Benthic survival of Microcystis: Long-term viability and ability to transcribe microcystin genes

Evaluation on the dewatering process of cyanobacteria-containing AlCl3 and PACl drinking water sludge

“…The most common toxins produced by cyanobacteria are microcystins (MCs), a class of hepatotoxic monocyclic heptapeptides [4,5]. MCs have caused several causes of poisoning of livestock and wildlife around the world, and they also pose a health hazard to human through drinking water supply.…”

“…MCs have caused several causes of poisoning of livestock and wildlife around the world, and they also pose a health hazard to human through drinking water supply. Orally ingested, MCs would be absorbed to hepatic cells and irreversibly inhibit phosphatase proteins, subsequently leading to disruption of cell structures, intrahepatic hemorrhage and death [4,6]. Therefore, the control of MCs in drinking water treatment becomes a very important issue.…”

Genetic diversity along the life cycle of the cyanobacterium Microcystis: highlight on the complexity of benthic and planktonic interactions

“…This higher genetic diversity is probably the result of the gradual accumulation of sedimenting cells from the successive planktonic proliferations from year to year. As Microcystis is known to survive a long time in the benthic conditions (Latour and Giraudet, ; Latour et al ., ; Misson et al ., ), afterwards developing in the water column due to the recruitment of part of the benthic cells (Tsujimura et al ., ; Brunberg and Blomqvist, ; Verspagen et al ., 2004; 2005), this benthic accumulation represents a storage of high genetic diversity that allows natural populations to adapt to a wide range of environmental growth conditions. Thus, the benthic subpopulation of Microcystis could represent a genetically diversified ‘seed‐bank’, i.e.…”

“…Despite ecological interest in the benthic compartment, a very limited number of studies have addressed the genetic diversity in this compartment until now. A lack of phylogenetic differentiation between benthic and planktonic genotypes (Humbert et al ., ) and the stability of genotypic structure of the benthic subpopulation over time (Kim et al ., ; Misson et al ., ) were shown previously, but these studies were based on single time points or based on low‐resolution methods such as fingerprinting (single‐strand conformation polymorphism or denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). As benthic and planktonic subpopulations are linked through the life cycle of Microcystis , one can ask how interactions between planktonic and benthic phases affect the genetic diversity in both compartments.…”

Vertical Heterogeneity of Genotypic Structure and Toxic Potential within Populations of the Harmful Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

“…Many comprehensive studies have therefore been realized in order to explain the ecological success of this cyanobacterium and to unravel the complex set of factors driving both its dynamics and its toxicity. Such previous studies mainly dealt with the genetic diversity of M. aeruginosa's populations [4][5][6][7], the toxic potential of M. aeruginosa [8][9][10][11][12], and the determinism of the different steps of M. aeruginosa's life cycle [13][14][15][16].…”