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Chatziefthimiou AD, Metcalf JS, Glover WB, Powell JT, Banack SA, Cox PA, Ladjimi M, Sultan AA, Chemaitelly H, Richer RA. Cyanotoxin accumulation and growth patterns of biocrust communities under variable environmental conditions. Toxicon X 2024; 23:100199. [PMID: 38974839 PMCID: PMC11225906 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2024.100199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Biocrusts dominate the soil surface in deserts and are composed of diverse microbial communities that provide important ecosystem services. Cyanobacteria in biocrusts produce many secondary metabolites, including the neurotoxins BMAA, AEG, DAB, anatoxin-a(S) (guanitoxin), and the microcystin hepatotoxins, all known or suspected to cause disease or illness in humans and other animals. We examined cyanobacterial growth and prevalence of these toxins in biocrusts at millimeter-scales, under a desert-relevant illumination gradient. In contrast to previous work, we showed that hydration had an overall positive effect on growth and toxin accumulation, that nitrogen was not correlated with growth or toxin production, and that phosphorus enrichment negatively affected AEG and BMAA concentrations. Excess illumination positively correlated with AEG, and negatively correlated with all other toxins and growth. Basic pH negatively affected only the accumulation of BMAA. Anatoxin-a(S) (guanitoxin) was not correlated with any tested variables, while microcystins were not detected in any of the samples. Concerning toxin pools, AEG and BMAA were good predictors of the presence of one another. In a newly conceptualized scheme, we integrate aspects of biocrust growth and toxin pool accumulations with arid-relevant desertification drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James S. Metcalf
- Brain Chemistry Labs, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, WY, USA
- Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
| | | | - James T. Powell
- Brain Chemistry Labs, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, WY, USA
| | - Sandra A. Banack
- Brain Chemistry Labs, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, WY, USA
| | - Paul A. Cox
- Brain Chemistry Labs, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, WY, USA
| | - Moncef Ladjimi
- Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ali A. Sultan
- Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Education City, Doha, Qatar
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Lopicic S, Svirčev Z, Palanački Malešević T, Kopitović A, Ivanovska A, Meriluoto J. Environmental Neurotoxin β- N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) as a Widely Occurring Putative Pathogenic Factor in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2418. [PMID: 36557671 PMCID: PMC9781992 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present review we have discussed the occurrence of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its natural isomers, and the organisms and sample types in which the toxin(s) have been detected. Further, the review discusses general pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, and how modes of action of BMAA fit in those mechanisms. The biogeography of BMAA occurrence presented here contributes to the planning of epidemiological research based on the geographical distribution of BMAA and human exposure. Analysis of BMAA mechanisms in relation to pathogenic processes of neurodegeneration is used to critically assess the potential significance of the amino acid as well as to identify gaps in our understanding. Taken together, these two approaches provide the basis for the discussion on the potential role of BMAA as a secondary factor in neurodegenerative diseases, the rationale for further research and possible directions the research can take, which are outlined in the conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srdjan Lopicic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića Starijeg 8, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Svirčev
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Tamara Palanački Malešević
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar Kopitović
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Ivanovska
- Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jussi Meriluoto
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland
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Dulić T, Svirčev Z, Palanački Malešević T, Faassen EJ, Savela H, Hao Q, Meriluoto J. Assessment of Common Cyanotoxins in Cyanobacteria of Biological Loess Crusts. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14030215. [PMID: 35324712 PMCID: PMC8953721 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14030215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanotoxins are a diverse group of bioactive compounds produced by cyanobacteria that have adverse effects on human and animal health. While the phenomenon of cyanotoxin production in aquatic environments is well studied, research on cyanotoxins in terrestrial environments, where cyanobacteria abundantly occur in biocrusts, is still in its infancy. Here, we investigated the potential cyanotoxin production in cyanobacteria-dominated biological loess crusts (BLCs) from three different regions (China, Iran, and Serbia) and in cyanobacterial cultures isolated from the BLCs. The presence of cyanotoxins microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins, and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, while the presence of cyanotoxin-encoding genes (mcyE, cyrJ, sxtA, sxtG, sxtS, and anaC) was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. We could not detect any of the targeted cyanotoxins in the biocrusts or the cyanobacterial cultures, nor could we amplify any cyanotoxin-encoding genes in the cyanobacterial strains. The results are discussed in terms of the biological role of cyanotoxins, the application of cyanobacteria in land restoration programs, and the use of cyanotoxins as biosignatures of cyanobacterial populations in loess research. The article highlights the need to extend the field of research on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin production to terrestrial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Dulić
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland; (Z.S.); (J.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Zorica Svirčev
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland; (Z.S.); (J.M.)
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Tamara Palanački Malešević
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Elisabeth J. Faassen
- Wageningen Food Safety Research, Wageningen University and Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB Wageningen, The Netherlands;
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henna Savela
- Department of Life Technologies, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20014 Turku, Finland;
| | - Qingzhen Hao
- Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19, Beitucheng Western Road, Beijing 100029, China;
| | - Jussi Meriluoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland; (Z.S.); (J.M.)
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
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Cox PA. BMAA, Neurodegeneration, and Neuroprotection. Neurotox Res 2020; 39:1-5. [PMID: 33196951 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In this volume, studies springing from a BMAA symposium held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in April 2019 are presented. Although most studies of neurotoxicity consider the effects of BMAA as an isolated molecule, it is now known that environmental exposures can be to a combination of BMAA-related molecules, including enantiomers, isomers, other co-occurring cyanotoxins, and BMAA carbamates. Within the body, BMAA may exist in equilibrium with α- and β-carbamates formed in the presence of bicarbonate. BMAA and its isomers 2,4-DAB and AEG, accumulate over decades in biocrusts and persist at depths in soil profiles of the Gulf deserts. In Florida, releases of cyanobacterially ladened water from Lake Okeechobee can extend into coastal environments where diatoms and possibly dinoflagellates also produce BMAA and isomers in addition to brevetoxins. Along the African Lake Chad, neurotoxic risks from consumption of dried cyanobacterial cakes may, however, be outweighed by their amino acid addition to otherwise protein-deficient diets. Discrepancies in the detection and quantification of BMAA from different laboratories likely originate in the use of different analytical methods. C-18 columns, used to study derivatized BMAA, can efficiently separate BMAA from its isomers in validated methods, while validation is not possible for HILIC columns in the study of underivatized BMAA, since they do not adequately separate BMAA from its isomer BAMA. The presence of BMAA dimers, metal adducts, and carbamates may result in underestimation of BMAA by mass spectrometry. BMAA research led to the identification of the dietary amino acid L-serine as a neuroprotective molecule. In animal and clinical trials, L-serine appears to slow neurodegeneration, although the modes of action are still under study. Based on zebra fish sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents, investigators have found that L-serine reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) but does not protect auditory hybridoma cells from cisplatin. Another possible mode of action of L-serine, induction of autophagic-lysosomal enzymes, is also being explored. The hypothesis that cyanobacterial exposures in general, and chronic exposures to BMAA in particular, may prove to be risk factors for neurodegenerative illnesses has not been without critics. Emerging from the symposium, a multi-authored response to one such critical paper appears in this collection of articles. Instead of waiting until there is a conclusive proof of risk, the adoption of the "precautionary default principle," proposed by Ingvar Brandt and his colleagues in Sweden, is suggested. Avoidance of exposures to cyanobacterial blooms and other sources of BMAA is suggested, until further research indicates such precautions to be unnecessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Alan Cox
- Brain Chemistry Labs, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Box 3464, Jackson, WY, 83001, USA.
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