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Jablonska M, Eleršek T, Kogovšek P, Skok S, Oarga-Mulec A, Mulec J. Molecular Screening for Cyanobacteria and Their Cyanotoxin Potential in Diverse Habitats. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:333. [PMID: 39195743 PMCID: PMC11360522 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16080333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are adaptable and dominant organisms that exist in many harsh and extreme environments due to their great ecological tolerance. They produce various secondary metabolites, including cyanotoxins. While cyanobacteria are well studied in surface waters and some aerial habitats, numerous other habitats and niches remain underexplored. We collected 61 samples of: (i) biofilms from springs, (ii) aerial microbial mats from buildings and subaerial mats from caves, and (iii) water from borehole wells, caves, alkaline, saline, sulphidic, thermal, and iron springs, rivers, seas, and melted cave ice from five countries (Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia). We used (q)PCR to detect cyanobacteria (phycocyanin intergenic spacer-PC-IGS and cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene) and cyanotoxin genes (microcystins-mcyE, saxitoxins-sxtA, cylindrospermopsins-cyrJ), as well as amplicon sequencing and morphological observations for taxonomic identification. Cyanobacteria were detected in samples from caves, a saline spring, and an alkaline spring. While mcyE or sxtA genes were not observed in any sample, cyrJ results showed the presence of a potential cylindrospermopsin producer in a biofilm from a sulphidic spring in Slovenia. This study contributes to our understanding of cyanobacteria occurrence in diverse habitats, including rare and extreme ones, and provides relevant methodological considerations for future research in such environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maša Jablonska
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Eleršek
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Polona Kogovšek
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Sara Skok
- Karst Research Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia;
| | - Andreea Oarga-Mulec
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Nova Gorica, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia;
| | - Janez Mulec
- Karst Research Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 6230 Postojna, Slovenia;
- UNESCO Chair on Karst Education, University of Nova Gorica, 5271 Vipava, Slovenia
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2
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Manjitha KGL, Sewwandi BGN. Cyanotoxins availability and detection methods in wastewater treatment plants: A review. J Microbiol Methods 2024; 217-218:106886. [PMID: 38159650 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2023.106886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Research interest in ecological significance, toxicity, and potential applications of cyanobacterial metabolites has grown as a result of the current extensive cyanobacterial blooms in water bodies. Under favourable conditions, specific cyanobacterial species release cyanotoxins, hepatotoxins, dermatoxins, neurotoxins, and cytotoxins, creating a heightened threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) offer one of the best culture media for cyanobacterial development and synthesis of cyanotoxins by providing optimum environmental conditions, including temperature, light intensity, lengthy water residence time, and nutrient-rich habitat. To discover the intricate relationships between cyanobacterial populations and other living organisms, it is important to comprehend the cyanobacterial communities in the ecology of WWTPs. Monitoring strategies of these cyanotoxins typically involved combined assessments of biological, biochemical, and physicochemical methodologies. Microscopic observations and physicochemical factors analysis cannot be carried out for toxicity potential analysis of blooms. Due to their high sensitivity, molecular-based approaches allow for the early detection of toxic cyanobacteria, while biological analysis is carried out by using water bloom material and cell extracts to screen cyanotoxins build up in organisms. As each approach has benefits and drawbacks, the development of an integrated multi-method laboratory system is essential to obtain trustworthy results and accurate detection of cyanotoxin levels in WWTPs allowing us to take necessary proactive and preventative approaches for effective wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- K G L Manjitha
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka
| | - B G N Sewwandi
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka.
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3
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Barney RE, Huang G, Gallagher TL, Tischbein M, DeWitt J, Martindale R, LaRochelle EMP, Tsongalis GJ, Stommel EW. Validation of a Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) Assay to Detect Cyanobacterial 16S rDNA in Human Lung Tissue. TOXICS 2023; 11:531. [PMID: 37368631 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11060531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria produce a variety of secondary metabolites, including toxins that may contribute to the development of disease. Previous work was able to detect the presence of a cyanobacterial marker in human nasal and broncoalveolar lavage samples; however, it was not able to determine the quantification of the marker. To further research the relationship between cyanobacteria and human health, we validated a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay to simultaneously detect the cyanobacterial 16S marker and a human housekeeping gene in human lung tissue samples. The ability to detect cyanobacteria in human samples will allow further research into the role cyanobacteria plays in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael E Barney
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Guohong Huang
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Torrey L Gallagher
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Maeve Tischbein
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - John DeWitt
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Rachel Martindale
- Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Ethan M P LaRochelle
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Gregory J Tsongalis
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Elijah W Stommel
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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4
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Redden DJ, Stanhope T, Anderson LE, Campbell J, Krkošek WH, Gagnon GA. An innovative passive sampling approach for the detection of cyanobacterial gene targets in freshwater sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 892:164593. [PMID: 37268123 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Cyanotoxins pose significant human health risks, but traditional monitoring approaches can be expensive, time consuming, and require analytical equipment or expertise that may not be readily available. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is becoming an increasingly common monitoring strategy as detection of the genes responsible for cyanotoxin synthesis can be used as an early warning signal. Here we tested passive sampling of cyanobacterial DNA as an alternative to grab sampling in a freshwater drinking supply lake with a known history of microcystin-LR. DNA extracted from grab and passive samples was analyzed via a multiplex qPCR assay that included gene targets for four common cyanotoxins. Passive samples captured similar trends in total cyanobacteria and the mcyE/ndaF gene responsible for microcystin production when compared to traditional grab samples. Passive samples also detected genes associated with the production of cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin that were not detected in grab samples. This sampling approach proved a viable alternative to grab sampling when used as an early warning monitoring tool. In addition to the logistical benefits of passive sampling, the detection of gene targets not detected by grab samples indicates that passive sampling may allow for a more complete profile of potential cyanotoxin risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Redden
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Toni Stanhope
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Lindsay E Anderson
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jessica Campbell
- Halifax Water, 450 Cowie Hill Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3P 2V3
| | - Wendy H Krkošek
- Halifax Water, 450 Cowie Hill Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3P 2V3
| | - Graham A Gagnon
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Yancey CE, Mathiesen O, Dick GJ. Transcriptionally active nitrogen fixation and biosynthesis of diverse secondary metabolites by Dolichospermum and Aphanizomenon-like Cyanobacteria in western Lake Erie Microcystis blooms. HARMFUL ALGAE 2023; 124:102408. [PMID: 37164563 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2023.102408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) in the western basin of Lake Erie are dominated by microcystin producing Microcystis spp., but other cyanobacterial taxa that coexist in these communities may play important roles in production of toxins and shaping bloom dynamics and community function. In this study, we used metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data from the 2014 western Lake Erie cyanoHAB to explore the genetic diversity and biosynthetic potential of cyanobacteria belonging to the Anabaena, Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon (ADA) clade. We reconstructed two near-complete metagenome-assembled genomes from two distinct ADA clade species, each containing biosynthetic gene clusters that encode novel and known secondary metabolites, including those with toxic and/or known taste and odor properties, that were transcriptionally active. However, neither ADA metagenome-assembled genome contained genes encoding guanitoxins, anatoxins, or saxitoxins, which are known to be produced by ADA. The ADA cyanobacteria accounted for most of the metagenomic and metatranscriptomic reads from nitrogen fixation genes, suggesting they were the dominant N-fixers at the times and stations sampled. Despite their relatively low abundance, our results highlight the possibility that ADA taxa could influence the water quality and ecology of Microcystis blooms, although the extent of these impacts remains to be quantified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen E Yancey
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA
| | - Olivia Mathiesen
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA
| | - Gregory J Dick
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA; Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), University of Michigan, 4840 South State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA.
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6
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Seo Y, Yoon Y, Lee M, Jang M, Kim TH, Kim Y, Yoo HY, Min J, Lee T. Rapid electrochemical biosensor composed of DNA probe/iridium nanoparticle bilayer for Aphanizomenon flos-aquae detection in fresh water. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 225:113218. [PMID: 36871331 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Toxic cyanobacteria pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and require adequate detection and control systems. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is a harmful cyanobacterium that produces the toxicant saxitoxin. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the presence of A. flos-aquae in lakes and rivers. We proposed a rapid electrochemical biosensor composed of DNA primer/iridium nanoparticles (IrNP) bilyer for the detection of A. flos-aquae in freshwater. The extracted A. flos-aquae gene (rbcL-rbcX) is used as a target, and it was fixed to the electrode using a 5'-thiolated DNA primer (capture probe). Then, Avidin@IrNPs complex for amplification of electrical signals was bound to the target through a 3'-biotinylated DNA primer (detection probe). To rapidly detect the target, an alternating current electrothermal flow technique was introduced in the detection step, which could reduce the detection time to within 20 min. To confirm the biosensor fabrication, atomic force microscopy was used to investigate the surface morphology. To evaluate the biosensor performance, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used. The target gene was detected at a concentration of 9.99 pg/mL in tap water, and the detection range was 0.1 ng/mL to 103 ng/mL with high selectivity. Based on the combined system, we employed A. flos-aquae in tap water. This rapid cyanobacteria detection system is a powerful tool for CyanoHABs in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoseph Seo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejin Yoon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoungro Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Moonbong Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hyung Kim
- School of Integrative Engineering Chung-Ang University, Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06910, Republic of Korea
| | - Younghun Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Hah Young Yoo
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, 20, Hongjimun 2-Gil, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea.
| | - Junhong Min
- School of Integrative Engineering Chung-Ang University, Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06910, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taek Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Gemler BT, Mukherjee C, Howland CA, Huk D, Shank Z, Harbo LJ, Tabbaa OP, Bartling CM. Function-based classification of hazardous biological sequences: Demonstration of a new paradigm for biohazard assessments. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:979497. [PMID: 36277394 PMCID: PMC9585941 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.979497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioengineering applies analytical and engineering principles to identify functional biological building blocks for biotechnology applications. While these building blocks are leveraged to improve the human condition, the lack of simplistic, machine-readable definition of biohazards at the function level is creating a gap for biosafety practices. More specifically, traditional safety practices focus on the biohazards of known pathogens at the organism-level and may not accurately consider novel biodesigns with engineered functionalities at the genetic component-level. This gap is motivating the need for a paradigm shift from organism-centric procedures to function-centric biohazard identification and classification practices. To address this challenge, we present a novel methodology for classifying biohazards at the individual sequence level, which we then compiled to distinguish the biohazardous property of pathogenicity at the whole genome level. Our methodology is rooted in compilation of hazardous functions, defined as a set of sequences and associated metadata that describe coarse-level functions associated with pathogens (e.g., adherence, immune subversion). We demonstrate that the resulting database can be used to develop hazardous “fingerprints” based on the functional metadata categories. We verified that these hazardous functions are found at higher levels in pathogens compared to non-pathogens, and hierarchical clustering of the fingerprints can distinguish between these two groups. The methodology presented here defines the hazardous functions associated with bioengineering functional building blocks at the sequence level, which provide a foundational framework for classifying biological hazards at the organism level, thus leading to the improvement and standardization of current biosecurity and biosafety practices.
