Molecular and phylogenetic characterization of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in Tunisian freshwaters

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Afef Fathalli (Author) Other; Amel Ben Rejeb Jenhani (Author) Other; Cristiana Moreira (Author) Other; Martin Welker (Author) Other; Mohamed Romdhane (Author) Other; Agostinho Antunes (Author) FCUP; Vitor Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Systematic and Applied Microbiology

Vol. 34

Pages: 303-310

ISSN: 0723-2020

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 34 Citations

Scopus - 37 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-QS1

DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2010.12.003

Abstract (EN): This study presents a genetic characterization of 27 potentially toxic cyanobacterial strains isolated from seven reservoirs located in the north and centre of Tunisia. These strains belonged mainly to Microcystis aeruginosa, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Planktothrix agardhii species. Their toxicological potential was evaluated by molecular biology tools, which showed that none of the isolated strains carried segments of the gene cluster responsible for the production of cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin. The majority of Microcystis isolates were able to synthesize microcystin, since they presented the six characteristic segments of the microcystin synthetase mcy cluster (mcyA, -B, -C, -D, -E and -G). This was further confirmed by MALDI-TOF analysis that showed the presence of eight microcystin variants, including microcystin-LR. The taxonomic identification of the strains was assessed based on the variability of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Furthermore, the 16S-23S rRNA ITS sequences of Microcystis isolates and rpoC1 sequences of Cylindrospermopsis strains were also used in the phylogenetic analysis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8