Harmful Cyanobacterial Material Production in the North Han River (South Korea): Genetic Potential and Temperature-Dependent Properties

Occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms in Freshwater Sources of Mindu and Nyumba ya Mungu Dams, Tanzania

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to the production of toxins. The identification and quantification of these toxins are crucial for water quality management decisions. This study used DNA analysis (PCR techniques) to identify toxin-producing strains and liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify microcystins in samples from Mindu and Nyumba ya Mungu Dams in Tanzania. The results showed that HABs were detected in both dams. The BLAST results revealed that the 16S gene sequences of uncultured samples were very similar to an Antarctic cyanobacterium, Leptolyngbya sp, Anabaena sp, and Microcystis aeruginosa. Sequences of the cultured samples were most similar to Nodularia spumigena, Amazoninema brasiliense, Anabaena sp, and Microcystis aeruginosa. Further analyses showed that the nucleotide sequence similarity of uncultured isolates from this study and those from the GenBank ranged from 85 to 100%. For cultured isolates from this study and others from the GenBank, nucleotide identity ranged from 81 to 100%. The molecular identification of Microcystis aeruginosa confirmed the presence of HABs in both Mindu and Nyumba ya Mungu Dams in Tanzania. At Mindu Dam, the mean concentrations (± standard deviation) of microcystin-LR, -RR, and -YR were 1.08 ± 0.749 ppm, 0.120 ± 0.0211 ppm, and 1.37 ± 0.862 ppm, respectively. Similarly, at Nyumba ya Mungu Dam, the concentrations of microcystin-LR, -RR, and -YR were 1.07 ± 0.499 ppm, 0.124 ± 0.0224 ppm, and 0.961 ± 0.408 ppm, respectively. This paper represents the first application of PCR and LC-MS/MS to study microcystins in small freshwater reservoirs in Tanzania. This study confirms the presence of toxin-producing strains of Microcystis aeruginosa in both dams and also provides evidence of the occurrence of microcystins from these strains. These findings contribute in improving the monitoring of HABs contamination and their potential impact on water quality in Tanzanian reservoirs.

qPCR-Based Monitoring of 2-Methylisoborneol/Geosmin-Producing Cyanobacteria in Drinking Water Reservoirs in South Korea

Cyanobacteria can exist in water resources and produce odorants. 2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and geosmin are the main odorant compounds affecting the drinking water quality in reservoirs. In this study, encoding genes 2-MIB (mic, monoterpene cyclase) and geosmin (geo, putative geosmin synthase) were investigated using newly developed primers for quantitative PCR (qPCR). Gene copy numbers were compared to 2-MIB/geosmin concentrations and cyanobacterial cell abundance. Samples were collected between July and October 2020, from four drinking water sites in South Korea. The results showed similar trends in three parameters, although the changes in the 2-MIB/geosmin concentrations followed the changes in the mic/geo copy numbers more closely than the cyanobacterial cell abundances. The number of odorant gene copies decreased from upstream to downstream. Regression analysis revealed a strong positive linear correlation between gene copy number and odorant concentration for mic (R2 = 0.8478) and geo (R2 = 0.601). In the analysis of several environmental parameters, only water temperature was positively correlated with both mic and geo. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of monitoring 2-MIB/geosmin occurrence using qPCR of their respective synthase genes. Odorant-producing, gene-based qPCR monitoring studies may contribute to improving drinking water quality management.

Co-Occurrence of Taste and Odor Compounds and Cyanotoxins in Cyanobacterial Blooms: Emerging Risks to Human Health?