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Flanzenbaum JM, Jankowiak JG, Goleski JA, Gorney RM, Gobler CJ. Nitrogen Limitation of Intense and Toxic Cyanobacteria Blooms in Lakes within Two of the Most Visited Parks in the USA: The Lake in Central Park and Prospect Park Lake. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14100684. [PMID: 36287953 PMCID: PMC9612084 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The Lake in Central Park (LCP) and Prospect Park Lake (PPL) in New York City (NYC), USA, are lakes within two of the most visited parks in the USA. Five years of nearshore sampling of these systems revealed extremely elevated levels of cyanobacteria and the toxin, microcystin, with microcystin levels averaging 920 µg L−1 and chlorophyll a from cyanobacterial (cyano-chla) populations averaging 1.0 × 105 µg cyano-chla L−1. Both lakes displayed elevated levels of orthophosphate (DIP) relative to dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) during summer months when DIN:DIP ratios were < 1. Nutrient addition and dilution experiments revealed that N consistently limited cyanobacterial populations but that green algae were rarely nutrient limited. Experimental additions of public drinking water that is rich in P and, to a lesser extent N, to lake water significantly enhanced cyanobacterial growth rates in experiments during which N additions also yielded growth enhancement. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the extreme microcystin levels during blooms in these highly trafficked lakes represent a potential human and animal health threat and that supplementation of these artificial lakes with public drinking water to maintain water levels during summer may promote the intensity and N limitation of blooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. Flanzenbaum
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jennifer G. Jankowiak
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Goleski
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York, NY 11794, USA
| | - Rebecca M. Gorney
- Division of Water, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY 12233-0001, USA
| | - Christopher J. Gobler
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, New York, NY 11794, USA
- Correspondence:
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Duan X, Zhang C, Struewing I, Li X, Allen J, Lu J. Cyanotoxin-encoding genes as powerful predictors of cyanotoxin production during harmful cyanobacterial blooms in an inland freshwater lake: Evaluating a novel early-warning system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 830:154568. [PMID: 35302035 PMCID: PMC9698223 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs) potentially produce excessive cyanotoxins, mainly microcystins (MCs), significantly threatening aquatic ecosystems and public health. Accurately predicting HCBs is thus essential to developing effective HCB mitigation and prevention strategies. We previously developed a novel early-warning system that uses cyanotoxin-encoding genes to predict cyanotoxin production in Harsha Lake, Ohio, USA, in 2015. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the early-warning system in forecasting the 2016 HCB in the same lake. We also examined potential HCB drivers and cyanobacterial community composition. Our results revealed that the cyanobacterial community was stable at the phylum level but changed dynamically at the genus level over time. Microcystis and Planktothrix were the major MC-producing genera that thrived in June and July and produced high concentrations of MCs (peak level 10.22 μg·L-1). The abundances of the MC-encoding gene cluster mcy and its transcript levels significantly correlated with total MC concentrations (before the MC concentrations peaked) and accurately predicted MC production as revealed by logistic equations. When the Microcystis-specific gene mcyG reached approximately 1.5 × 103 copies·mL-1 or when its transcript level reached approximately 2.4 copies·mL-1, total MC level exceeded 0.3 μg L-1 (a health advisory limit) approximately one week later (weekly sampling scheme). This study suggested that cyanotoxin-encoding genes are promising predictors of MC production in inland freshwater lakes, such as Harsha Lake. The evaluated early-warning system can be a useful tool to assist lake managers in predicting, mitigating, and/or preventing HCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodi Duan
- Pegasus Technical Services, Inc., Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Chiqian Zhang
- Pegasus Technical Services, Inc., Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Ian Struewing
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Xiang Li
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Joel Allen
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Jingrang Lu
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
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Spatio-Temporal Monitoring of Benthic Anatoxin-a-Producing Tychonema sp. in the River Lech, Germany. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14050357. [PMID: 35622603 PMCID: PMC9144322 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Incidents with toxic benthic cyanobacteria blooms have been increasing recently. In 2019, several dogs were poisoned in the river Lech (Germany) by the benthic anatoxin-a-producing genus Tychonema. To characterize spatial and temporal distribution of potentially toxic Tychonema in this river, a systematic monitoring was carried out in 2020, focusing on the occurrence of the genus, its toxin production and habitat requirements. Tychonema and cyanobacterial community composition in benthic mats and pelagic samples were identified using a combined approach of microscopy and DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In addition, anatoxin-a concentrations of selected samples were measured using the ELISA method. The habitat was characterized to assess the ecological requirements and growth conditions of Tychonema. Tychonema mats and anatoxin-a were detected at several sampling sites throughout the entire study period. Toxin concentrations increased with the progression of the vegetation period and with flow direction, reaching values between 0 and 220.5 µg/L. Community composition differed among pelagic and benthic samples, with life zone and substrate condition being the most important factors. The results of this study highlight the importance of monitoring and understanding the factors determining occurrence and toxin production of both pelagic and benthic cyanobacteria due to their relevance for the health of humans and aquatic ecosystems.
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11
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Tito JCR, Luna LMG, Noppe WN, Hubert IA. First Report on Microcystin-LR Occurrence in Water Reservoirs of Eastern Cuba, and Environmental Trigger Factors. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:209. [PMID: 35324706 PMCID: PMC8952431 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14030209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The factors related to cyanotoxin occurrence and its social impact, with comprehension and risk perception being the most important issues, are not yet completely understood in the Cuban context. The objectives of this research were to determine the risk extension and microcystin-LR levels, and to identify the environmental factors that trigger the toxic cyanobacteria growth and microcystin-LR occurrence in 24 water reservoirs in eastern Cuba. Samplings were performed in the early morning hours, with in situ determination and physicochemical analysis carried out in the laboratory. Microcystin-LR were determined in water and within the cells (intracellular toxins) using UPLC-MS analysis after solid phase extraction. The reservoirs studied were found to be affected by eutrophication, with high levels of TN:TP ratio and phytoplankton cell concentrations, high water temperatures and low transparency, which cause collateral effect such as cyanobacterial bloom and microcystin-LR occurrence. In Hatillo, Chalóns, Parada, Mícara, Baraguá, Cautillo, La Yaya, Guisa and Jaibo reservoirs, concentrations of MC-LR higher than the WHO limits for drinking water (1 µg·L-1), were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liliana Maria Gomez Luna
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Agronomy, University of Oriente, Santiago de Cuba 90400, Cuba;
- National Centre of Applied Electromagnetism, University of Oriente, Santiago de Cuba 90400, Cuba
| | - Wim Noppe Noppe
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology, KU Leuven Kulak, E. Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium;
| | - Inaudis Alvarez Hubert
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular y Biotecnología Ambiental, Departamento de Química, Universidad Técnica Federico Santamaria, Valparaiso 2390123, Chile;
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12
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Li H, Gu X, Chen H, Mao Z, Shen R, Zeng Q, Ge Y. Co-occurrence of multiple cyanotoxins and taste-and-odor compounds in the large eutrophic Lake Taihu, China: Dynamics, driving factors, and challenges for risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 294:118594. [PMID: 34848287 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial blooms producing toxic metabolites occur frequently in freshwater, yet the environmental behaviors of complex cyanobacterial metabolites remain largely unknown. In this study, the seasonal and spatial variations of several classes of cyanotoxins (microcystins, cylindrospermopsins, saxitoxins) and taste-and-odor (T&O) compounds (β-cyclocitral, β-ionone, geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol) in Lake Taihu were simultaneously investigated for the first time. The total cyanotoxins were dominated by microcystins with concentrations highest in November (mean 2209 ng/L) and lowest in February (mean 48.7 ng/L). Cylindrospermopsins were abundant in May with the highest content of 622.8 ng/L. Saxitoxins only occurred in May (mean 19.2 ng/L) and November (mean 198.5 ng/L). Extracellular T&O compounds were most concentrated in August, the highest being extracellular β-cyclocitral (mean 240.6 ng/L) followed by 2-methylisoborneol (mean 146.6 ng/L). Environment variables play conflicting roles in modulating the dynamics of different groups of cyanotoxins and T&O compounds. Total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll-a and cyanobacteria density were important factors affecting the variation of total microcystins, β-cyclocitral and β-ionone concentrations. In contrast, total cylindrospermopsins, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin concentrations were significantly influenced by water temperature and TP. There was a significant and linear relationship between microcystins and β-cyclocitral/β-ionone, while cylindrospermopsins were positively correlated with 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin. The perceptible odors may be good indicators for the existence of cyanotoxins. Hazard quotients revealed that potential human health risks from microcystins were high in August and November. Meanwhile, the risks from cylindrospermopsins were at moderate levels. Cylindrospermopsins and saxitoxins were first identified in this lake, suggesting that diverse cyanotoxins might co-occur more commonly than previously thought. Hence, the risks from other cyanotoxins beyond microcystins shouldn't be ignored. This study also highlights that the necessity for further assessing the combination effects of these complex metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaohong Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Huihui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhigang Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Ruijie Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Qingfei Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - You Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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13
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Picard M, Wood SA, Pochon X, Vandergoes MJ, Reyes L, Howarth JD, Hawes I, Puddick J. Molecular and Pigment Analyses Provide Comparative Results When Reconstructing Historic Cyanobacterial Abundances from Lake Sediment Cores. Microorganisms 2022; 10:279. [PMID: 35208733 PMCID: PMC8876145 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the historical onset of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater bodies can help identify their potential drivers. Lake sediments are historical archives, containing information on what has occurred in and around lakes over time. Paleolimnology explores these records using a variety of techniques, but choosing the most appropriate method can be challenging. We compared results obtained from a droplet digital PCR assay targeting a cyanobacterial-specific region of the 16S rRNA gene in sedimentary DNA and cyanobacterial pigments (canthaxanthin, echinenone, myxoxanthophyll and zeaxanthin) analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography in four sediment cores. There were strong positive relationships between the 16S rRNA gene copy concentrations and individual pigment concentrations, but relationships differed among lakes and sediment core depths within lakes. The relationships were more consistent when all pigments were summed, which we attribute to different cyanobacteria species, in different lakes, at different times producing different suites of pigments. Each method had benefits and limitations, which should be taken into consideration during method selection and when interpreting paleolimnological data. We recommend this biphasic approach when making inferences about changes in the entire cyanobacterial community because they yielded complementary information. Our results support the view that molecular methods can yield results similar to traditional paleolimnological proxies when caveats are adequately addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maïlys Picard
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; (S.A.W.); (X.P.); (J.P.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand;
| | - Susanna A. Wood
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; (S.A.W.); (X.P.); (J.P.)
| | - Xavier Pochon
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; (S.A.W.); (X.P.); (J.P.)
- Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 349, Auckland 0941, New Zealand
| | - Marcus J. Vandergoes
- GNS Science, 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5011, New Zealand; (M.J.V.); (L.R.)
| | - Lizette Reyes
- GNS Science, 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5011, New Zealand; (M.J.V.); (L.R.)
| | - Jamie D. Howarth
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand;
| | - Ian Hawes
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand;
| | - Jonathan Puddick
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; (S.A.W.); (X.P.); (J.P.)
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14
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Madany P, Xia C, Bhattacharjee L, Khan N, Li R, Liu J. Antibacterial activity of γFe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 nanoparticles on toxic cyanobacteria from a lake in Southern Illinois. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2021; 93:2807-2818. [PMID: 34520086 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Frequent outbreaks of harmful algal blooms (HABs) have brought adverse impacts on human health, economic viability, and recreational activities in many communities in the United States. Cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) blooms are the most common type of HABs in surface water. Current bactericides for controlling the blooms are disadvantageous due to the recycling difficulty. In this study, an innovative magnetic nanomaterial-γFe2 O3 /TiO2 nanoparticle-was used to inactivate toxic cyanobacteria species found in a lake in Southern Illinois that frequently experienced HABs. Cyanotoxin genes of mcy, nda, cyr, and sxt were used for targeting microcystin-, nodularin-, cylindrospermopsin-, and saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria, respectively, by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. It was found that the concentration of chlorophyll a presents a strong correlation (R2 = 0.6024) with the gene copy obtained from 16S rRNA targeted for all cyanobacteria, but not with that from individual toxigenic cyanobacteria. The inactivation efficiencies of the nanomaterials under visible light were as high as 5-log and 1-log for cyanobacteria species containing mcyE/ndaF and sxtA genes, respectively, an improvement over the treatment under darkness. These nanomaterials can be recycled by their magnetic properties for reuse. Communities susceptible to HAB outbreaks are expected to benefit from the developed method for mitigating the blooms. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Lab-made γFe2 O3 /TiO2 nanoparticles can be used to inactivate microcystin/nodularin- and saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria species. qPCR method can be used for targeting toxic cyanobacteria; Chl a cannot be used as a standalone indicator for HABs. Better inactivation efficiency under visible light indicated possible application of the technology under sunlight for HAB mitigation from surface water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peerzada Madany
- School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Chunjie Xia
- School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Linkon Bhattacharjee
- School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Nafeesa Khan
- School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Ruopu Li
- School of Earth Systems and Sustainability, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
- Materials Technology Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
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15
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Tian H, Jin J, Chen B, Lefebvre DD, Lougheed SC, Wang Y. Depth-Dependent Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Overwintering Pelagic Microcystis in a Temperate Water Body. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081718. [PMID: 34442797 PMCID: PMC8399979 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081718] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria in the genus Microcystis are dominant components of many harmful algal blooms worldwide. Their pelagic–benthic life cycle helps them survive periods of adverse conditions and contributes greatly to their ecological success. Many studies on Microcystis overwintering have focused on benthic colonies and suggest that sediment serves as the major inoculum for subsequent summer blooms. However, the contemporaneous overwintering pelagic population may be important as well but is understudied. In this study, we investigated near-surface and near-bottom pelagic population dynamics of both microcystin-producing Microcystis and total Microcystis over six weeks in winter at Dog Lake (South Frontenac, ON, Canada). We quantified relative Microcystis concentrations using real-time PCR. Our results showed that the spatiotemporal distribution of overwintering pelagic Microcystis was depth dependent. The abundance of near-bottom pelagic Microcystis declined with increased depth with no influence of depth on near-surface Microcystis abundance. In the shallow region of the lake (<10 m), most pelagic Microcystis was found near the lake bottom (>90%). However, the proportion of near-surface Microcystis rose sharply to over 60% as the depth increased to approximately 18 m. The depth-dependent distribution pattern was found to be similar in both microcystin-producing Microcystis and total Microcystis. Our results suggest the top of the water column may be a more significant contributor of Microcystis recruitment inoculum than previously thought and merits more attention in early CHAB characterization and remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haolun Tian
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Junjie Jin
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Bojian Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
| | - Daniel D. Lefebvre
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Stephen C. Lougheed
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
| | - Yuxiang Wang
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
- Correspondence:
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16
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Gummaa NR, Dwaish AS, Hamzah IH. Molecular detection of some toxogenic cyanobacteria in Tigris River in Baghdad-Iraq. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:5393-5397. [PMID: 34283333 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06538-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria and their pollution are being increasingly commonly reported worldwide that cause a serious hazard to environmental and human health. Cyanotoxin was the most algal toxin reported to be produced by several orders of cyanobacteria. This study aimed to provide a technique to detect cylindrosprmopsin and saxitoxin biosynthesis genes in the river. In November, December 2019, and January 2020. Cyanobacteria were isolated from freshwater of Tigris River and identified by compound microscope also conventional PCR. Five isolates of cyanobacteria that successfully amplified a gene fragment from the phycocyanin were found in all cyanobacteria (Microcystis flosaquae, Microcystis sp, anabaena circinalis, nostoc commune and westiellopsis prolifica) and all isolates successfully amplified aoaC gene to detecting the cylidrospemopsin and the saxitoxin. Our results concluded that PCR assay can be used for early detection of cylidrospemopsin and the saxitoxin producing cyanobacteria in river water that useful to stations responsible for the preparation of drinking water to public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Redha Gummaa
- Biology Department, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Sahi Dwaish
- Biology Department, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Israa Hussein Hamzah
- Biology Department, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
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17
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Influence of Environmental Factors on Occurrence of Cyanobacteria and Abundance of Saxitoxin-Producing Cyanobacteria in a Subtropical Drinking Water Reservoir in Brazil. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13121716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Blooms of cyanobacteria are frequent in Brazilian water reservoirs used for drinking water. The warning for the presence of potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria is typically based on time-consuming microscopy, rather than specific molecular detection of toxic genes in cyanobacteria. In this study, we developed a quantitative PCR assay for the detection of cyanobacteria producing the neurotoxin saxitoxin (STX). The assay targets the sxtA gene in the sxt gene cluster. Potential and dominant STX-producers in the Itupararanga reservoir were the genera Raphidiopsis, Aphanizomenon and Geitlerinema. Numbers of the sxtA gene varied from 6.76 × 103 to 7.33 × 105 cells mL−1 and correlated positively with SXT concentrations in the water. Concentrations of STX and the sxtA gene also correlated positively with TN:TP ratio and pH, but correlated negatively with inorganic nutrients and turbidity, confirming that regulation of the SXT production was impacted by environmental variables. In contrast, the occurrence of another cyanotoxin, microcystin, did not correlate with any environmental variables. The developed qPCR assay was found to be a rapid and robust approach for the specific quantification of potential STX-producing cyanobacteria and should be considered in future investigations on toxic cyanobacteria to provide an early warning of potential toxin episodes.
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18
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Jacobs-Palmer E, Gallego R, Cribari K, Keller AG, Kelly RP. Environmental DNA Metabarcoding for Simultaneous Monitoring and Ecological Assessment of Many Harmful Algae. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.612107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmful algae can have profound economic, environmental, and social consequences. As the timing, frequency, and severity of harmful algal blooms (HABs) change alongside global climate, efficient tools to monitor and understand the current ecological context of these taxa are increasingly important. Here we employ environmental DNA metabarcoding to identify patterns in a wide variety of potentially harmful algae and associated ecological communities in the Hood Canal of Puget Sound in Washington State, USA. Tracking trends of occurrence in a series of water samples over a period of 19 months, we find algal sequences from genera with harmful members in a majority of samples, suggesting that these groups are routinely present in local waters. We report patterns in variants of the economically important genus Pseudo-nitzschia (of which some members produce domoic acid; family Bacillariaceae), as well as multiple potentially harmful algal taxa previously unknown or poorly documented in the region, including a cold-water variant from the genus Alexandrium (of which some members produce saxitoxin; family Gonyaulacaceae), two variants from the genus Karlodinium (of which some members produce karlotoxins; family Kareniaceae), and one variant from the parasitic genus Hematodinium (family Syndiniaceae). We then use data on environmental variables and the biological community surrounding each algal taxon to illustrate the ecological context in which they are commonly found. Environmental DNA metabarcoding thus simultaneously (1) alerts us to potential new or cryptic occurrences of algae from harmful genera, (2) expands our knowledge of the co-occurring conditions and species associated with the growth of these organisms in changing marine environments, and (3) suggests a pathway for multispecies monitoring and management moving forward.
