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Toxins
Special Issues
Harmful Algal Blooms in Waters: Characterization, Monitoring and Management
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Harmful Algal Blooms in Waters: Characterization, Monitoring and Management

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine and Freshwater Toxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 4164

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Audrey Roy-Lachapelle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montreal, QC H2Y 2E7, Canada
Interests: cyanobacteria; cyanotoxins; eutrophication; environmental contaminants and fate; mixtures effects; mass spectrometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rising prevalence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) poses significant threats to environmental and public health. These blooms, fueled by nutrient input and climate change, contribute to water quality degradation, and the cyanotoxins produced by certain cyanobacteria can contaminate water sources. HABs are therefore jeopardizing aquatic ecosystems, for instance, by causing fish kills and adversely affecting human health when consumed or during recreational activities. The diversity of cyanobacterial species and their variable toxin production under different circumstances poses a multifaceted challenge. The diversity of cyanotoxins, their extensive structural variability and the lack of knowledge about their environmental fate highlights the need for accurate detection and characterization methods. The unpredictability of cyanotoxin occurrence necessitates the continuous monitoring and adaptability of response strategies for water management. This Special Issue invites research articles and reviews that explore original methodologies for characterizing toxic cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins and secondary metabolites, as well as studying their diversity and environmental fate for improved monitoring strategies. Studies on predictive models for the occurrence of cyanobacteria and the production of cyanotoxins, along with the exploration of effective water treatment methodologies and the study of residual by-product toxicity for better management are also welcome in this Special Issue.

Dr. Audrey Roy-Lachapelle
Guest Editor

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 double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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

  • harmful algal blooms
  • cyanobacteria
  • cyanotoxins
  • toxin production
  • monitoring
  • structural characterization
  • environmental fate
  • disinfection by-product
  • water management

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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14 pages, 3850 KiB  
Article
Cobalt-Doped Carbon Nitride for Efficient Removal of Microcystis aeruginosa via Peroxymonosulfate Activation
by Wen Yan, Chuqiao Li, Yunjuan Meng, Yao Yue, Teer Wen, Jiafeng Ding and Hangjun Zhang
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110455 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 527
Abstract
Heterogeneous persulfate activation is an advanced technology for treating harmful algae in drinking water sources, while it remains a significant hurdle in the efficient management of cyanobacterial blooms. In this study, super-dispersed cobalt-doped carbon nitride (2CoCN) was prepared to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for [...] Read more.
Heterogeneous persulfate activation is an advanced technology for treating harmful algae in drinking water sources, while it remains a significant hurdle in the efficient management of cyanobacterial blooms. In this study, super-dispersed cobalt-doped carbon nitride (2CoCN) was prepared to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for simultaneous Microcystis aeruginosa inhibition and microcystin (MC-LR) degradation. When the initial PMS and 2CoCN concentrations were 0.3 g/L and 0.4 g/L, respectively, the efficiency of algal cell removal reached 97% in 15 min, and the degradation of MC-LR reached 96%. Analyses by SEM, TEM, and EEM spectra revealed that the reaction led to changes in algal cell morphology, damage to the cell membrane and cell wall, and the diffusion of thylakoid membranes and liposomes. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and antioxidants (glutathione) in algal cells generally increased, and the content of malondialdehyde increased, indicating severe damage to the cell membrane. Radical capture experiments confirmed that singlet oxygen (1O₂) was the key species destroying algal cells in the 2CoCN/PMS system. The 2CoCN/PMS system was effective in removing M. aeruginosa within a wide pH range (3–9), and 2CoCN had good reusability. Additionally, three degradation products of MC-LR were identified by LC–MS/MS analysis, and a possible mechanism for the inactivation of M. aeruginosa and the degradation of MC-LR was proposed. In conclusion, this study pioneered the 2CoCN/PMS system for inhibiting M. aeruginosa and degrading microcystin, aiming to advance water purification and algae removal technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Algal Blooms in Waters: Characterization, Monitoring and Management)
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13 pages, 5581 KiB  
Article
Microbial Community Response to Granular Peroxide-Based Algaecide Treatment of a Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom in Lake Okeechobee, Florida (USA)
by Forrest W. Lefler, Maximiliano Barbosa, David E. Berthold, Rory Roten, West M. Bishop and H. Dail Laughinghouse IV
Toxins 2024, 16(5), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16050206 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1497
Abstract
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) occur in fresh water globally. These can degrade water quality and produce toxins, resulting in ecological and economic damages. Thus, short-term management methods (i.e., algaecides) are necessary to rapidly mitigate the negative impacts of cyanoHABs. In this study, [...] Read more.
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) occur in fresh water globally. These can degrade water quality and produce toxins, resulting in ecological and economic damages. Thus, short-term management methods (i.e., algaecides) are necessary to rapidly mitigate the negative impacts of cyanoHABs. In this study, we assess the efficacy of a hydrogen peroxide-based algaecide (PAK® 27) on a Microcystis dominated bloom which occurred within the Pahokee Marina on Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA. We observed a significant reduction in chlorophyll a (96.81%), phycocyanin (93.17%), and Microcystis cell counts (99.92%), and a substantial reduction in microcystins (86.7%) 48 h after treatment (HAT). Additionally, there was a significant shift in bacterial community structure 48 HAT, which coincided with an increase in the relative abundance of photosynthetic protists. These results indicate that hydrogen peroxide-based algaecides are an effective treatment method for cyanoHAB control and highlight their effects on non-target microorganisms (i.e., bacteria and protists). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Algal Blooms in Waters: Characterization, Monitoring and Management)
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16 pages, 4157 KiB  
Article
Microbial Diversity Impacts Non-Protein Amino Acid Production in Cyanobacterial Bloom Cultures Collected from Lake Winnipeg
by Stephanie L. Bishop, Julia T. Solonenka, Ryland T. Giebelhaus, David T. R. Bakker, Isaac T. S. Li and Susan J. Murch
Toxins 2024, 16(4), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16040169 - 26 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1570
Abstract
Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada is heavily impacted by harmful algal blooms that contain non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) produced by cyanobacteria: N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG), β-aminomethyl-L-alanine (BAMA), β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB). Our objective was to investigate the impact of microbial [...] Read more.
Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada is heavily impacted by harmful algal blooms that contain non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) produced by cyanobacteria: N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG), β-aminomethyl-L-alanine (BAMA), β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB). Our objective was to investigate the impact of microbial diversity on NPAA production by cyanobacteria using semi-purified crude cyanobacterial cultures established from field samples collected by the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium between 2016 and 2021. NPAAs were detected and quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using validated analytical methods, while Shannon and Simpson alpha diversity scores were determined from 16S rRNA metagenomic sequences. Alpha diversity in isolate cultures was significantly decreased compared to crude cyanobacterial cultures (p < 0.001), indicating successful semi-purification. BMAA and AEG concentrations were higher in crude compared to isolate cultures (p < 0.0001), and AEG concentrations were correlated to the alpha diversity in cultures (r = 0.554; p < 0.0001). BAMA concentrations were increased in isolate cultures (p < 0.05), while DAB concentrations were similar in crude and isolate cultures. These results demonstrate that microbial community complexity impacts NPAA production by cyanobacteria and related organisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Algal Blooms in Waters: Characterization, Monitoring and Management)
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