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Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are a major contaminant in inland aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, toxic blooms are carried downstream by rivers and waterways to estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Concerning marine and estuarine animal species, very little is known about how these species are affected by the exposure to freshwater cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. So far, most of the knowledge has been gathered from freshwater bivalve molluscs. This work aimed to infer the sensitivity of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to single as well as mixed toxic cyanobacterial cultures and the underlying molecular responses mediated by toxic cyanobacteria. For this purpose, a mussel exposure experiment was outlined with two toxic cyanobacteria species, Microcystis aeruginosa and Chrysosporum ovalisporum at 1 × 105 cells/mL, resembling a natural cyanobacteria bloom. The estimated amount of toxins produced by M. aeruginosa and C. ovalisporum were respectively 0.023 pg/cell of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and 7.854 pg/cell of cylindrospermopsin (CYN). After 15 days of exposure to single and mixed cyanobacteria, a depuration phase followed, during which mussels were fed only non-toxic microalga Parachlorella kessleri. The results showed that the marine mussel is able to filter toxic cyanobacteria at a rate equal or higher than the non-toxic microalga P. kessleri. Filtration rates observed after 15 days of feeding toxic microalgae were 1773.04 mL/ind.h (for M. aeruginosa), 2151.83 mL/ind.h (for C. ovalisporum), 1673.29 mL/ind.h (for the mixture of the 2 cyanobacteria) and 2539.25 mL/ind.h (for the non-toxic P. kessleri). Filtering toxic microalgae in combination resulted in the accumulation of 14.17 ng/g dw MC-LR and 92.08 ng/g dw CYN. Other physiological and biochemical endpoints (dry weight, byssus production, total protein and glycogen) measured in this work did not change significantly in the groups exposed to toxic cyanobacteria with regard to control group, suggesting that mussels were not affected with the toxic microalgae. Nevertheless, proteomics revealed changes in metabolism of mussels related to diet, specially evident in those fed on combined cyanobacteria. Changes in metabolic pathways related with protein folding and stabilization, cytoskeleton structure, and gene transcription/translation were observed after exposure and feeding toxic cyanobacteria. These changes occur in vital metabolic processes and may contribute to protect mussels from toxic effects of the toxins MC-LR and CYN.
Flavio Oliveira; Leticia Diez-Quijada; Maria V. Turkina; João Morais; Aldo Barreiro Felpeto; Joana Azevedo; Angeles Jos; Ana M. Camean; Vitor Vasconcelos; José Carlos Martins; Alexandre Campos. Physiological and Metabolic Responses of Marine Mussels Exposed to Toxic Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Chrysosporum ovalisporum. Toxins 2020, 12, 196 .
AMA StyleFlavio Oliveira, Leticia Diez-Quijada, Maria V. Turkina, João Morais, Aldo Barreiro Felpeto, Joana Azevedo, Angeles Jos, Ana M. Camean, Vitor Vasconcelos, José Carlos Martins, Alexandre Campos. Physiological and Metabolic Responses of Marine Mussels Exposed to Toxic Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Chrysosporum ovalisporum. Toxins. 2020; 12 (3):196.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlavio Oliveira; Leticia Diez-Quijada; Maria V. Turkina; João Morais; Aldo Barreiro Felpeto; Joana Azevedo; Angeles Jos; Ana M. Camean; Vitor Vasconcelos; José Carlos Martins; Alexandre Campos. 2020. "Physiological and Metabolic Responses of Marine Mussels Exposed to Toxic Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Chrysosporum ovalisporum." Toxins 12, no. 3: 196.