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19
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Sagova-Mareckova M, Boenigk J, Bouchez A, Cermakova K, Chonova T, Cordier T, Eisendle U, Elersek T, Fazi S, Fleituch T, Frühe L, Gajdosova M, Graupner N, Haegerbaeumer A, Kelly AM, Kopecky J, Leese F, Nõges P, Orlic S, Panksep K, Pawlowski J, Petrusek A, Piggott JJ, Rusch JC, Salis R, Schenk J, Simek K, Stovicek A, Strand DA, Vasquez MI, Vrålstad T, Zlatkovic S, Zupancic M, Stoeck T. Expanding ecological assessment by integrating microorganisms into routine freshwater biomonitoring. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 191:116767. [PMID: 33418487 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioindication has become an indispensable part of water quality monitoring in most countries of the world, with the presence and abundance of bioindicator taxa, mostly multicellular eukaryotes, used for biotic indices. In contrast, microbes (bacteria, archaea and protists) are seldom used as bioindicators in routine assessments, although they have been recognized for their importance in environmental processes. Recently, the use of molecular methods has revealed unexpected diversity within known functional groups and novel metabolic pathways that are particularly important in energy and nutrient cycling. In various habitats, microbial communities respond to eutrophication, metals, and natural or anthropogenic organic pollutants through changes in diversity and function. In this review, we evaluated the common trends in these changes, documenting that they have value as bioindicators and can be used not only for monitoring but also for improving our understanding of the major processes in lotic and lentic environments. Current knowledge provides a solid foundation for exploiting microbial taxa, community structures and diversity, as well as functional genes, in novel monitoring programs. These microbial community measures can also be combined into biotic indices, improving the resolution of individual bioindicators. Here, we assess particular molecular approaches complemented by advanced bioinformatic analysis, as these are the most promising with respect to detailed bioindication value. We conclude that microbial community dynamics are a missing link important for our understanding of rapid changes in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, and should be addressed in the future environmental monitoring of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sagova-Mareckova
- Dept. of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 16500, Czechia.
| | - J Boenigk
- Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - A Bouchez
- UMR CARRTEL, INRAE, UMR Carrtel, 75 av. de Corzent, FR-74203 Thonon les Bains cedex, France; University Savoie Mont-Blanc, UMR CARRTEL, FR-73370 Le Bourget du Lac, France
| | - K Cermakova
- ID-Gene Ecodiagnostics, Campus Biotech Innovation Park, 15, av. Sécheron, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T Chonova
- UMR CARRTEL, INRAE, UMR Carrtel, 75 av. de Corzent, FR-74203 Thonon les Bains cedex, France; University Savoie Mont-Blanc, UMR CARRTEL, FR-73370 Le Bourget du Lac, France
| | - T Cordier
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Science III, 4 Boulevard d'Yvoy, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - U Eisendle
- University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - T Elersek
- National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Fazi
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria km 29,300 - C.P. 10, 00015 Monterotondo St., Rome, Italy
| | - T Fleituch
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
| | - L Frühe
- Ecology Group, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - M Gajdosova
- Dept. of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czechia
| | - N Graupner
- Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - A Haegerbaeumer
- Dept. of Animal Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - A-M Kelly
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - J Kopecky
- Epidemiology and Ecology of Microoganisms, Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 16106 Prague 6, Czechia
| | - F Leese
- Biodiversity, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Aquatic Ecosystem Resarch, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstrasse 5 D-45141 Essen, Germany
| | - P Nõges
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
| | - S Orlic
- Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Center of Excellence for Science and Technology Integrating Mediterranean, Bijenička 54,10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - K Panksep
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51006, Estonia
| | - J Pawlowski
- ID-Gene Ecodiagnostics, Campus Biotech Innovation Park, 15, av. Sécheron, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Science III, 4 Boulevard d'Yvoy, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - A Petrusek
- Dept. of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czechia
| | - J J Piggott
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - J C Rusch
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway; Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - R Salis
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - J Schenk
- Dept. of Animal Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - K Simek
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - A Stovicek
- Dept. of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 16500, Czechia
| | - D A Strand
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - M I Vasquez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, 30 Arch. Kyprianos Str., 3036 Limassol, Cyprus
| | - T Vrålstad
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - S Zlatkovic
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Omladinskih brigada 1, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia; Agency "Akvatorija", 11. krajiške divizije 49, 11090 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Zupancic
- National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - T Stoeck
- Ecology Group, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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20
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Zupančič M, Kogovšek P, Šter T, Remec Rekar Š, Cerasino L, Baebler Š, Krivograd Klemenčič A, Eleršek T. Potentially Toxic Planktic and Benthic Cyanobacteria in Slovenian Freshwater Bodies: Detection by Quantitative PCR. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13020133. [PMID: 33670338 PMCID: PMC7917684 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to increased frequency of cyanobacterial blooms and emerging evidence of cyanotoxicity in biofilm, reliable methods for early cyanotoxin threat detection are of major importance for protection of human, animal and environmental health. To complement the current methods of risk assessment, this study aimed to evaluate selected qPCR assays for detection of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in environmental samples. In the course of one year, 25 plankton and 23 biofilm samples were collected from 15 water bodies in Slovenia. Three different analyses were performed and compared to each other; qPCR targeting mcyE, cyrJ and sxtA genes involved in cyanotoxin production, LC-MS/MS quantifying microcystin, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin concentration, and microscopic analyses identifying potentially toxic cyanobacterial taxa. qPCR analyses detected potentially toxic Microcystis in 10 lake plankton samples, and potentially toxic Planktothrix cells in 12 lake plankton and one lake biofilm sample. A positive correlation was observed between numbers of mcyE gene copies and microcystin concentrations. Potential cylindrospermopsin- and saxitoxin-producers were detected in three and seven lake biofilm samples, respectively. The study demonstrated a potential for cyanotoxin production that was left undetected by traditional methods in both plankton and biofilm samples. Thus, the qPCR method could be useful in regular monitoring of water bodies to improve risk assessment and enable timely measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maša Zupančič
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence:
| | - Polona Kogovšek
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (P.K.); (Š.B.)
| | - Tadeja Šter
- Slovenian Environment Agency, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.Š.); (Š.R.R.); (A.K.K.)
| | - Špela Remec Rekar
- Slovenian Environment Agency, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.Š.); (Š.R.R.); (A.K.K.)
| | - Leonardo Cerasino
- Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy;
| | - Špela Baebler
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (P.K.); (Š.B.)
| | | | - Tina Eleršek
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
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21
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Li J, Persson KM. Quick detection method for paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) monitoring in freshwater - A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 265:128591. [PMID: 33189391 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this critical review was to provide a comprehensive summary of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) producing species and knowledge gaps in detecting PSTs in drinking water resources, with a focus on recent development of PSTs monitoring methods and tools for drinking water monitoring. PSTs, which are also called Saxitoxins (STXs), are a group of neurotoxins not only produced by marine dinoflagellates but also freshwater cyanobacteria. The presence of PSTs in freshwater has been reported from all continents except Antarctica. PSTs in poisoned sea food such as shellfish, molluscs and crustaceans may attack the nerve system after consumption. The high incidences of PSTs occurring in drinking water sources showed another route of potential human exposure. A development of simple and fast screening tools for drinking water surveillance of PSTs is needed. Neurotoxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria are understudied relative to microcystin and little study is done around PSTs in drinking water monitoring. Some fast screening methods exist. The critical issues for using them in water surveillance, particularly matrix effect and cross-reactivity are summarized, and future research directions are high-lighted. We conclude that monitoring routines at drinking water resources should start from species level, followed by a profound screening of toxin profile. For practical monitoring routine, fast screening methods should be combined with highly sensitive and accurate analytical methods such as liquid chromatography/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/LC-MS). A thorough understanding of toxin profile in source water is necessary for screening tool selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Division of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Kenneth M Persson
- Division of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
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22
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Berthold DE, Lefler FW, Huang IS, Abdulla H, Zimba PV, Laughinghouse HD. Iningainema tapete sp. nov. (Scytonemataceae, Cyanobacteria) from greenhouses in central Florida (USA) produces two types of nodularin with biosynthetic potential for microcystin-LR and anabaenopeptin production. HARMFUL ALGAE 2021; 101:101969. [PMID: 33526185 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2020.101969] [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: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Iningainema is a recently described genus of heterocytous, false-branching cyanobacteria originally described from Australia. In this work, we present Iningainema tapete sp. nov., isolated from subaerial and terrestrial environments in central Florida (USA). In comparison to the sister species, our novel cyanobacterium produces nodularin-R (NOD-R) and a methylated isoform [MeAdda3] NOD previously not reported within this genus; in addition to possessing the biosynthetic gene clusters for microcystin and anabaenopeptins production. Nodularin accumulation by this cyanobacterium exceeded 500 µg g-1 dry weight in cultures grown in nitrogen-depleted media. Such elevated toxin concentrations are alarming as the cyanobacterium was isolated from a food production greenhouse and poses a potential risk for food products and for workforce exposure. Using morphology, 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, and 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) secondary structure, coupled with toxin detection and toxin gene presence, we provide evidence for the establishment of a novel toxic species of cyanobacteria, Iningainema tapete.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Berthold
- Agronomy Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida / IFAS, Davie, FL 33314, United States
| | - Forrest W Lefler
- Agronomy Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida / IFAS, Davie, FL 33314, United States
| | - I-Shuo Huang
- Department of Aquatic Health Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, United States
| | - Hussain Abdulla
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, United States
| | - Paul V Zimba
- Department of Life Sciences and Center for Coastal Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, United States
| | - H Dail Laughinghouse
- Agronomy Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida / IFAS, Davie, FL 33314, United States.
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23
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Hobbs WO, Dreher TW, Davis EW, Vinebrooke RD, Wong S, Weissman T, Dawson M. Using a lake sediment record to infer the long-term history of cyanobacteria and the recent rise of an anatoxin producing Dolichospermum sp. HARMFUL ALGAE 2021; 101:101971. [PMID: 33526187 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2020.101971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lakes that experience recurrent toxic cyanobacterial harmful algae blooms (cyanoHABS) are often subject to cultural eutrophication, where landscape development and upland activities increase the nutrient inputs to the water column and fuel cyanoHABS. Few studies have focused on the response of a lake to nutrient inputs for which the natural geomorphic setting predisposes a nutrient-rich water column to already support abundant cyanobacteria. Here, we present a sediment core record from a lake surrounded by parkland that experiences recurrent cyanoHABs which produce dangerous levels of the neurotoxin, anatoxin-a, impacting the recreational use of the lake and park. Using photoautotrophic pigments in the sediment record, we establish cyanobacteria have long been part of the diverse and abundant phytoplankton community within the lake. Despite this long record, shotgun metagenome and other DNA analyses of the sediment record suggest that the current anatoxin-a producer Dolichospermum sp. WA102 only emerged to dominate the cyanobacterial community in the mid-1990s. A period of lakeshore farming that finished in the 1950s-1960s and possibly the stocking of rainbow trout fry (1970-2016) coincide with a progressive shift in primary production, together with a change in bacterial communities. Based on the history of the lake and contemporary ecology of Dolichospermum, we propose that the legacy of nutrient inputs and changes in nutrient cycling within the lake has encouraged the development of an ecosystem where the toxin producing Dolichospermum sp WA102 is highly competitive. Understanding the historical presence of cyanobacteria in the lake provides a context for current-day management strategies of cyanoHABs.
