in the environmental surveillance of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in undisclosed locations, particularly since the several positive amplifications detected may indicate that though samples were collected under non-bloom conditions, if environmental conditions change in the ecosystem, there is a risk that bloom-forming species may arose along with their detected cyanotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Moreira
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Pimentel
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vitor Vasconcelos
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4050-208, Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
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Zuccarello P, Manganelli M, Oliveri Conti G, Copat C, Grasso A, Cristaldi A, De Angelis G, Testai E, Stefanelli M, Vichi S, Fiore M, Ferrante M. Water quality and human health: A simple monitoring model of toxic cyanobacteria growth in highly variable Mediterranean hot dry environments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 192:110291. [PMID: 33027628 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Due to population growth, urbanization and economic development, demand for freshwater in urban areas is increasing throughout Europe. At the same time, climate change, eutrophication and pollution are affecting the availability of water supplies. Sicily, a big island in southern Italy, suffers from an increasing drought and consequently water shortage. In the last decades, in Sicilian freshwater reservoirs several Microcystis aeruginosa and more recently Planktothrix rubescens blooms were reported. The aims of the study were: (1) identify and quantify the occurring species of cyanobacteria (CB), (2) identify which parameters, among those investigated in the waters, could favor their growth, (3) set up a model to identify reservoirs that need continuous monitoring due to the presences, current or prospected, of cyanobacterial blooms and of microcystins, relevant for environmental and, consequentially, for human health. Fifteen artificial reservoirs among the large set of Sicilian artificial water bodies were selected and examined for physicochemical and microbiological characterization. Additional parameters were assessed, including the presence, identification and count of the cyanobacterial occurring species, the measurement of microcystins (MCs) levels and the search for the genes responsible for the toxins production. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to relate environmental condition to cyanobacterial growth. Water quality was poor for very few parameters, suggesting common anthropic pressures, and PCA highlighted clusters of reservoirs vulnerable to hydrological conditions, related to semi-arid Mediterranean climate and to the use of the reservoir. In summer, bloom was detected in only one reservoir and different species was highlighted among the Cyanobacteria community. The only toxins detected were microcystins, although always well below the WHO reference value for drinking waters (1.0 μg/L). However, molecular analysis could not show the presence of potential cyanotoxins producers since a few numbers of cells among total could be sufficient to produce these low MCs levels but not enough high to be proved by the traditional molecular method applied. A simple environmental risk-based model, which accounts for the high variability of both cyanobacteria growth and cyanotoxins producing, is proposed as a cost-effective tool to evaluate the need for monitoring activities in reservoirs aimed to guarantee supplying waters safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Zuccarello
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy
| | - M Manganelli
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - G Oliveri Conti
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy.
| | - C Copat
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy
| | - A Grasso
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy
| | - A Cristaldi
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy
| | - G De Angelis
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - E Testai
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Stefanelli
- Research Certification and Control Division, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monteporzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - S Vichi
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - M Fiore
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy
| | - M Ferrante
- Environmental and Food Hygiene Laboratories, Department "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy
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Kadiri MO, Isagba S, Ogbebor JU, Omoruyi OA, Unusiotame-Owolagba TE, Lorenzi AS, Bittencourt-Oliveira MDC, Chia MA. The presence of microcystins in the coastal waters of Nigeria, from the Bights of Bonny and Benin, Gulf of Guinea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:35284-35293. [PMID: 32592053 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09740-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microcystins (MCs) are the most studied toxins of cyanobacteria in freshwater bodies worldwide. However, they are poorly documented in coastal waters in several parts of the world. In this study, we investigated the composition of cyanobacteria and the presence of microcystins (MCs) in several coastal aquatic ecosystems of Nigeria. Direct morphological analysis revealed that members of the genus Oscillatoria were dominant with five species, followed by Trichodesmium with two species in Nigerian coastal waters. Oso Ibanilo had the highest cyanobacterial biomass (998 × 103 cells/L), followed by Rivers Ocean (156 × 103 cells/L). Except for the Cross River Ocean, cyanobacteria were present in all the investigated aquatic ecosystems. Ten (10) out of twenty water bodies examined had detectable levels of MCs. Furthermore, genomic DNA analysis for the mcyE gene of microcystin synthetase (mcy) cluster showed identities higher than 86% (query coverage > 96%) with toxic strains of cyanobacteria in all the samples analyzed. Also, the sequences of samples matched those of uncultured cyanobacteria from recreational lakes in Southern Germany. Our findings indicate that the presence of toxic cyanobacteria in coastal waters of Nigeria is of public and environmental health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medina O Kadiri
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Solomon Isagba
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Jeffrey U Ogbebor
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | - Osasere A Omoruyi
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | | | - Adriana Sturion Lorenzi
- Laboratory of Cyanobacteria, Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cyanobacteria, Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Mathias Ahii Chia
- Laboratory of Cyanobacteria, Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
- Department of Botany, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