Microcystis blooms and the subsequent release of hepatotoxic microcystins (MCs) pose a serious threat to the safety of water for human and livestock consumption, agriculture irrigation, and aquaculture worldwide. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), the most toxic variant of MCs, has been widely detected in a variety of environments such as water, sediments, plants, and many aquatic organisms. Conventional solutions of water treatment are costly, requiring specific infrastructure, as well as specialized personnel and equipment. Therefore, these solutions are not feasible in many rural areas or in the treatment of large reservoirs. In this regard, low-cost and low-technology solutions, such as constructed wetlands (CWs), are attractive solutions to treat surface waters contaminated with toxic cyanobacteria blooms from lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and irrigation systems. In line with this, the main aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of CWs for the treatment of water contaminated with MC-LR produced by Microcystis aeruginosa—LEGE 91094. For that, microcosms (0.4 × 0.3 × 0.3 m) simulating CWs were assembled with Phragmites australis to treat lake water contaminated with Microcystis aeruginosa cells and MCs. Results showed removal percentages of M. aeruginosa cells above 94% and about 99% removal of MC-LR during 1 week treatment cycles. CWs maintained their functions, regardless the presence of MC-LR in the system, and also showed significant removal of nutrients (ammonium ion removal up to 86%) and organic matter (removal reaching 98%). The present work indicates that CWs have the potential for removal of cyanobacterial cells and cyanotoxins, which can be useful for the treatment of eutrophic waters and provide water of sufficient quality to be used, for instance, in agriculture.
Guna Bavithra; Joana Azevedo; Flavio Luis de Oliveira; João Morais; Edgar Pinto; Isabel M.P.L.V.O. Ferreira; Vitor Vasconcelos; Alexandre Campos; C. Marisa R. Almeida. Assessment of Constructed Wetlands’ Potential for the Removal of Cyanobacteria and Microcystins (MC-LR). Water 2019, 12, 10 .
AMA StyleGuna Bavithra, Joana Azevedo, Flavio Luis de Oliveira, João Morais, Edgar Pinto, Isabel M.P.L.V.O. Ferreira, Vitor Vasconcelos, Alexandre Campos, C. Marisa R. Almeida. Assessment of Constructed Wetlands’ Potential for the Removal of Cyanobacteria and Microcystins (MC-LR). Water. 2019; 12 (1):10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGuna Bavithra; Joana Azevedo; Flavio Luis de Oliveira; João Morais; Edgar Pinto; Isabel M.P.L.V.O. Ferreira; Vitor Vasconcelos; Alexandre Campos; C. Marisa R. Almeida. 2019. "Assessment of Constructed Wetlands’ Potential for the Removal of Cyanobacteria and Microcystins (MC-LR)." Water 12, no. 1: 10.
Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins constitute a serious environmental and human health problem. Moreover, concerns are raised with the use of contaminated water in agriculture and vegetable production as this can lead to food contamination and human exposure to toxins as well as impairment in crop development and productivity. The objective of this work was to assess the susceptibility of two green vegetables, spinach and lettuce, to the cyanotoxins microcystin (MC) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN), individually and in mixture. The study consisted of growing both vegetables in hydroponics, under controlled conditions, for 21 days in nutrient medium doped with MC or CYN at 10 μg/L and 50 μg/L, or CYN/MC mixture at 5 + 5 μg/L and 25 + 25 μg/L. Extracts from M. aeruginosa and C. ovalisporum were used as sources of toxins. The study revealed growth inhibition of the aerial part (Leaves) in both species when treated with 50µg/L of MC, CYN and CYN/MC mixture. MC showed to be more harmful to plant growth than CYN. Moreover spinach leaves growth was inhibited by both 5 + 5 and 25 + 25 µg/L CYN/MC mixtures, whereas lettuce leaves growth was inhibited only by 25 + 25 µg/L CYN/MC mixture. Overall, growth data evidence increased sensitivity of spinach to cyanotoxins in comparison to lettuce. On the other hand, plants exposed to CYN/MC mixture showed differential accumulation of CYN and MC. In addition, CYN, but not MC, was translocated from the roots to the leaves. CYN and MC affected the levels of minerals particularly in plant roots. The elements most affected were Ca, K and Mg. However, in leaves K was the mineral that was affected by exposure to cyanotoxins.
Maria Llana-Ruiz-Cabello; Angeles Jos; Ana Cameán; Flavio Oliveira; Aldo Barreiro; Joana Machado; Joana Azevedo; Edgar Pinto; Agostinho Almeida; Alexandre Campos; Vitor Vasconcelos; Marisa Freitas. Analysis of the Use of Cylindrospermopsin and/or Microcystin-Contaminated Water in the Growth, Mineral Content, and Contamination of Spinacia oleracea and Lactuca sativa. Toxins 2019, 11, 624 .