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Affiliation(s)
- William O Hobbs
- Washington State Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98502 United States.
| | - Theo W Dreher
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States; Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Edward W Davis
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Rolf D Vinebrooke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Siana Wong
- Washington State Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98502 United States
| | - Tim Weissman
- Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan St, Port Townsend, Washington 98368 United States
| | - Michael Dawson
- Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan St, Port Townsend, Washington 98368 United States
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24
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Podduturi R, Schlüter L, Liu T, Osti JAS, Moraes MDAB, Jørgensen NOG. Monitoring of saxitoxin production in lakes in Denmark by molecular, chromatographic and microscopic approaches. HARMFUL ALGAE 2021; 101:101966. [PMID: 33526182 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2020.101966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diversity of phytoplankton in three eutrophic and two mesotrophic lakes in Denmark was determined by microscopic and HPLC pigment analyses to identify and quantify potential saxitoxin (STX) producing cyanobacteria. Potential dominant STX-producers were identified to the filamentous genera Dolichospermum, Cuspidothrix, Phormidium and Planktolyngbya. Presence of STX production was documented by extraction of five intracellular STXs that included (in declining concentration in the cyanobacteria) dc-neo-STX, neo-STX, dc-STX, STX and GTX. Total concentrations of the five STXs varied from 9 to 142 fg per potential STX producer, corresponding to 87 to 985 ng L-1 in the lakes. For molecular detection of the STX-producers, a quantitative PCR method was developed by design of a new robust primer set with broad coverage to target the sxtA gene that is common to all STX-producing cyanobacteria. After validation, copy numbers of the sxtA gene were determined to vary from about 104 (mesotrophic lakes) to 108 per mL (the most eutrophic lake). A moderate but significant correlation was observed between abundance of the sxtA copies and concentrations of the five intracellular STXs. The qPCR assay was found to be a rapid and robust procedure for quantification of STX producers. Saxitoxin and its analogs appeared not to cause health concerns in the lakes, but commercial fishing for pike perch in the most eutrophic lake should be monitored to test for food web accumulation of STXs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Podduturi
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Tingting Liu
- Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Munique de Almeida Bispo Moraes
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Niels O G Jørgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
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25
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Romanis CS, Pearson LA, Neilan BA. Cyanobacterial blooms in wastewater treatment facilities: Significance and emerging monitoring strategies. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 180:106123. [PMID: 33316292 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) are prone to the proliferation of cyanobacterial species which thrive in stable, nutrient-rich environments. Dense cyanobacterial blooms frequently disrupt treatment processes and the supply of recycled water due to their production of extracellular polymeric substances, which hinder microfiltration, and toxins, which pose a health risk to end-users. A variety of methods are employed by water utilities for the identification and monitoring of cyanobacteria and their toxins in WWTFs, including microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, chemoanalytical methods, and more recently, molecular methods. Here we review the literature on the occurrence and significance of cyanobacterial blooms in WWTFs and discuss the pros and cons of the various strategies for monitoring these potentially hazardous events. Particular focus is directed towards next-generation metagenomic sequencing technologies for the development of site-specific cyanobacterial bloom management strategies. Long-term multi-omic observations will enable the identification of indicator species and the development of site-specific bloom dynamics models for the mitigation and management of cyanobacterial blooms in WWTFs. While emerging metagenomic tools could potentially provide deep insight into the diversity and flux of problematic cyanobacterial species in these systems, they should be considered a complement to, rather than a replacement of, quantitative chemoanalytical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin S Romanis
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle 2308, Australia
| | - Leanne A Pearson
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle 2308, Australia
| | - Brett A Neilan
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle 2308, Australia.
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Mass Occurrence of Anatoxin-a- and Dihydroanatoxin-a-Producing Tychonema sp. in Mesotrophic Reservoir Mandichosee (River Lech, Germany) as a Cause of Neurotoxicosis in Dogs. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12110726. [PMID: 33233760 PMCID: PMC7699839 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In August 2019, three dogs died after bathing in or drinking from Mandichosee, a mesotrophic reservoir of the River Lech (Germany). The dogs showed symptoms of neurotoxic poisoning and intoxication with cyanotoxins was considered. Surface blooms were not visible at the time of the incidents. Benthic Tychonema sp., a potential anatoxin-a (ATX)-producing cyanobacterium, was detected in mats growing on the banks, as biofilm on macrophytes and later as aggregations floating on the lake surface. The dogs' pathological examinations showed lung and liver lesions. ATX and dihydroanatoxin-a (dhATX) were detected by LC-MS/MS in the stomachs of two dogs and reached concentrations of 563 and 1207 µg/L, respectively. Anatoxins (sum of ATX and dhATX, ATXs) concentrations in field samples from Mandichosee ranged from 0.1 µg/L in the open water to 68,000 µg/L in samples containing a large amount of mat material. Other (neuro)toxic substances were not found. A molecular approach was used to detect toxin genes by PCR and to reveal the cyanobacterial community composition by sequencing. Upstream of Mandichosee, random samples were taken from other Lech reservoirs, uncovering Tychonema and ATXs at several sampling sites. Similar recent findings emphasize the importance of focusing on the investigation of benthic toxic cyanobacteria and applying appropriate monitoring strategies in the future.
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27
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Detection of Cyanotoxin-Producing Genes in a Eutrophic Reservoir (Billings Reservoir, São Paulo, Brazil). WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12030903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
CyanoHABs (cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms) are blooms of cyanobacteria capable of producing cyanotoxins, a large group of secondary metabolites that are toxic to most eukaryotes. In this work, the main aim was to evaluate the presence of multiple genes from each of the clusters responsible for biosynthesis of cyanotoxins (cylindrospermopsin, microcystin and saxitoxin) in total DNA obtained from sixteen environmental water samples by PCR. Microcystin gene mcyE was amplified in all analyzed samples. Among the cylindrospermopsin genes analyzed, only the cyrC gene was amplified from DNA obtained from three of sixteen samples. Of the three different saxitoxin genes analyzed, sxtB and sxtI were present in four and three of the sixteen samples studied, respectively, and sxtA did not show any positive result. Based on our results, we suggest caution when using only one gene from the full clusters responsible for biosynthesis of cyanotoxins, given that it may not be sufficient to confirm or exclude the toxigenic potential of a sample.
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28
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Qi J, Lan H, Liu R, Liu H, Qu J. Efficient Microcystis aeruginosa removal by moderate photocatalysis-enhanced coagulation with magnetic Zn-doped Fe 3O 4 particles. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 171:115448. [PMID: 31901509 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Photocatalysis is becoming a popular method for the inactivation of algae cells. However, the previous research has mainly focused on the destruction of algae cells by photocatalysis for control of harmful blooms in natural waters. This study aims to investigate the effect of photocatalytic pretreatment on the coagulation process for Microcystis aeruginosa removal. Photocatalytic pretreatment by recyclable magnetic Zn-doped Fe3O4 particles under visible-light was indicated to enhance the algae removal efficiency from 10% to 96% with the catalyst dose of 0.05 g/L. The possible mechanism involved in the enhancement was explored by analyzing variations in the algal suspension from the aspects of cell integrity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, cell morphology, and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The photocatalytic process was proved to realize moderate pretreatment of algae cells by destabilization of the algae cells without damaging cell integrity. The damaged cell ratios were all below 6% even after 360-min photocatalytic pretreatment, which could avoid the undesirable release of intracellular organic matter (IOM). The increase in SOD activity with prolonged photocatalytic time indicated that algae cells were stimulated to extensively activate SOD to resist the oxidative damage induced by the photocatalysis. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements further revealed that superoxide radicals were generated and involved in the photocatalytic pretreatment process. Additionally, increased DOC values in the algal suspension were induced by the desorption of mucilage from algae cells. The desorbed mucilage was proved to be mainly composed of large or medium MW rather than small MW compounds, which could further enhance the coagulation. Therefore, the efficient coagulation of algal suspensions can be realized by moderate pretreatment of M. aeruginosa via the magnetic Zn-doped Fe3O4 particle photocatalysis process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qi
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Huachun Lan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Ruiping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Huijuan Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jiuhui Qu
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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29
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Smith ML, Westerman DC, Putnam SP, Richardson SD, Ferry JL. Emerging Lyngbya wollei toxins: A new high resolution mass spectrometry method to elucidate a potential environmental threat. HARMFUL ALGAE 2019; 90:101700. [PMID: 31806161 PMCID: PMC6905196 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2019.101700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Mass spectrometric methods for the quantitative and qualitative analyses of algal biotoxins are often complicated by co-eluting compounds that present analytically as interferences. This issue is particularly critical for organic polyamines, where co-eluting materials can suppress the formation of cations during electrospray ionization. Here we present an extraction procedure designed specifically to overcome matrix-derived ion suppression of algal toxins in samples of Lyngbya wollei, a filamentous benthic algae known to produce several saxitoxin analogues. Lyngbya wollei samples were collected from a large, persistent harmful algal bloom in Lake Wateree, SC. Six known Lyngbya wollei-specific toxins (LWT1-6) were successfully resolved and quantified against saxitoxin using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The parent ions [M2+ - H+]+ were observed for LWTs 1-6 and the [M]2+ ion was observed for LWT5. High resolution mass spectra and unique fragmentation ions were obtained for LWTs 1-6. A dilution factor of 50 resulted in a linear calibration of saxitoxin in the algae matrix. Ion suppression was resolved by sample dilution, which led to linear, positive correlations between peak area and mass of the extracted sample (R2 > 0.96). Optimized sample extraction method and instrument parameters are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan L Smith
- University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 631 Sumter Street Columbia, SC 29208, United States; University of South Carolina, Center for Interactions of Climate Change on Oceans and Human Health, 921 Assembly St Suit 401, Columbia, SC 29208, United States
| | - Danielle C Westerman
- University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 631 Sumter Street Columbia, SC 29208, United States; University of South Carolina, Center for Interactions of Climate Change on Oceans and Human Health, 921 Assembly St Suit 401, Columbia, SC 29208, United States
| | - Samuel P Putnam
- University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 631 Sumter Street Columbia, SC 29208, United States; University of South Carolina, Center for Interactions of Climate Change on Oceans and Human Health, 921 Assembly St Suit 401, Columbia, SC 29208, United States
| | - Susan D Richardson
- University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 631 Sumter Street Columbia, SC 29208, United States; University of South Carolina, Center for Interactions of Climate Change on Oceans and Human Health, 921 Assembly St Suit 401, Columbia, SC 29208, United States
| | - John L Ferry
- University of South Carolina, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 631 Sumter Street Columbia, SC 29208, United States; University of South Carolina, Center for Interactions of Climate Change on Oceans and Human Health, 921 Assembly St Suit 401, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
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30
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Kelly LT, Ryan KG, Wood SA. Differential strain response in alkaline phosphatase activity to available phosphorus in Microcoleus autumnalis. HARMFUL ALGAE 2019; 89:101664. [PMID: 31672236 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2019.101664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxic, benthic cyanobacterial proliferations have increased in frequency and severity globally and can have negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems, recreation and human health. Microcoleus autumnalis has been associated with numerous animal fatalities and is causing increasing concern. It tends to grow in systems with moderate dissolved inorganic nitrogen and very low dissolved reactive phosphorus. Acquisition of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from organic sources may explain how M. autumnalis can reach the high biomass in these relatively nutrient deplete environments. In the present study the effect of phosphorus concentration and source on alkaline phosphatase activity was investigated in toxic and non-toxic M. autumnalis strains. Toxic strains exhibited significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than non-toxic strains (p < 0.05), and alkaline phosphatase activity increased in all strains under phosphorus-depleted conditions (p < 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activity was also present in environmental M. autumnalis mats, though at lower levels than in laboratory experiments. The presence of alkaline phosphatase activity indicates that the acquisition of phosphorus from organic phosphorus sources may contribute to the ability of M. autumnalis to grow in systems with low dissolved reactive phosphorus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura T Kelly
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
| | - Ken G Ryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
| | - Susanna A Wood
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand.
