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Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites
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Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2020) | Viewed by 14727

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jussi Meriluoto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
Interests: aquatic cyanobacteria; terrestrial cyanobacteria; bioactive compounds; detection methods; exposure assessment; bioaccumulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nada Tokodi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Metabolomics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30387 Krakow, Poland
2. Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: cyanobacteria; blooms; cyanotoxins; microcystin; health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ongoing eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems has increased cyanobacterial blooms and also intensified the problems caused by the blooms. Harmful cyanobacteria and their toxic metabolites are known to cause health concerns in humans, animals, and plants, and water-users continue to experience cyanobacterial hazards and nuisance in Europe and other parts of the world as evidenced by some recent events.

The Special Issue "Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites" in the journal Applied Sciences has a wide scope and it is intended to address some of the gaps in our knowledge concerning the management of cyanobacterial problems. It deals with, e.g., the occurrence of harmful cyanobacteria, methods for the analysis of noxious cyanometabolites, fate/impact/health effects of cyanotoxins, as well as management measures related to harmful cyanobacteria.

Some examples of work relevant for the Special Issue includes manuscripts on toxic invasive cyanobacteria; occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria in less-studied environments; cyanobacterial adaptations to climate change especially in relation to toxin production; cyanobacterial production of taste and odor compounds; management of harmful cyanobacteria in protected ecosystems; exposure assessment and effects of cyanotoxins in aquatic and terrestrial organisms including humans; novel methods for monitoring and analysis of cyanotoxins; prevention and control measures for the elimination of cyanobacterial problems. Review papers promoting international initiatives for the management of cyanobacterial problems may also be considered if presented with a strong scientific rationale but the potential authors of such papers are encouraged to contact the Guest Editors in advance.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Journal of Xenobiotics.

Dr. Jussi Meriluoto
Dr. Nada Tokodi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Toxic invasive cyanobacteria
  • Ecotoxicology related to toxic cyanobacteria
  • Health effects of cyanotoxins
  • Taste and odor compounds of cyanobacteria
  • Methods for monitoring and analysis of harmful cyanobacteria and their metabolites
  • Prevention and control measures for the elimination of cyanobacterial problems, and international initiatives related to these

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 194 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites
by Jussi Meriluoto and Nada Tokodi
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9656; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199656 - 26 Sep 2022
Viewed by 664
Abstract
Cyanobacteria, previously called blue-green algae, are photosynthetic microorganisms which thrive especially in aquatic ecosystems suffering from eutrophication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