Cyanobacteria commonly form large blooms in waterbodies; they can produce cyanotoxins, with toxic effects on humans and animals, and volatile compounds, causing bad tastes and odors (T&O) at naturally occurring low concentrations. Notwithstanding the large amount of literature on either cyanotoxins or T&O, no review has focused on them at the same time. The present review critically evaluates the recent literature on cyanotoxins and T&O compounds (geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, β-ionone and β-cyclocitral) to identify research gaps on harmful exposure of humans and animals to both metabolite classes. T&O and cyanotoxins production can be due to the same or common to different cyanobacterial species/strains, with the additional possibility of T&O production by non-cyanobacterial species. The few environmental studies on the co-occurrence of these two groups of metabolites are not sufficient to understand if and how they can co-vary, or influence each other, perhaps stimulating cyanotoxin production. Therefore, T&Os cannot reliably serve as early warning surrogates for cyanotoxins. The scarce data on T&O toxicity seem to indicate a low health risk (but the inhalation of β-cyclocitral deserves more study). However, no data are available on the effects of combined exposure to mixtures of cyanotoxins and T&O compounds and to combinations of T&O compounds; therefore, whether the co-occurrence of cyanotoxins and T&O compounds is a health issue remains an open question.

Application of a Mechanistic Model for the Prediction of Microcystin Production by Microcystis in Lab Cultures and Tropical Lake

Microcystin is an algal toxin that is commonly found in eutrophic freshwaters throughout the world. Many studies have been conducted to elucidate the factors affecting its production, but few studies have attempted mechanistic models of its production to aid water managers in predicting its occurrence. Here, a mechanistic model was developed based on microcystin production by Microcystis spp. under laboratory culture and ambient field conditions. The model was built on STELLA, a dynamic modelling software, and is based on constitutive cell quota that varies with nitrogen, phosphorus, and temperature. In addition to these factors, varying the decay rate of microcystin according to its proportion in the intracellular and extracellular phase was important for the model's performance. With all these effects, the model predicted most of the observations with a model efficiency that was >0.72 and >0.45 for the lab and field conditions respectively. However, some large discrepancies were observed. These may have arisen from the non-constitutive microcystin production that appear to have a precondition of nitrogen abundance. Another reason for the large root mean square error is that cell quota is affected by factors differently between strains.

Comparative growth characteristics and interspecific competitive interaction of two cyanobacteria, Phormidium autumnale and Nostoc sp.

This study examined the growth characteristics and competitive interaction of two cyanobacteria, Phormidium autumnale GJ_2B_I1 and Nostoc sp. DS_2B_I1, which were newly isolated from a southeast river (Nakdong) during the cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (CyanoHAB) season in Korea. As major environmental parameters, water temperature (25 and 30 °C) and alkalinity (19-78 mg CaCO₃ L^-1 ) and nitrate concentration (1.5-3.5 mg NO₃ -N L^-1 ) were selected based on the water environmental monitoring data during the CyanoHAB season. Unlike P. autumnale, Nostoc sp. has a relatively high growth rate under both monoculture and co-culture and prefers the maximum environmental conditions (30 °C and 78 mg CaCO₃ L^-1 ; pH 9) during the CyanoHAB season. In addition, the growth of P. autumnale is relatively unaffected by alkalinity. Nitrogen (N) stress also has a limiting effect in the interspecific interactions of both cyanobacterial strains. All other cases except for Nostoc sp. in a co-culture showed a considerable increase in growth rate with increasing N content (1.5-3.5 mg NO₃ -N L^-1 ), showing 20-64% under the minimum field conditions (25 °C and 19 mg CaCO₃ L^-1 ; pH 7) and 18-140% under the maximum field conditions. The results show that the growth of P. autumnale can be stimulated by enhanced N stress. On the other hand, Nostoc sp. is less affected by N stress compared with P. autumnale. Therefore, it has excellent potential to be a major group of CyanoHABs because of their relatively high growth rate, particularly in the range of N tested.