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31
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Mazzega E, Beran A, Cabrini M, de Marco A. In vitro isolation of nanobodies for selective Alexandrium minutum recognition: A model for convenient development of dedicated immuno-reagents to study and diagnostic toxic unicellular algae. HARMFUL ALGAE 2019; 82:44-51. [PMID: 30928010 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
At the present, the identification of planktonic species in coastal water is still a time intensive process performed by highly trained personnel that relies either on qPCR or on light microscopy observation and in vitro culturing. Furthermore, the increasing danger represented by Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) inside phytoplankton community and the recent implementation of the legislation on ballast water management to prevent the introduction of HABs and NIS (Non Indigenous Species) urge the development of faster and reliable diagnostic methods. Immuno-based approaches could fulfil this need provided that the costs for antibody selection and production will be reduced. In this work it is demonstrated for the first time the feasibility to recover nanobodies (VHHs) selective for native surface epitopes of Alexandrium minutum by direct whole cell bio-panning using a pre-immune phage display library. The recombinant nature of VHHs enabled their rapid engineering into eGFP fluorescent reagents (fluobodies) that were produced recombinantly in bacteria and are directly suitable for fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Immune-detection identified also cysts and anti-Alexandrium fluobodies showed no cross-reactivity with indigenous not-toxic phytoplankton microalgae belonging to different geni. The fluobodies were able to bind selectively to the target cells in both fixed and fresh samples with minimal processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mazzega
- Laboratory for Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Alfred Beran
- Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marina Cabrini
- Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Trieste, Italy
| | - Ario de Marco
- Laboratory for Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
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32
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Sendall BC, McGregor GB. Cryptic diversity within the Scytonema complex: Characterization of the paralytic shellfish toxin producer Heterosyctonema crispum, and the establishment of the family Heteroscytonemataceae (Cyanobacteria/Nostocales). HARMFUL ALGAE 2018; 80:158-170. [PMID: 30502809 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Strains of the freshwater filamentous, benthic cyanobacterium Scytonema crispum Agardh isolated from six sites in subtropical south-east Queensland were characterised using a combination of phenotypic and genetic traits. Morphologically, the strains were consistent with the description of Scytonemataceae sensu stricto, and the description of Scytonema crispum. However, phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, the 16S-23S rRNA operon, and the nifH gene revealed that these strains and three others from outside Australia formed a monophyletic clade distinct from Scytonema and other species in the Scytonemataceae. Collectively, this data suggests this group is sufficiently evolutionarily distinct to be placed in a new family, Heteroscytonemataceae fam. nov. Accordingly, the taxon previously known as S. crispum has been transferred to a new genus Heteroscytonema gen nov., as H. crispum. Some strains of H. crispum exhibited facultative production of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). The concentration of PSTs produced by individual strains varied widely, from 2.7 μg g-1 to 171.3 μg g-1, and included C toxins, decarbamoyl saxitoxin (dcSTX), gonyautoxins (GTX2, GTX3 and GTX5), saxitoxin (STX) and uncharacterised PSTs. The majority of the Australian strains produced dcSTX as the dominant saxitoxin analogue, a significant finding given that dcSTX has approximately half the relative toxicity of STX. The PST profile varied within and between Australian strains of H. crispum and in strains collected from New Zealand and the United States. The sxtA gene, one of the determinants for the production of PSTs, was present in all strains in which PSTs were detected. The discovery of PST-producing H. crispum in the headwaters of a major drinking water reservoir presents a serious risk for potential human and animal exposure to these neurotoxic compounds and further highlights the importance of monitoring benthic cyanobacteria populations for potentially toxigenic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara C Sendall
- Queensland Department of Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld 4108, Australia.
| | - Glenn B McGregor
- Queensland Department of Environment and Science, GPO Box 5078 Brisbane Qld 4001, Australia
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Development and Application of a Quantitative PCR Assay to Assess Genotype Dynamics and Anatoxin Content in Microcoleus autumnalis-Dominated Mats. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10110431. [PMID: 30373141 PMCID: PMC6266952 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10110431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcoleus is a filamentous cyanobacteria genus with a global distribution. Some species form thick, cohesive mats over large areas of the benthos in rivers and lakes. In New Zealand Microcoleus autumnalis is an anatoxin producer and benthic proliferations are occurring in an increasing number of rivers nationwide. Anatoxin content in M. autumnalis-dominated mats varies spatially and temporally, making understanding and managing proliferations difficult. In this study a M. autumnalis-specific TaqMan probe quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the anaC gene was developed. The assay was assessed against 26 non-M. autumnalis species. The assay had a detection range over seven orders of magnitude, with a limit of detection of 5.14 × 10−8 ng μL−1. The anaC assay and a cyanobacterial specific 16S rRNA qPCR were then used to determine toxic genotype proportions in 122 environmental samples collected from 19 sites on 10 rivers in New Zealand. Anatoxin contents of the samples were determined using LC-MS/MS and anatoxin quota per toxic cell calculated. The percentage of toxic cells ranged from 0 to 30.3%, with significant (p < 0.05) differences among rivers. The anatoxin content in mats had a significant relationship with the percentage of toxic cells (R2 = 0.38, p < 0.001), indicating that changes in anatoxin content in M. autumnalis-dominated mats are primarily related to the dominance of toxic strains. When applied to more extensive samples sets the assay will enable new insights into how biotic and abiotic parameters influence genotype composition, and if applied to RNA assist in understanding anatoxin production.
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Sarkar A, Bagavananthem Andavan GS. Computational optimization of in vitro parameters for di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate production from
Anabaena circinalis. J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:790-798. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aratrika Sarkar
- Laboratory for Venom Peptidomics and Molecular Simulation, Department of Biotechnology Bannari Amman Institute of Technology Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu India
| | - Gowri shankar Bagavananthem Andavan
- Laboratory for Venom Peptidomics and Molecular Simulation, Department of Biotechnology Bannari Amman Institute of Technology Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu India
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Molecular Verification of Bloom-forming Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Their Secondary Metabolites in the Nakdong River. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15081739. [PMID: 30104548 PMCID: PMC6121560 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15081739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Aphanizomenon spp. have formed harmful cyanobacterial blooms in the Nakdong River during spring, autumn, and now in winter, and the expansion of blooming period and area, associated with the global warming is predicted. The genus Aphanizomenon has been described to produce harmful secondary metabolites such as off-flavors and cyanotoxins. Therefore, the production of harmful secondary metabolites from the Aphanizomenon blooms in the Nakdong River needs to be monitored to minimize the risk to both water quality and public health. Here, we sampled the cyanobacterial blooms in the Nakdong River and isolated ten Aphanizomenon strains, morphologically classified as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet et Flahault 1888. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region nucleotide sequences confirmed this classification. We further verified the harmful secondary metabolites-producing potential of A. flos-aquae isolates and water samples containing cyanobacterial blooms using PCR with specific primer sets for genes involved in biosynthesis of off-flavor metabolites (geosmin) and toxins (microcystins, saxitoxins and cylindrospermopsins). It was confirmed that these metabolite biosynthesis genes were not identified in all isolates and water samples containing only Aphanizomenon spp. Thus, it is likely that there is a low potential for the production of off-flavor metabolites and cyanotoxins in Aphanizomenon blooms in the Nakdong River.
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Nitrogen limitation, toxin synthesis potential, and toxicity of cyanobacterial populations in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie River Estuary, Florida, during the 2016 state of emergency event. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196278. [PMID: 29791446 PMCID: PMC5965861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lake Okeechobee, FL, USA, has been subjected to intensifying cyanobacterial blooms that can spread to the adjacent St. Lucie River and Estuary via natural and anthropogenically-induced flooding events. In July 2016, a large, toxic cyanobacterial bloom occurred in Lake Okeechobee and throughout the St. Lucie River and Estuary, leading Florida to declare a state of emergency. This study reports on measurements and nutrient amendment experiments performed in this freshwater-estuarine ecosystem (salinity 0–25 PSU) during and after the bloom. In July, all sites along the bloom exhibited dissolved inorganic nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios < 6, while Microcystis dominated (> 95%) phytoplankton inventories from the lake to the central part of the estuary. Chlorophyll a and microcystin concentrations peaked (100 and 34 μg L-1, respectively) within Lake Okeechobee and decreased eastwards. Metagenomic analyses indicated that genes associated with the production of microcystin (mcyE) and the algal neurotoxin saxitoxin (sxtA) originated from Microcystis and multiple diazotrophic genera, respectively. There were highly significant correlations between levels of total nitrogen, microcystin, and microcystin synthesis gene abundance across all surveyed sites (p < 0.001), suggesting high levels of nitrogen supported the production of microcystin during this event. Consistent with this, experiments performed with low salinity water from the St. Lucie River during the event indicated that algal biomass was nitrogen-limited. In the fall, densities of Microcystis and concentrations of microcystin were significantly lower, green algae co-dominated with cyanobacteria, and multiple algal groups displayed nitrogen-limitation. These results indicate that monitoring and regulatory strategies in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie River and Estuary should consider managing loads of nitrogen to control future algal and microcystin-producing cyanobacterial blooms.
