Freshwater Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) Toxins: Isolation and Characterization

Abstract

Abstract : Freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are capable of producing several physiologically distinct toxins. These toxins are produced by strains of the bloom-forming species Anabaena flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa, Aphonizomenon flos-aquae, Oscillation agardhii and Nodularia spumingena. Work carried out under this contract covered the following areas with these biotoxin- producing microorganisms: (1) Culture, using batch and semicontinuous culture methods, selected neuro- and hepatotoxin-producing strains of freshwater cyanobacteria. (2) Extract and purify the toxins using organic extraction followed by gel and ion-exchange column filtration (both standard and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). (3) Provide USAMRIID with selected purified hepatotoxic peptides and neurotoxic alkaloids. (4) Selected studies on optimization of culture conditions for toxic production and storage of toxic strains. (5) Continue collaborative studies in other areas of the U.S. and the world to isolate and compare freshwater/marine cyanobacteria toxins so that common methods of detection/decontamination can be developed.