Driving Factors of Geosmin Appearance in a Mediterranean River Basin: The Ter River Case

In recent decades, human activity coupled with climate change has led to a deterioration in the quality of surface freshwater. This has been related to an increase in the appearance of algal blooms, which can produce organic compounds that can be toxic or can affect the organoleptic characteristics of the water, such as its taste and odor. Among these latter compounds is geosmin, a metabolite produced by certain cyanobacteria that confers an earthy taste to water and which can be detected by humans at very low concentrations (nanogram per liter). The difficulty and cost of both monitoring the presence of this compound and its treatment is a problem for drinking water treatment companies, as the appearance of geosmin affects consumer confidence in the quality of the drinking water they supply. In this field study, the evaluation of four sampling sites with different physicochemical conditions located in the upper part of the Ter River basin, a Mediterranean river located in Catalonia (NE Spain), has been carried out, with the aim of identifying the main triggers of geosmin episodes. The results, obtained from 1 year of sampling, have made it possible to find out that: (i) land uses with a higher percentage of agricultural and industrial activity are related to high nutrient conditions in river water, (ii) these higher nutrient concentrations favor the development of benthic cyanobacteria, (iii) in late winter-early spring, when these cyanobacteria are subjected to both an imbalance of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and soluble reactive phosphorus ratio, guided by a phosphorus concentration increase, and to cold-mild temperatures close to 10°C, they produce and release geosmin, and (iv) 1-2 weeks after cyanobacteria reach a high relative presence in the whole biofilm, an increase in geosmin concentration in water is observed, probably associated with the cyanobacteria detachment from cobbles and consequent cell lysis. These results could serve as a guide for drinking water treatment companies, indicating under what conditions they can expect the appearance of geosmin episodes and implement the appropriate treatment before it reaches consumers' tap.

Effects of algae proliferation and density current on the vertical distribution of odor compounds in drinking water reservoirs in summer

Reservoirs are an important type of drinking water source for megacities, while lots of reservoirs are threatened by odor problems during certain seasons. The influencing factors of odor compounds in reservoirs are still unclear. During August 2019, a nationwide survey investigating the distribution of odor compounds in reservoirs used as drinking water sources was conducted on seven reservoirs. 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and geosmin were detected in almost every reservoir, and some odor compound concentrations even exceeded the odor threshold concentration. The average concentration of 2-MIB was 2.68 ng/L, and geosmin was 3.63 ng/L. The average chlorophyll a concentration was 8.25 μg/L. The dominant genera of phytoplankton in these reservoirs belonged to cyanobacteria and diatom. Statistical analysis showed that odor compound concentration was significantly related to the chlorophyll a concentration and indicated that the odor compounds mainly came from phytoplankton. The concentration of odor compounds in the euphotic zone was significantly related to phytoplankton species and biomass. Therefore, the odor compound concentrations in the subsurface chlorophyll maxima layer was generally higher than in the surface layer. However, the odor compounds in the hypolimnion layer were related to the density current. This research suggests that both phytoplankton proliferation events and heavy storm events are important risk factors increasing odor compounds in reservoirs. Control of algal bloom, in-situ profile monitoring system and depth-adjustable pumping system will greatly reduce the risk of odor problems in reservoirs using as water supplies for large cities.

Influence of Abiotic Factors on the Growth of Cyanobacteria Isolated from Nakdong River, South Korea1

Changes in physico-chemical factors due to natural climate variability and eutrophication could affect the cyanobacterial growth patterns in aquatic systems that may cause environmental health problems. Based on morphological and 16S rRNA gene analysis, three cyanobacterial species isolated for the first time from the Nakdong River water sample in South Korea were identified as Amazoninema brasiliense, Microcystis elabens, and Nododsilinea nodulosa. The variations in temperature, pH, nitrogen, or phosphorus levels significantly impacted the cyanobacterial growth patterns. The optimal temperature range for the growth of isolates was from 25-30°C. A neutral or weak alkaline environment favored growth; however, A. brasiliense resulted in 44.2-87.5% higher biomass (0.75 g · L^-1 as dry solids, DS) and growth rate (0.24 · d^-1 ) at pH 7 than the other isolates (0.4-0.52 g DS · L^-1 , 0.16-0.19 · d^-1 ). The increased nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃ -N) concentrations significantly (P < 0.05) favored biomass production and growth rate for A. brasiliense and M. elabens, respectively, and the maximum growth rate was observed for A. brasiliense at 3.5 mg NO₃ -N · L^-1 . The orthophosphate concentration (PO₄ -P) from 0.1 to 0.5 mg PO₄ -P · L^-1 increased the growth of the isolates. These observations suggest that isolate growth rates in water bodies can vary depending on different physico-chemical parameters. This study contributes to the further understanding of the growth of microalgae in natural freshwater bodies under fluctuating environmental conditions and aquatic ecosystem stability.