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Wunschel DS, Valenzuela BR, Kaiser BLD, Victry K, Woodruff D. Method development for comprehensive extraction and analysis of marine toxins: Liquid-liquid extraction and tandem liquid chromatography separations coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Talanta 2018; 187:302-307. [PMID: 29853051 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A variety of toxins are produced by marine and freshwater microorganisms that present a threat to human health. These toxins have diverse chemical properties and specifically, a range of hydrophobicity. Methods for extraction and identification of these toxins are often geared toward specific classes of toxin depending on the sample type. There is a need for a general method of toxin extraction and identification for screening samples where the likely toxin content is not known a priori. We have applied a general method for metabolite extraction to toxin containing samples. This method was coupled with a simple dual liquid chromatography approach for separating a broad range of toxins. This liquid chromatography approach was coupled to triple quadrupole and quadrupole time-of-flight MS/MS platforms. The method was testing on a fish matrix for recovery of palytoxin as well as marine corals for detection of natural mixtures of palytoxin analogues. The recovery of palytoxin was found to produce a linear response (R2 of 0.95) when spiked into the fish matrix with a limit of quantitation of 2.5 ng/μL and recovery efficiency of 73% + /- 9%. The screening of corals revealed varying amount of palytoxin, and in one case, different palytoxin structural analogues. This demonstration illustrates the potential utility of this method for toxin extraction and detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Wunschel
- Chemical and Biological Signature Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999 MS P 7-50, Richland, WA 99352, United States.
| | - Blandina R Valenzuela
- Chemical and Biological Signature Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999 MS P 7-50, Richland, WA 99352, United States
| | - Brooke L Deatherage Kaiser
- Chemical and Biological Signature Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999 MS P 7-50, Richland, WA 99352, United States
| | - Kristin Victry
- Chemical and Biological Signature Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999 MS P 7-50, Richland, WA 99352, United States
| | - Dana Woodruff
- Coastal Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 1529 West Sequim Bay Rd, Sequim WA 98382, United States
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Macário IPE, Castro BB, Nunes MIS, Pizarro C, Coelho C, Gonçalves F, de Figueiredo DR. Stepwise strategy for monitoring toxic cyanobacterial blooms in lentic water bodies. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2017; 189:620. [PMID: 29124450 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-6292-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has been causing the increase in frequency, severity, and duration of harmful algal blooms, which makes the establishment of water management strategies indispensable. For cyanobacteria, several methods are currently used in monitoring programs. However, these methods are time-consuming and require specialists, and results are usually not provided within an adequate timeframe for taking timely mitigation actions. This work proposes a strategy for a faster, easier, and more cost-effective monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms, using a stepwise approach based on fluorometric determination of phycocyanin at an early stage. Complementary parameters (chlorophyll a, enumeration of dominant cyanobacterial species and cyanotoxin potential and quantification) are determined when necessary, thus progressively allocating human and financial resources within the monitoring program. This strategy was applied and validated using nine lentic eutrophic freshwater bodies prone to the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms. Samples were sequentially evaluated, and the study ended up with two samples that showed high health risks. However, according to WHO guidelines, eight of the nine samples would be classified as having "moderate risk of adverse health effects" and could lead to preventive measures that would have an important regional economic impact. Therefore, the present approach proved to be a promising alternative to increase the effectiveness and accuracy of the risk assessment process in water bodies where cyanobacterial blooms occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês P E Macário
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Bruno B Castro
- CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maria I S Nunes
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cristina Pizarro
- Water and Soil Unit, Environmental Health Department, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 4000-055, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Coelho
- Water and Soil Unit, Environmental Health Department, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), 4000-055, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Gonçalves
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Daniela R de Figueiredo
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Miller TR, Beversdorf LJ, Weirich CA, Bartlett SL. Cyanobacterial Toxins of the Laurentian Great Lakes, Their Toxicological Effects, and Numerical Limits in Drinking Water. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:E160. [PMID: 28574457 PMCID: PMC5484110 DOI: 10.3390/md15060160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous phototrophic bacteria that inhabit diverse environments across the planet. Seasonally, they dominate many eutrophic lakes impacted by excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) forming dense accumulations of biomass known as cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms or cyanoHABs. Their dominance in eutrophic lakes is attributed to a variety of unique adaptations including N and P concentrating mechanisms, N₂ fixation, colony formation that inhibits predation, vertical movement via gas vesicles, and the production of toxic or otherwise bioactive molecules. While some of these molecules have been explored for their medicinal benefits, others are potent toxins harmful to humans, animals, and other wildlife known as cyanotoxins. In humans these cyanotoxins affect various tissues, including the liver, central and peripheral nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive organs among others. They induce acute effects at low doses in the parts-per-billion range and some are tumor promoters linked to chronic diseases such as liver and colorectal cancer. The occurrence of cyanoHABs and cyanotoxins in lakes presents challenges for maintaining safe recreational aquatic environments and the production of potable drinking water. CyanoHABs are a growing problem in the North American (Laurentian) Great Lakes basin. This review summarizes information on the occurrence of cyanoHABs in the Great Lakes, toxicological effects of cyanotoxins, and appropriate numerical limits on cyanotoxins in finished drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd R Miller
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
| | - Lucas J Beversdorf
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
| | - Chelsea A Weirich
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
| | - Sarah L Bartlett
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
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Singh R, Parihar P, Singh M, Bajguz A, Kumar J, Singh S, Singh VP, Prasad SM. Uncovering Potential Applications of Cyanobacteria and Algal Metabolites in Biology, Agriculture and Medicine: Current Status and Future Prospects. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:515. [PMID: 28487674 PMCID: PMC5403934 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria and algae having complex photosynthetic systems can channelize absorbed solar energy into other forms of energy for production of food and metabolites. In addition, they are promising biocatalysts and can be used in the field of "white biotechnology" for enhancing the sustainable production of food, metabolites, and green energy sources such as biodiesel. In this review, an endeavor has been made to uncover the significance of various metabolites like phenolics, phytoene/terpenoids, phytols, sterols, free fatty acids, photoprotective compounds (MAAs, scytonemin, carotenoids, polysaccharides, halogenated compounds, etc.), phytohormones, cyanotoxins, biocides (algaecides, herbicides, and insecticides) etc. Apart from this, the importance of these metabolites as antibiotics, immunosuppressant, anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory agent has also been discussed. Metabolites obtained from cyanobacteria and algae have several biotechnological, industrial, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic uses which have also been discussed in this review along with the emerging technology of their harvesting for enhancing the production of compounds like bioethanol, biofuel etc. at commercial level. In later sections, we have discussed genetically modified organisms and metabolite production from them. We have also briefly discussed the concept of bioprocessing highlighting the functioning of companies engaged in metabolites production as well as their cost effectiveness and challenges that are being addressed by these companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Singh
- Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of AllahabadAllahabad, India
| | - Parul Parihar
- Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of AllahabadAllahabad, India
| | - Madhulika Singh
- Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of AllahabadAllahabad, India
| | - Andrzej Bajguz
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Biology, University of BialystokBialystok, Poland
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of AllahabadAllahabad, India
| | - Samiksha Singh
- Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of AllahabadAllahabad, India
| | - Vijay P. Singh
- Department of Botany, Govt. Ramanuj Pratap Singhdev Post-Graduate CollegeBaikunthpur, Koriya, India
| | - Sheo M. Prasad
- Ranjan Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of AllahabadAllahabad, India
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Tsuchiya S, Cho Y, Yoshioka R, Konoki K, Nagasawa K, Oshima Y, Yotsu-Yamashita M. Synthesis and Identification of Key Biosynthetic Intermediates for the Formation of the Tricyclic Skeleton of Saxitoxin. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:5327-5331. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201612461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Tsuchiya
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Yuko Cho
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Renpei Yoshioka
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Keiichi Konoki
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Kazuo Nagasawa
- Faculty of Technology; Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology; 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi Tokyo 184-8588 Japan
| | - Yasukatsu Oshima
- Graduate School of Life Sciences; Tohoku University; 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Mari Yotsu-Yamashita
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
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Tsuchiya S, Cho Y, Yoshioka R, Konoki K, Nagasawa K, Oshima Y, Yotsu-Yamashita M. Synthesis and Identification of Key Biosynthetic Intermediates for the Formation of the Tricyclic Skeleton of Saxitoxin. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201612461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Tsuchiya
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Yuko Cho
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Renpei Yoshioka
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Keiichi Konoki
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
| | - Kazuo Nagasawa
- Faculty of Technology; Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology; 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi Tokyo 184-8588 Japan
| | - Yasukatsu Oshima
- Graduate School of Life Sciences; Tohoku University; 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-8577 Japan
| | - Mari Yotsu-Yamashita
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science; Tohoku University; 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku Sendai 980-0845 Japan
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Ballot A, Cerasino L, Hostyeva V, Cirés S. Variability in the sxt Gene Clusters of PSP Toxin Producing Aphanizomenon gracile Strains from Norway, Spain, Germany and North America. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167552. [PMID: 27907126 PMCID: PMC5132012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin production has been detected worldwide in the cyanobacterial genera Anabaena, Lyngbya, Scytonema, Cuspidothrix and Aphanizomenon. In Europe Aphanizomenon gracile and Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi are the only known producers of PSP toxins and are found in Southwest and Central European freshwater bodies. In this study the PSP toxin producing Aphanizomenon sp. strain NIVA-CYA 851 was isolated from the Norwegian Lake Hillestadvannet. In a polyphasic approach NIVA-CYA 851 was morphologically and phylogenetically classified, and investigated for toxin production. The strain NIVA-CYA 851 was identified as A. gracile using 16S rRNA gene phylogeny and was confirmed to produce neosaxitoxin, saxitoxin and gonyautoxin 5 by LC-MS. The whole sxt gene clusters (circa 27.3 kb) of four A. gracile strains: NIVA-CYA 851 (Norway); NIVA-CYA 655 & NIVA-CYA 676 (Germany); and UAM 529 (Spain), all from latitudes between 40° and 59° North were sequenced and compared with the sxt gene cluster of reference strain A. gracile NH-5 from the USA. All five sxt gene clusters are highly conserved with similarities exceeding 99.4%, but they differ slightly in the number and presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (In/Dels). Altogether 178 variable sites (44 SNPs and 4 In/Dels, comprising 134 nucleotides) were found in the sxt gene clusters of the Norwegian, German and Spanish strains compared to the reference strain. Thirty-nine SNPs were located in 16 of the 27 coding regions. The sxt gene clusters of NIVA-CYA 851, NIVA-CYA 655, NIVA-CYA 676 and UAM 529, were characterized by 15, 16, 19 and 23 SNPs respectively. Only the Norwegian strain NIVA-CYA 851 possessed an insertion of 126 base pairs (bp) in the noncoding area between the sxtA and sxtE genes and a deletion of 6 nucleotides in the sxtN gene. The sxtI gene showed the highest variability and is recommended as the best genetic marker for further phylogenetic studies of the sxt gene cluster of A. gracile. This study confirms for the first time the role of A. gracile as a PSP toxin producer in Norwegian waters, representing the northernmost occurrence of PSP toxin producing A. gracile in Europe known so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ballot
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Leonardo Cerasino
- IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, Istituto Agrario di S. Michele all'Adige - Fondazione E. Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
| | | | - Samuel Cirés
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Pacheco ABF, Guedes IA, Azevedo SMFO. Is qPCR a Reliable Indicator of Cyanotoxin Risk in Freshwater? Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8060172. [PMID: 27338471 PMCID: PMC4926139 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8060172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The wide distribution of cyanobacteria in aquatic environments leads to the risk of water contamination by cyanotoxins, which generate environmental and public health issues. Measurements of cell densities or pigment contents allow both the early detection of cellular growth and bloom monitoring, but these methods are not sufficiently accurate to predict actual cyanobacterial risk. To quantify cyanotoxins, analytical methods are considered the gold standards, but they are laborious, expensive, time-consuming and available in a limited number of laboratories. In cyanobacterial species with toxic potential, cyanotoxin production is restricted to some strains, and blooms can contain varying proportions of both toxic and non-toxic cells, which are morphologically indistinguishable. The sequencing of cyanobacterial genomes led to the description of gene clusters responsible for cyanotoxin production, which paved the way for the use of these genes as targets for PCR and then quantitative PCR (qPCR). Thus, the quantification of cyanotoxin genes appeared as a new method for estimating the potential toxicity of blooms. This raises a question concerning whether qPCR-based methods would be a reliable indicator of toxin concentration in the environment. Here, we review studies that report the parallel detection of microcystin genes and microcystin concentrations in natural populations and also a smaller number of studies dedicated to cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin. We discuss the possible issues associated with the contradictory findings reported to date, present methodological limitations and consider the use of qPCR as an indicator of cyanotoxin risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Beatriz F Pacheco
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-902, Brazil.
