Analysis Of Cyanobacterial Toxins Research Articles

Long-term changes in the dynamics and structure of cyanobacteria in Koronowo Reservoir

Abstract The Koronowo Reservoir (16.6 km2) is located in the lower reaches of the Brda River, in the Kujawy-Pomerania Province, 20 km from Bydgoszcz near the town of Koronowo, hence the name of the reservoir. The reservoir was built in the 1960s and started from damming the waters of the Brda River by a ca. 20 m high earth dam in the village of Pieczyska. This reservoir is used mainly for water retention and production of electric energy in the hydroelectric power station; in addition, it plays a significant recreational function. In terms of the latter function, the spread of cyanobacteria is a serious problem. The aim of the study was to assess longterm changes in the structure of cyanobacteria in waters of the Koronowo Reservoir. The results from 1996, 2008, 2011 and 2013 were compared. As evidenced by the analysis of the phytoplankton composition in the Koronowo Reservoir in terms of functional groups, especially the occurrence of dominant and subdominant species from the groups P, H1, S1, LM, J, G and W2, the waters of the reservoir can be classified as eutrophic, potentially evolving towards the hypertrophic conditions. The HPLC analysis of cyanobacterial toxins revealed the presence of microcystins at two sites of the water body. The species structure, the distribution and the dominance of specific species of cyanobacteria is recurrent over the 17 years; the following species form algal blooms: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (L.) Ralfs et Bornet et Flahault and Microcystis aeruginosa (Kütz.) Kützing.

Comparison of Fluorescence Immunochromatographic Assay Strip and Gold Colloidal Immunochromatographic Assay Strip for Detection of Microcystin

Microcystins are a family of cyclic polypeptides produced by different species of cyanobacteria (blue green algae), which can form blooms in lakes and water reservoirs. However, it is difficult to detect microcystins directly in the water since the concentration of the toxins in water is usually too low. It is necessary to develop a simple and quick method to detect microcystins. In this paper, different detection characteristics of fluorescence immunochromatography and gold colloidal immunochromatography for analysis of cyanobacterial toxins were studied. These two immunochromatography assays are easy to perform, rapid, sensitive, and their quantitative range is within detectable microcystin concentrations in water samples. The fluorescence immunochromatographic system has the unique advantages of low detection limit, and satisfactory accurate results are obtained. The gold colloidal immunochromatographic system has the strong advantage of direct detection of microcystins at the test site without having to bring the samples back to the laboratory. Therefore, these two techniques supplement each other.

Adduct simplification in the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

A novel method for simplifying adduct patterns to improve the detection and identification of peptide toxins using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry is presented. Addition of 200 microM zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO(4) . 7H(2)O) to samples prior to spotting on the target enhances detection of the protonated molecule while suppressing competing adducts. This produces a highly simplified spectrum with the potential to enhance quantitative analysis, particularly for complex samples. The resulting improvement in total signal strength and reduction in the coefficient of variation (from 31.1% to 5.2% for microcystin-LR) further enhance the potential for sensitive and accurate quantitation. Other potential additives tested, including 18-crown-6 ether, alkali metal salts (lithium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride), and other transition metal salts (silver chloride, silver nitrate, copper(II) nitrate, copper(II) sulfate, zinc acetate), were unable to achieve comparable results. Application of this technique to the analysis of several microcystins, potent peptide hepatotoxins from cyanobacteria, is illustrated.

Analysis of cyanobacterial toxins by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

The combination of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometry (HILIC–MS) has been investigated as a tool for the analysis of assorted toxins produced by cyanobacteria. Toxins examined included saxitoxin and its various analogues ( 1– 18), anatoxin-a (ATX-a, 19), cylindrospermopsin (CYN, 20), deoxycylindrospermopsin (doCYN, 21), and microcystins-LR ( 22) and -RR ( 23). The saxitoxins could be unequivocally detected in one isocratic analysis using a TSK gel Amide-80 column eluted with 65% B, where eluent A is water and B is a 95% acetonitrile/water solution, both containing 2.0 mM ammonium formate and 3.6 mM formic acid. The analysis of ATX-a, CYN and doCYN required 75% B isocratic. Simultaneous determination of 1– 21 was also possible by using gradient elution. HILIC proved to be suitable for the analysis of microcystins, but peak shape was not symmetric and it was concluded that these compounds are best analysed using existing reversed-phase methods. The HILIC–MS method was applied to the analysis of field and cultured samples of Anabaena circinalis and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. In general, the method proved quite robust with similar results obtained in two different laboratories using different instrumentation.

Analysis of cyanobacterial toxins by immunological methods.

Analysis of cyanobacterial toxins by immunological methods.

Analysis of Cyanobacterial Toxins by Physicochemical and Biochemical Methods

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce a wide range of low molecular weight metabolites that include potent neurotoxins, hepatotoxins, and cytotoxins. The accumulation of such toxins in freshwaters, and in brackish and marine waters presents hazards to human and animal health by a range of exposure routes. A review is presented of developments in the detection and analysis of cyanobacterial toxins, other than bioassays, including application of physicochemical, immunoassays, and enzyme-based methods. Analytical requirements are considered with reference to recently derived guideline levels for the protection of health and to the availability, or otherwise, of purified, quantitative cyanobacterial toxin standards.

Application of HPLC and HPCE to the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and different high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) methods have been developed for the detection and quantitation of cyanobacterial toxins in environmental samples.

On-line solid-phase extraction in microcolumn- liquid chromatography coupled to UV or MS detection: Application to the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins

An on-line technique coupling preconcentration via a microprecolumn with microcolumn-liquid chromatography (micro-LC) on a 1-mm inner diameter (i.d.) analytical column was investigated. The system was found to be very simple, fast, and efficient for the trace-level determination of some natural hepatotoxins synthesized by Cyanobacteria, namely, microcystins, in environmental water. Particular attention was paid to band broadening, and a good quality coupling was obtained. A cleanup was introduced in the solid-phase extraction (SPE) sequence to eliminate part of the interferents co- extracted during the sample percolation. The technique was reproducible, with relative standard deviations ranging from 3 to 8%, linear in the range 0.05–50 μg/L. Microcystins could be detected below the 0.04 μg/L level in drinking and surface water using only 5-mL sample volumes, with UV detection. The very small sample volume, resulting from lower detection limits, in absolute amounts, obtained in micro-LC represents a definite advantage over on-line classical chromatography. The suitability of on-line micro-SPE–micro-LC–MS was also evaluated. Application to the determination of microcystins in environmental and drinking water samples are presented. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 12: 323–332, 2000