AMA StyleMaria Llana-Ruiz-Cabello, Angeles Jos, Ana Cameán, Flavio Oliveira, Aldo Barreiro, Joana Machado, Joana Azevedo, Edgar Pinto, Agostinho Almeida, Alexandre Campos, Vitor Vasconcelos, Marisa Freitas. Analysis of the Use of Cylindrospermopsin and/or Microcystin-Contaminated Water in the Growth, Mineral Content, and Contamination of Spinacia oleracea and Lactuca sativa. Toxins. 2019; 11 (11):624.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Llana-Ruiz-Cabello; Angeles Jos; Ana Cameán; Flavio Oliveira; Aldo Barreiro; Joana Machado; Joana Azevedo; Edgar Pinto; Agostinho Almeida; Alexandre Campos; Vitor Vasconcelos; Marisa Freitas. 2019. "Analysis of the Use of Cylindrospermopsin and/or Microcystin-Contaminated Water in the Growth, Mineral Content, and Contamination of Spinacia oleracea and Lactuca sativa." Toxins 11, no. 11: 624.
Bacterial biofilms are complex biological systems that are difficult to eradicate at a medical, industrial, or environmental level. Biofilms confer bacteria protection against external factors and antimicrobial treatments. Taking into account that about 80% of human infections are caused by bacterial biofilms, the eradication of these structures is a great priority. Biofilms are resistant to old-generation antibiotics, which has led to the search for new antimicrobials from different sources, including deep oceans/seas. In this study, 675 extracts obtained from 225 cyanobacteria and microalgae species (11 phyla and 6 samples belonging to unknown group) were obtained from different culture collections: The Blue Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology Culture Collection (LEGE-CC), the Coimbra Collection of Algae (ACOI) from Portugal, and the Roscoff Culture Collection (RCC) from France. The largest number of samples was made up of the microalgae phylum Chlorophyta (270) followed by Cyanobacteria (261). To obtain a large range of new bioactive compounds, a method involving three consecutive extractions (hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) was used. The antibiofilm activity of extracts was determined against seven different bacterial species and two Candida strains in terms of minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC). The highest biofilm inhibition rates (%) were achieved against Candida albicans and Enterobacter cloacae. Charophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanobacteria were the most effective against all microorganisms. In particular, extracts of Cercozoa phylum presented the lowest MBIC50 and MBIC90 values for all the strains except C. albicans.
Virginio Cepas; Yuly López; Yaiza Gabasa; Clara B. Martins; Joana D. Ferreira; Maria J. Correia; Lília M.A. Santos; Flávio Oliveira; Vitor Ramos; Mariana Reis; Raquel Castelo-Branco; João Morais; Vitor Vasconcelos; Ian Probert; Emilie Guilloud; Mohamed Mehiri; Sara M. Soto. Inhibition of Bacterial and Fungal Biofilm Formation by 675 Extracts from Microalgae and Cyanobacteria. Antibiotics 2019, 8, 77 .
AMA StyleVirginio Cepas, Yuly López, Yaiza Gabasa, Clara B. Martins, Joana D. Ferreira, Maria J. Correia, Lília M.A. Santos, Flávio Oliveira, Vitor Ramos, Mariana Reis, Raquel Castelo-Branco, João Morais, Vitor Vasconcelos, Ian Probert, Emilie Guilloud, Mohamed Mehiri, Sara M. Soto. Inhibition of Bacterial and Fungal Biofilm Formation by 675 Extracts from Microalgae and Cyanobacteria. Antibiotics. 2019; 8 (2):77.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVirginio Cepas; Yuly López; Yaiza Gabasa; Clara B. Martins; Joana D. Ferreira; Maria J. Correia; Lília M.A. Santos; Flávio Oliveira; Vitor Ramos; Mariana Reis; Raquel Castelo-Branco; João Morais; Vitor Vasconcelos; Ian Probert; Emilie Guilloud; Mohamed Mehiri; Sara M. Soto. 2019. "Inhibition of Bacterial and Fungal Biofilm Formation by 675 Extracts from Microalgae and Cyanobacteria." Antibiotics 8, no. 2: 77.