Summary: Microcystis is a cosmopolitan genus of cyanobacteria and occurs in many different forms. Large surface blooms of the cyanobacterium are well known in eutrophic lakes throughout the globe. We evaluated the role of microcystins (MCs) in promoting and maintaining bloom‐forming cell aggregates at environmentally relevant MC concentrations (0.25–10 µg l ⁻¹ ). MCs significantly enhanced Microcystis colony sizes. Colonial diameters in microcystin‐RR (MC‐RR)‐treated cultures (at 1 µg l ⁻¹ ) were significantly larger than control colonies, by factors of 1.5, 2.6 and 2.7 in Microcystis wesenbergii DC‐M1, M. ichthyoblabe TH‐M1 and Microcystis sp. FACHB1027 respectively. Depletion of extracellular MC concentrations caused Microcystis colony size to decrease, suggesting that released MCs are intimately involved in the maintenance of Microcystis colonial size. MC‐RR exposure did not influence Microcystis growth rate, but did significantly increase the production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). In addition, MC‐RR exposure appeared to trigger upregulation of certain parts of four polysaccharide biosynthesis‐related genes: capD , csaB , tagH and epsL . These results strongly indicate that induction of polysaccharides by MC‐RR was the major mechanism through which MCs enhanced colony formation in Microcystis spp. Cellular release of MCs, therefore, may play a key role in the persistence of algal colonies and the dominance of Microcystis.

Gut microorganisms are comprised of thousands of species and play an important role in the host’s metabolism, overall health status, and risk of disease. Recently, the discovery of non-photosynthetic cyanobacteria (class “Melainabacteria”) in the human and animal gut triggered a broad interest in studying cyanobacteria’s evolution, physiology, and ecological relevance of the Melainabacteria members. In the present paper, we review the general characteristics of Melainabacteria, their phylogeny, distribution, and ecology. The potential link between these microorganisms and human health is also discussed based on available human-microbiome studies. Their abundance tends to increase in patients with selected neurodegenerative, gastrointestinal, hepatic, metabolic, and respiratory diseases. However, the available evidence is correlative and requires further longitudinal studies. Although the research on Melainabacteria in the human gut is still in its infancy, elucidation of their role appears important in better understanding microbiome–human health interactions. Further studies aiming to identify particular gut cyanobacteria species, culture them in vitro, and characterize them on the molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels are encouraged.

Microcystis is the most common freshwater bloom-forming cyanobacterium. Its massive blooms not only adversely affect the functionality of aquatic ecosystems, but are also associated with the production of microcystins (MCs), a group of potent toxins that become a threat to public health when cell-bound MCs are significantly released from the dying Microcystis into the water column. Managing Microcystis blooms thus requires sufficient knowledge regarding both the cell death modes and the release of toxins. Recently, more and more studies have demonstrated the occurrence of programmed cell death-like (or apoptosis-like) events in laboratory and field samples of Microcystis. Apoptosis is a genetically controlled process that is essential for the development and survival of metazoa; however, it has been gradually realized to be an existing phenomenon playing important ecological roles in unicellular microorganisms. Here, we review the current progress and the existing knowledge gap regarding apoptosis-like death in Microcystis. Specifically, we focus first on the tools utilized to characterize the apoptosis-related biochemical and morphological features in Microcystis. We further outline various stressful stimuli that trigger the occurrence of apoptosis and discuss the potential mechanisms of apoptosis in Microcystis. We then propose a conceptual model to describe the functional coupling of apoptosis and MC in Microcystis. This model could be useful for understanding both roles of MC and apoptosis in this species. Lastly, we conclude the review by highlighting the current knowledge gap and considering the direction of future research. Overall, this review provides a recent update with respect to the knowledge of apoptosis in Microcystis and also offers a guide for future investigations of its ecology and survival strategies.