| | - Iame A Guedes
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-902, Brazil.
| | - Sandra M F O Azevedo
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-902, Brazil.
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45
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Esteves AIS, Amer N, Nguyen M, Thomas T. Sample Processing Impacts the Viability and Cultivability of the Sponge Microbiome. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:499. [PMID: 27242673 PMCID: PMC4876369 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sponges host complex microbial communities of recognized ecological and biotechnological importance. Extensive cultivation efforts have been made to isolate sponge bacteria, but most still elude cultivation. To identify the bottlenecks of sponge bacterial cultivation, we combined high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing with a variety of cultivation media and incubation conditions. We aimed to determine the extent to which sample processing and cultivation conditions can impact bacterial viability and recovery in culture. We isolated 325 sponge bacteria from six specimens of Cymbastela concentrica and three specimens of Scopalina sp. These isolates were distributed over 37 different genera and 47 operational taxonomic units (defined at 97% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity). The cultivable bacterial community was highly specific to its sponge host and different media compositions yielded distinct microbial isolates. Around 97% of the isolates could be detected in the original sponge and represented a large but highly variable proportion (0.5–92% total abundance, depending on sponge species) of viable bacteria obtained after sample processing, as determined by propidium monoazide selective DNA modification of compromised cells. Our results show that the most abundant viable bacteria are also the most predominant groups found in cultivation, reflecting, to some extent, the relative abundances of the viable bacterial community, rather than the overall community estimated by direct molecular approaches. Cultivation is therefore shaped not only by the growth conditions provided, but also by the different cell viabilities of the bacteria that constitute the cultivation inoculum. These observations highlight the need to perform experiments to assess each method of sample processing for its accurate representation of the actual in situ bacterial community and its yield of viable cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana I S Esteves
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Nimra Amer
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Mary Nguyen
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales Kensington, NSW, Australia
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Li X, Dreher TW, Li R. An overview of diversity, occurrence, genetics and toxin production of bloom-forming Dolichospermum (Anabaena) species. HARMFUL ALGAE 2016; 54:54-68. [PMID: 28073482 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2015.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The new genus name Dolichospermum, for most of the planktonic former members of the genus Anabaena, is one of the most ubiquitous bloom-forming cyanobacterial genera. Its dominance and persistence have increased in recent years, due to eutrophication from anthropogenic activities and global climate change. Blooms of Dolichospermum species, with their production of secondary metabolites that commonly include toxins, present a worldwide threat to environmental and public health. In this review, recent advances of the genus Dolichospermum are summarized, including taxonomy, genetics, bloom occurrence, and production of toxin and taste-and-odor compounds. The recent and continuing acquisition of genome sequences is ushering in new methods for monitoring and understanding the factors regulating bloom dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochuang Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Theo W Dreher
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA; Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Renhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
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Biosynthetic route towards saxitoxin and shunt pathway. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20340. [PMID: 26842222 PMCID: PMC4740887 DOI: 10.1038/srep20340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Saxitoxin, the most potent voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, is one of the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced by cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates. Recently, putative biosynthetic genes of PSTs were reported in these microorganisms. We previously synthesized genetically predicted biosynthetic intermediates, Int-A’ and Int-C’2, and also Cyclic-C’ which was not predicted based on gene, and identified them all in the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Anabaena circinalis (TA04) and the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense (Axat-2). This study examined the incorporation of 15N-labeled intermediates into PSTs (C1 and C2) in A. circinalis (TA04). Conversions from Int-A’ to Int-C’2, from Int-C’2 to Cyclic-C’, and from Int-A’ and Int-C’2 to C1 and C2 were indicated using high resolution-LC/MS. However, Cyclic-C’ was not converted to C1 and C2 and was detected primarily in the extracellular medium. These results suggest that Int-A’ and Int-C’2 are genuine precursors of PSTs, but Int-C’2 converts partially to Cyclic-C’ which is a shunt product excreted to outside the cells. This paper provides the first direct demonstration of the biosynthetic route towards saxitoxin and a shunt pathway.
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Paerl HW, Otten TG. Duelling 'CyanoHABs': unravelling the environmental drivers controlling dominance and succession among diazotrophic and non-N2 -fixing harmful cyanobacteria. Environ Microbiol 2015; 18:316-24. [PMID: 26310611 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Eutrophication often manifests itself by increased frequencies and magnitudes of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) in freshwater systems. It is generally assumed that nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria will dominate when nitrogen (N) is limiting and non-N2 fixers dominate when N is present in excess. However, this is rarely observed in temperate lakes, where N2 fixers often bloom when N is replete, and non-fixers (e.g. Microcystis) dominate when N concentrations are lowest. This review integrates observations from previous studies with insights into the environmental factors that select for CyanoHAB groups. This information may be used to predict how nutrient reduction strategies targeting N, phosphorus (P) or both N and P may alter cyanobacterial community composition. One underexplored concern is that as N inputs are reduced, CyanoHABs may switch from non-N2 fixing to diazotrophic taxa, with no net improvement in water quality. However, monitoring and experimental observations indicate that in eutrophic systems, minimizing both N and P loading will lead to the most significant reductions in total phytoplankton biomass without this shift occurring, because successional patterns appear to be strongly driven by physical factors, including temperature, irradiance and hydrology. Notably, water temperature is a primary driver of cyanobacterial community succession, with warming favouring non-diazotrophic taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans W Paerl
- Institute of Marine Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, 28557, USA
| | - Timothy G Otten
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 226 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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Jakubowska N, Szeląg-Wasielewska E. Toxic picoplanktonic cyanobacteria--review. Mar Drugs 2015; 13:1497-518. [PMID: 25793428 PMCID: PMC4377996 DOI: 10.3390/md13031497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria of a picoplanktonic cell size (0.2 to 2.0 µm) are common organisms of both freshwater and marine ecosystems. However, due to their small size and relatively short study history, picoplanktonic cyanobacteria, in contrast to the microplanktonic cyanobacteria, still remains a poorly studied fraction of plankton. So far, only little information on picocyanobacteria toxicity has been reported, while the number of reports concerning their presence in ecosystems is increasing. Thus, the issue of picocyanobacteria toxicity needs more researchers' attention and interest. In this report, we present information on the current knowledge concerning the picocyanobacteria toxicity, as well as their harmfulness and problems they can cause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Jakubowska
- Department of Water Protection, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Elżbieta Szeląg-Wasielewska
- Department of Water Protection, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
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McGregor GB, Sendall BC. Phylogeny and toxicology of Lyngbya wollei (Cyanobacteria, Oscillatoriales) from north-eastern Australia, with a description of Microseira gen. nov. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2015; 51:109-119. [PMID: 26986262 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Three populations of the freshwater filamentous cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei (Farlow ex Gomont) Speziale and Dyck have been putatively identified from north-eastern Australia and found to produce the potent cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and its analog deoxy-cylindrospermopsin (deoxy-CYN). We investigated the phylogeny and toxicology of strains and mats isolated from two of these populations using a combination of molecular and morphological techniques. Morphologically the strains corresponded to the type description, however, the frequency of false-branching was low, and variable over time. Strains and mat samples from both sites were positive for the cyrF and cyrJ genes associated with CYN biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes from Australian L. wollei sequences and comparable cyanobacterial sequences revealed that the genes in L. wollei were more closely related to homologous genes in Oscillatoria sp. PCC 6506 than to homologs in Nostocalean CYN-producers. These data suggest a common evolutionary origin of CYN biosynthesis in L. wollei and Oscillatoria. In both the 16S rRNA and nifH phylogenies, the Australian L. wollei strains formed well-supported clades with United States L. wollei (= Plectonema wollei) strains. Pair-wise sequence similarities within the 16S rRNA clade containing all eleven L. wollei strains were high, ranging from 97% to 100%. This group was distantly related (<92% nucleotide similarity) to other taxa within the group previously considered under the genus Lyngbya sensu lato (C. Agardh ex Gomont). Collectively, these results suggest that this toxigenic group is evolutionarily distinct and sufficiently distant as to be considered a separate genus, which we have described as Microseira gen. nov. and hence transfer to it the type M. wollei comb. nov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn B McGregor
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, GPO Box 5078, Brisbane, Qld, 4102, Australia
| | - Barbara C Sendall
- Department of Health, Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Qld, 4108, Australia
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