19 pages, 3572 KiB  
Article
Microcystis aeruginosa and M. wesenbergii Were the Primary Planktonic Microcystin Producers in Several Bulgarian Waterbodies (August 2019)
by Maya Stoyneva-Gärtner, Katerina Stefanova, Jean-Pierre Descy, Blagoy Uzunov, Mariana Radkova, Vera Pavlova, Mariya Mitreva and Georg Gärtner
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(1), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11010357 - 31 Dec 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3281
Abstract
The rising interest in harmful cyanoprokaryote blooms promotes an increase of phycological and ecological research on potentially toxic species and their hazardous substances. The present study aimed to identify the main microcystin (MC) producers and their contribution to the phytoplankton of shallow waterbodies [...] Read more.
The rising interest in harmful cyanoprokaryote blooms promotes an increase of phycological and ecological research on potentially toxic species and their hazardous substances. The present study aimed to identify the main microcystin (MC) producers and their contribution to the phytoplankton of shallow waterbodies in Bulgaria, applying different methods. The sampling was performed in August 2019 in nine lakes and reservoirs, two of which (reservoirs Kriva Reka and Izvornik 2) were studied for the first time. The high contribution of cyanoprokaryotes to the total species composition and phytoplankton abundance was proved by light microscopic (LM) observations and HPLC analysis of marker pigments. The LM identification of potential MC-producers was supported by PCR amplification of mcyE and mcyB genes. The MCs amounts, detected by HPLC-DAD, varied by sites with a range from undetectable concentrations to 0.46 µg L−1 with only one recorded variant, namely MC-LR. It was found only in the reservoirs Mandra and Durankulak, while toxigenic MC-strains were obtained by PCR from five more waterbodies. Both LM and PCR demonstrated that the MC-producers were Microcystis aeruginosa and M. wesenbergii, despite their occurrence in low amounts (<0.5–5% of the total biomass) when filamentous cyanoprokaryotes dominated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites)
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25 pages, 6166 KiB  
Article
Cyanobacterial Potential for Restoration of Loess Surfaces through Artificially Induced Biocrusts
by Tamara Palanački Malešević, Tamara Dulić, Igor Obreht, Zorana Trivunović, Rastko Marković, Bojan Kostić, Tamara Važić, Jussi Meriluoto and Zorica Svirčev
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(1), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11010066 - 23 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2569
Abstract
Loess is a highly porous and easily erosive aeolian sediment covering approximately 10% of the Earth’s surface. The weak vegetation cover and high wind speeds in many of these regions make loess sediment the main source of dust in the atmosphere. Dust particles [...] Read more.
Loess is a highly porous and easily erosive aeolian sediment covering approximately 10% of the Earth’s surface. The weak vegetation cover and high wind speeds in many of these regions make loess sediment the main source of dust in the atmosphere. Dust particles deteriorate air quality and affect soils, crops, water systems, and animal and human health. The commonly used method for combating desertification is revegetation. However, planting various vascular plant species in loess landscapes did not show any long-lasting positive effects. This study aims to assess the potential of cyanobacterial strains for the restoration of exposed loess surfaces through the assisted development of biological loess crusts (BLCs). Isolated cyanobacterial loess strains were screened for the traits (toxicity, biomass and polysaccharide production) desirable for their use in restoration purposes. By simulating semi-arid environmental conditions in specially designed chambers, the potential of cyanobacterial loess strains for assisted development of BLCs and the mechanisms of loess stabilization have been evaluated by chlorophyll a accumulation and microscopic examination. It was confirmed that cyanobacteria have the ability to interact with loess particles resulting in BLC formation, which keeps the particles immobilized and the sediment below the particles stabilized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites)
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15 pages, 5337 KiB  
Article
Presence of Cyanotoxins in a Mexican Subtropical Monomictic Crater Lake
by José Jesús Bustillos-Guzmán, Andrew Turner, Oscar Ubisha Hernández-Almeida, Christine Johanna Band-Schmidt, Carlos Alberto Romero-Bañuelos, Francisco Eduardo Hernández-Sandoval, Erick Julián Núñez-Vázquez and Yolotzin Apatzingan Palomino-Hermosillo
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(19), 6719; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10196719 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2604
Abstract
Microcystins (MCs) produced by cyanobacteria are a ubiquitous worldwide problem because some MCs can cause tumor formation and are hepatotoxic. In the Santa María del Oro crater lake, Mexico, plankton scums are recurrent during most of the year and are associated with cyanobacteria [...] Read more.
