Paralytic shellfish toxins in the freshwater cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, isolated from Montargil reservoir, Portugal

Pereira, Paulo; Onodera, Hideyuki; Andrinolo, Darı́o; França, Susana; Araújo, Filomena; Lagos, Néstor; Oshima, Yasukatsu

doi:10.1016/s0041-0101(00)00100-8

Cited by 124 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Here we report evidence of PST production in a clonal strain of Aphanizomenon gracile, a bloom-forming species with a worldwide distribution. Although neurotoxicity has been reported for other species of Aphanizomenon (Mahmood & Carmichael, 1986;Pereira et al, 2000;Ferreira et al, 2001), this species has not previously been documented as a PST producer. In fact, until recently, all the Aphanizomenon strains reported as PST producers were thought to be A. flos-aquae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Taxonomy and production of paralytic shellfish toxins by the freshwater cyanobacteriumAphanizomenon gracileLMECYA40

Pereira

Carmichael

et al. 2004

European Journal of Phycology

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Detection of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) in an algal bloom in a Portuguese drinking water reservoir (Lake Crato) was followed by isolation of a strain of Aphanizomenon gracile. The strain, coded as LMECYA40, was cultured and identified by combining a morphological study with 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The toxin profile of this isolate, as revealed by HPLC-FLD analysis, was similar to that of other Aphanizomenon strains (e.g. NH-5) isolated from North America, consisting of two PST analogues: neoSTX (0.27 fmol cell 71) and STX (0.05 fmol cell 71). Based on these toxin levels, we estimated that a culture with a cell density of 10 7 cells ml 71 should contain approximately 910 mg of STX equivalents per litre. Small volumes of water containing PST concentrations similar to those estimated from the cultured A. gracile would therefore contain PST amounts comparable to those used as limit enforcement for harvesting and consumption of shellfish in marine environments (80 mg of STX equivalents per 100 g of shellfish).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Taxonomy and production of paralytic shellfish toxins by the freshwater cyanobacteriumAphanizomenon gracileLMECYA40

Pereira

Carmichael

et al. 2004

European Journal of Phycology

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“…62 (Pereira et al, 2000;Li et al, 2003). Other PST-producing cyanobacteria encountered elsewhere in the world include Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszyńska) Seenayya & Subba Raju (Lagos et al, 1999), Dolichospermum circinale (Rabenhorst ex Bornet & Flahault) P. Wacklin, L. Hoffmann & J. Komárek (formerly Anabaena circinalis, Wacklin et al, 2009) and Plectonema wollei Farlow ex Gomont (Carmichael et al, 1997), Raphidiopsis brookii Hill (Yunes et al, 2009), Scytonema sp.…”

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confidence: 99%

First report of cyanobacterial paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis genes and paralytic shellfish toxin production in Polish freshwater lakes

et al. 2017

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In central and southern Europe, Aphanizomenon spp., A. gracile Lemmermann in particular, have been associated with paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) production. In western Poland, A. gracile is very common, and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszyńska) Seenayya & Subba Raju, another potentially PST-producing species, is often found as well. To date it is, however, unknown if the cyanobacterial populations in this area harbour the genetic capability to produce PSTs, and to what extent toxin biosynthesis occurs. The objective of this study was to survey the prevalence of potentially PST-producing cyanobacteria by measuring paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis gene sxtB copy numbers, sxtA, sxtG and sxtS gene presence, and PST concentrations in Polish freshwater lakes. In total, 34 lakes in western Poland were sampled twice during summer 2010. The presence of PST biosynthesis genes sxtA, sxtG and sxtS was determined using conventional qualitative PCR. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure sxtB copy numbers, and the samples were analysed for PSTs using ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography with post-column oxidation and fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Cyanobacteria carrying the sxtB gene were present in 23.5% of all samples (n=16) and in 14 lakes of the studied 34. Gene copy numbers ranged from 8.2×104 to 5.1×107 sxtB copies L-1 (mean 3.8×106). The median was 4.5×105 sxtB gene copies L-1 and the majority of results clustered at the lower end of the sxtB qPCR linear range. In 12 out of the 16 samples positive for sxtB the gene co-occurred with the other three targeted PST biosynthesis genes sxtA, sxtG and sxtS. However, five additional samples lacked one or two of the targeted four genes. Thirteen samples contained PSTs, of which 12 samples at levels <0.072 µg L-1, i.e., close to or below the quantitative detection limit of the HPLC-FLD method (0.01 µg L-1). One sample contained 0.57 µg L-1 saxitoxin, co-occurring with all four sxt genes studied. No correlation between PST and sxt gene occurrence or copy numbers was observed. A. gracile and C. raciborskii occurred in 92% and 50% of samples, respectively, containing PSTs, sxt genes or both. In conclusion, the results confirm that potential PST producers constitute an established subpopulation of cyanobacteria in Polish freshwater lakes. However, none of the sxt genes targeted in this study could serve as a reliable marker for active PST biosynthesis.

