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Poster 04
Molecular Genetics Detection of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins
Worldwide
Ana Pimentel 1,2 , Cristiana Moreira 1,2 , Vitor Vasconcelos 1,2 and Agostinho Antunes 1,2
1 CIMAR/CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Rua dos Bragas, 289,
4050-123 Porto, Portugal; 2 Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto,
Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Cyanobacteria are widespread and found in a diverse range of ecological niches including
terrestrial and aquatic environments. The main importance in studying them is due to the
production of dense blooms and the release of toxic compounds designated cyanotoxins,
which can damage the aquatic environment and endanger the life of both animals and
humans that rely of those aquatic ecosystems. In this sense the purpose of this study was
to detect through PCR analyses which genera of cyanobacteria are found in water samples
obtained worldwide (Europe, Asia, America and Africa). Also a screening of the major
cyanotoxins was performed (microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxin and anatoxin-a)
using previously described primers.
The results showed the presence of the species Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Costa
Rica, being the first report of this species in that country, and also in South Africa where
previous reports have indicated the presence of this cyanobacterium species. Also
Microcystis aeruginosa, the most common cyanobacteria, was found in Mali, South Africa
and Brazil. The species Planktothrix was found in South Africa, Brazil and Chile. Cyanotoxin
microcystin (mcyA) was found in Mali, Costa Rica and Brazil. Furthermore,
cylindrospermopsin (pks) was detected in South Africa.
The PCR technique applied in this work proved to be faster and more reliable than the other
methods that determine cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins presence due to its specify to
detect strains of cyanobacteria as well as cyanotoxins, revealing to be a valuable tool in the
monitoring of water quality.
In the future, we plan to continue this kind of work to evaluate the risk management
associated with the arising of blooms favored by global warming.
Keywords Cyanobacteria . Cyanotoxin . PCR . Risk Management.
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