Effects of the interaction between nutrient concentration and DIN:SRP ratio on geosmin production by freshwater biofilms

The global increase of cyanobacterial blooms occurrence has been associated with the presence of compounds that generate earthy and musty odor in freshwater systems, among which geosmin stands out. The lack of information on the factors associated to geosmin production by benthic organisms has driven the development of this study, whose main goal is to determine the effects of nutrient concentration and DIN:SRP ratio on geosmin formation and release. The experiment was performed in 18 microcosms under controlled conditions for 21 days, using a natural biofilm suspension from Ter river (NE, Spain) to promote biofilm settlement. Six treatments were set crossing three DIN:SRP ratios (A = 4:1, B = 16:1 and C = 64:1) with two nutrient concentrations (Low and High). After 7 days of experiment, geosmin was detected in biofilm, being higher under high nutrient concentration and low DIN:SRP ratio conditions. In this treatment, geosmin in biofilm reached its maximum concentration at day 16 (3.8 ± 0.9 ng/mg), decreasing at the end of the experiment (21d) due to cyanobacteria detachment and geosmin release into the water (136 ± 6 ng/L). Overall, this experimental study showed that high nutrient concentration and low DIN:SRP ratio favored the Oscillatoria genus development within biofilm communities, generating the optimal conditions for geosmin production. The interaction between these two factors was demonstrated to be a potential driver of benthic geosmin production and release, and should be monitored and controlled in rivers exploited for drinking water purposes.

Identification of geosmin biosynthetic gene in geosmin-producing colonial cyanobacteria Coelosphaerium sp. and isolation of geosmin non-producing Coelosphaerium sp. from brackish Lake Shinji in Japan

Geosmin is an earthy-muddy smelling compound produced in aquatic ecosystems by microorganisms including cyanobacteria. An increase in geosmin levels affecting the local fishery occurred in May 2007 in Lake Shinji, Japan, and geosmin-producing colonial cyanobacterium, Coelosphaerium sp. G2, was isolated from a water sample from the lake and identified. Cyanobacteria Coelosphaerium sp. is commonly found in Lake Shinji; however, prior to 2007, earthy-muddy odors were not a frequent issue. Further, there was no information regarding the geosmin biosynthetic gene in colonial cyanobacteria. Here, the geosmin biosynthetic gene (geoA) in strain G2 was identified and its nucleotide sequence was determined. It was found that geoA had 79% and 78% identity with geoA from filamentous geosmin-producing cyanobacteria Fischerella sp. PCC 9431 and geoA2 from Phormidium sp. P2r, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of GeoA consisted of two domains that were annotated as terpene cyclase. In 2015, geosmin non-producing Coelosphaerium sp. S3C5 was isolated from Lake Shinji and identified by morphological and genetic analyses. There was no difference in morphology or nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA and 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) between geosmin-producing and non-producing strains, which are therefore closely related and can exist in Lake Shinji. Distinguishing the two strains by observation under a microscope and sequencing of 16S rRNA and 16S-23S ITS have proven difficult. Inconsistency between the appearance of Coelosphaerium cells and the detection of the odor in water samples could therefore be attributed to dominance by the geosmin-producing strain or the non-producing strain. The increase in earthy smell is assumed to be caused by an increase in the geosmin-producing strain in Lake Shinji. Genetic analysis of geoA in Coelosphaerium sp. and the relative abundances of geosmin-producing and non-producing Coelosphaerium strains in Lake Shinji can be used to mitigate the economic damages caused by geosmin. Development of a molecular method to monitor the geosmin-producing strain in water ecosystems is equally important to alleviate the earthy smell caused by this particular strain.

Molecular Verification of Bloom-forming Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Their Secondary Metabolites in the Nakdong River

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.