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“…Contrary to Spirulina, where direct production of toxin is yet uncorroborated, A. flos-aquae is known to be capable of producing the neurotoxic alkaloids anatoxin-a (Rapala et al 1993) and saxitoxins (Adelman et al 1982;Ferreira et al 2001;Mahmood and Carmichael 1986;Pereira et al 2000), as well as the neurotoxic, nonprotein amino acid BMAA (Cox et al 2005). Maatouk et al (2002) assumed that a mono-specific Aph.…”

Section: Specific Health Risks From Contaminated Food and Cyanobactermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From May to June Aphanizomenon flosaquae had been the predominant species and bloom extracts exhibited clear neurotoxic symptoms in a mouse bioassay. Pereira et al (2000) analytically identified five saxitoxin variants following the isolation of an A. flos-aquae strain predominating the bloom. From July to August Microcystis aeruginosa predominated the bloom with extracts showing high hepatotoxicity in the mouse bioassay.…”

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confidence: 99%

Toxin mixture in cyanobacterial blooms – a critical comparison of reality with current procedures employed in human health risk assessment

Dietrich¹,

Fischer²,

Michel³

et al.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

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Cyanobacteria are the oldest life forms on earth known to produce a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites. The functions/advantages of most of these secondary metabolites (peptides and alkaloids) are unknown, however, some of them have adverse effects in humans and wildlife, especially when ingested, inhaled or upon dermal exposure. Surprisingly, some of these cyanobacteria are ingested voluntarily. Indeed, for centuries mankind has used cyanobacteria as a protein source, primarily Spirulina species. However, recently also Aphanizomenon flos-aquae are used for the production of so called blue green algae supplements (BGAS), supposedly efficacious for treatment of various diseases and afflictions. Unfortunately, traces of neurotoxins and protein phosphatases (inhibiting compounds) have been detected in BGAS, making these health supplements a good example for human exposure to a mixture of cyanobacterial toxins in a complex matrix. The discussion of this and other possible exposure scenarios, e.g. drinking water, contact during recreational activity, or consumption of contaminated food, can provide insight into the question of whether or not our current risk assessment schemes for cyanobacterial blooms and the toxins contained therein suffice for protection of human health. Cyanobacterial metabolites: Health hazards for humans?Cyanobacteria exist worldwide ubiquitously, including in extreme environments (Hitzfeld et al.

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Paralytic shellfish toxins in the freshwater cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, isolated from Montargil reservoir, Portugal

Cited by 124 publications

References 17 publications

Taxonomy and production of paralytic shellfish toxins by the freshwater cyanobacteriumAphanizomenon gracileLMECYA40

Taxonomy and production of paralytic shellfish toxins by the freshwater cyanobacteriumAphanizomenon gracileLMECYA40

First report of cyanobacterial paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis genes and paralytic shellfish toxin production in Polish freshwater lakes

Toxin mixture in cyanobacterial blooms – a critical comparison of reality with current procedures employed in human health risk assessment

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