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Piccin-Santos V, Brandão MM, Bittencourt-Oliveira MDC. Phylogenetic study of Geitlerinema and Microcystis (Cyanobacteria) using PC-IGS and 16S-23S ITS as markers: investigation of horizontal gene transfer. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2014; 50:736-743. [PMID: 26988457 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Selection of genes that have not been horizontally transferred for prokaryote phylogenetic inferences is regarded as a challenging task. The markers internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal genes (16S-23S ITS) and phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS), based on the operons of ribosomal and phycocyanin genes respectively, are among the most used markers in cyanobacteria. The region of the ribosomal genes has been considered stable, whereas the phycocyanin operon may have undergone horizontal transfer. To investigate the occurrence of horizontal transfer of PC-IGS, phylogenetic trees of Geitlerinema and Microcystis strains were generated using PC-IGS and 16S-23S ITS and compared. Phylogenetic trees based on the two markers were mostly congruent for Geitlerinema and Microcystis, indicating a common evolutionary history among ribosomal and phycocyanin genes with no evidence for horizontal transfer of PC-IGS. Thus, PC-IGS is a suitable marker, along with 16S-23S ITS for phylogenetic studies of cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Piccin-Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13418-900, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, São Paulo, 13506-900, Brazil
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA - UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, 13081-970, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Mendes Brandão
- Department of Genetics, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Maria Do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13418-900, Brazil
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Bittencourt-Oliveira MDC, Piccin-Santos V, Moura AN, Aragão-Tavares NKC, Cordeiro-Araújo MK. Cyanobacteria, microcystins and cylindrospermopsin in public drinking supply reservoirs of Brazil. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2013; 86:297-310. [PMID: 24676169 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201302512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Brazil has a history of blooms and contamination of freshwater systems by cyanobacterial toxins. The monitoring relevance of toxins from cyanobacteria in reservoirs for public supply is notorious given its high toxicity to mammals, included humans beings. The most recurrent toxins in Brazilian water bodies are microcystins (MC). However, the recent record of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) in northeastern Brazil, Pernambuco state, alerts us to the possibility that this could be escalating. This study reports occurrence of MC and CYN, quantified with ELISA, in 10 reservoirs, devoted to public drinking supply in northeastern Brazil. The composition and quantification of the cyanobacteria community associated with these water bodies is also presented. From 23 samples investigated for the presence of MC, and CYN, 22 and 8 out were positive, respectively. Considering the similarity of the cyanobacteria communities found in reservoirs from Pernambuco, including toxin-producing species associated to MC and CYN, we suggest that geographic spreading can be favored by these factors. These issues emphasize the need for increased monitoring of MC and CYN in drinking supply reservoirs in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viviane Piccin-Santos
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil
| | - Ariadne N Moura
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Botanica, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Nísia K C Aragão-Tavares
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Botanica, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Micheline K Cordeiro-Araújo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil
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Hereman TC, Bittencourt-Oliveira MDC. Bioaccumulation of Microcystins in Lettuce. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2012; 48:1535-1537. [PMID: 27010003 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by water-borne crude extracts of the cyanobacterium microcystin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing was investigated. The aim of the study was to determine whether bioaccumulation of microcystins occurs in lettuce foliar tissue when sprayed with solutions containing microcystins at concentrations observed in aquatic systems (0.62 to 12.5 μg · L(-1) ). Microcystins were found in lettuce foliar tissues (8.31 to 177.8 μg per Kg of fresh weight) at all concentrations of crude extracts. Spraying with water containing microcystins and cyanobacteria may contaminate lettuce at levels higher than the daily intake of microcystins recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscoring the need to monitor such food exposure pathways by public authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Caroline Hereman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Maria do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
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Otten TG, Paerl HW. Phylogenetic inference of colony isolates comprising seasonal Microcystis blooms in Lake Taihu, China. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2011; 62:907-918. [PMID: 21667196 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-011-9884-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Blooms of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium, Microcystis spp., are an increasingly prevalent water quality problem and health hazard worldwide. China's third largest lake, Lake Taihu, has been experiencing progressively more severe Microcystis blooms over the past three decades. In 2009 and 2010, individual Microcystis colonies, consisting of four different morphospecies, were isolated and genotyped using a whole-cell multiplex PCR assay. The 16S-23S rDNA-ITS sequences were aligned based on Bayesian inference and indicated that one morphospecies was genetically unique (Microcystis wesenbergii) and three were indistinguishable (Microcystis aeruginosa, Microcystis flos-aquae, and Microcystis ichthyoblabe). Microcystin (mcyB) genes were detected intermittently in two of the morphospecies while the other two morphospecies lacked the mcyB gene in all samples. Water temperature was found to influence bloom formation and morphotype prevalence, and chlorophyll a and temperature were positively and significantly correlated with microcystin concentration. Cooler water temperatures promoted toxigenic strains of Microcystis. Wind appeared to influence the distribution of morphotypes across the lake, with M. aeruginosa and M. ichthyoblabe being more susceptible to wind stress than M. wesenbergii and M. flos-aquae. The results of this study indicated that the blooms were composed of a variety of Microcystis morphospecies, with more genotypes observed than can be attributed to individual morphotypes. We conclude that morphology is not a reliable indicator of toxigenicity in Lake Taihu, and caution should be exercised when the M. aeruginosa morphotype is present because it is capable of producing MC-LR, the most toxic microcystin isoform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G Otten
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3431 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC 28557, USA.
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