Microcystins (MCs) produced by cyanobacteria are a ubiquitous worldwide problem because some MCs can cause tumor formation and are hepatotoxic. In the Santa María del Oro crater lake, Mexico, plankton scums are recurrent during most of the year and are associated with cyanobacteria of the genera Microcystis spp. and Lyngbya spp. As some of these species are associated with the production of MCs and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), samples from these scums and particulate matter were collected and analyzed for the main bloom species and toxins by a ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Results showed that the main bloom-forming species were Limnoraphis robusta and Microcystis aeruginosa, the presence of at least seven MC congeners and the absence of PSTs in the algae scums. The MCs identified were MC-WR, MC-LR, MC-LA, MC-HilR, MC-LF, MC-YR, and MC-LY. On a dry mass weight basis, MC concentrations were low and ranged between 0.15 and 6.84 μg/kg. Toxin profiles were dominated by MC-WR, MC-LR, and MC-LA, representing 94.5% of the total sample, with each analog contributing 39.8%, 38.1% and 16.5% by relative concentration, respectively. Two of the more hazardous congeners, MC-LR and MC-LA, represented 54.6% of the total MC concentration. MCs in particulate matter along the depth profile were not detected. The MC profile is linked to M. aeruginosa, and it represents the first quantitative MC congener description for this species from a Mexican water ecosystem. Since these mats are recurrent yearly, their effects on humans and wild fauna, and the possible role of anthropogenic activities that favor their presence and proliferation, need to be evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites)
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17 pages, 2802 KiB  
Article
Different Gene Expression Response of Polish and Australian Raphidiopsis raciborskii Strains to the Chill/Light Stress
by Adam Antosiak, Nada Tokodi, Robert Maziarz, Mikołaj Kokociński, Agnieszka Brzozowska, Wojciech Strzałka, Agnieszka Katarzyna Banaś, Anusuya Willis and Dariusz Dziga
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(16), 5437; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10165437 - 06 Aug 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2811
Abstract
R. raciborskii is known for growing under wide ranges of temperature and light. In temperate regions, however, low temperature and high light may serve as a stressful condition for invading tropical populations. The genetic basis of R. raciborskii’s adaptation to this combination of [...] Read more.
R. raciborskii is known for growing under wide ranges of temperature and light. In temperate regions, however, low temperature and high light may serve as a stressful condition for invading tropical populations. The genetic basis of R. raciborskii’s adaptation to this combination of stresses are unknown. In this study, the growth rate and the expression of genes that may be crucial in the response to the chill/light stress of two R. raciborskii strains (differing in their climatic origin and toxicity) exposed to low temperature and high light were examined. Results showed that AMU-DH-30, a non CYN (cylindrospermopsin) producing strain isolated from the temperate region, exhibited under stress the upregulation of genes involved in the protein translation (rbp1, nusG, hflX), membrane fluidity (desA), photosynthetic activity (ccr2 and ftsH), and the accumulation of compatible solutes (asd). In contrast, a CYN producing Australian strain CS-505 was not able to adapt quickly and to continue growth during stress conditions. Intriguingly, CS-505 and AMU-DH-30 had a similar ability to resume growth when the stress conditions subsided. Moreover, in strain CS-505 the cyrB gene was significantly upregulated under the stress conditions. The presented results shed new light on the possible mechanisms involved in the response of R.raciborskii to chill/light stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites)
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18 pages, 1224 KiB  
Article
Free or Protein-Bound Microcystin Accumulation by Freshwater Bivalves as a Tool to Evaluate Water Contamination by Microcystin-Producing Cyanobacteria?
by Alexandra Lepoutre, Théo Grilot, Sarah Jean, Alain Geffard and Emilie Lance
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(10), 3426; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10103426 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2060
Abstract
Cyanobacterial proliferations display rapid spatiotemporal variations that can interfere in the assessment of water contamination levels by microcystins (MC), and make necessary the use of integrative tools. This study evaluates the pertinence of bivalves Anodonta anatina and Dreissena polymorpha as bioindicators of the [...] Read more.
Cyanobacterial proliferations display rapid spatiotemporal variations that can interfere in the assessment of water contamination levels by microcystins (MC), and make necessary the use of integrative tools. This study evaluates the pertinence of bivalves Anodonta anatina and Dreissena polymorpha as bioindicators of the presence of MC-producing cyanobacteria in water. Ingested MC accumulates into two fractions in bivalve tissues—the cellular free and the protein-bound fractions—both forming the total MC fraction. Mussels were exposed to the cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii at densities producing an equivalent of 1, 10 and 100 µg/L of intracellular MC, with the evaluation of: (i) cyanobacterial cells and MC daily intake by mussels, (ii) free and total MC kinetics in whole individuals (using all the tissues) or only in the digestive gland, during and after the exposure, (iii) bioaccumulation factors. For each species, the kinetics of the two accumulation fractions were compared to evaluate which one best reflect levels and dynamics of MC-producing cyanobacteria in water. Results showed that the dynamic of free MC in bivalve tissues better highlight the dynamic of intracellular MC in water. Using whole D. polymorpha may be appropriate to reveal and discriminate the water contamination levels above densities of cyanobacteria producing 1 µg MC/L. Digestive glands of A. anatina appeared more sensitive to reveal low environmental concentration, but without direct correlation with levels of water contamination. Further experimentations in situ are necessary to confirm those results in order to propose the use of freshwater bivalves for a biomonitoring of MC-producing cyanobacteria in fresh waters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Cyanobacteria and Their Metabolites)
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