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Toxins
Special Issues
New Reports of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Understudied Regions
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New Reports of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Understudied Regions

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2025 | Viewed by 4291

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rita Cordeiro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, UNESCO Chair “Land Within Sea: Biodiversity & Sustainability in Atlantic Islands Pólo dos Açores”—Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
2. Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Interests: cyanobacteria; cyanotoxins; biodiversity; public and environmental health; genetics; blue biotechnology; culture collections; inland freshwater; extremophiles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Vitor Vasconcelos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
2. CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
Interests: cyanobacteria; toxins; cyanotoxins; marine biotechnology; secondary metabolites; cyanobacterial blooms; ecotoxicology; environmental contamination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alexandre M. Campos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
Interests: environmental toxicology; water quality; harmful algal blooms; shellfish physiology and metabolism; OMICs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cyanobacteria are well known for inhabiting and thriving in a wide variety of environments; however, the studies on these organisms and their metabolites are still very scarce in some countries and regions including islands, high mountains, deserts, and oceans. Cyanobacteria survive in several environments, from light scarcity, extreme temperatures (thermal to polar cold), hypersalinity, and water scarcity (arid). They also inhabit some rare environments, such as brackish waters, the deep sea, and terrestrial environments (e.g., rocks, caves, trees, algae, and lichens). These are still significantly understudied habitats in terms of cyanobacteria biodiversity and toxicology. Toxic metabolites are important due to their impacts on public and environmental health and their biotechnological potential. Nonetheless, most reports concern freshwaters and Europe, North America, and China. A clearer picture about cyanobacteria diversity could be provided from research carried out in understudied regions.

In this Special Issue, we want to showcase cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, and other cyanobacteria secondary metabolites aside from common marine and freshwater environments, to unveil the cyanobacteria diversity within understudied regions. We invite researchers to submit articles, communications, and review papers on these topics. Papers dealing with identification, taxonomy, chemistry, and molecular biology of cyanobacteria from rare environments and understudied regions are welcome.

Thank you for your consideration.

Dr. Rita Cordeiro
Prof. Dr. Vitor Vasconcelos
Dr. Alexandre M. Campos
Guest Editors

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

  • cyanometabolites
  • cyanotoxins
  • thermal
  • benthic
  • islands
  • deserts

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1872 KiB  
Article
Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Microcystins in a Large Northern Oligotrophic Lake Onego, Russia
by Elena Tekanova, Sergey Sidelev, Nataliia Kalinkina, Ekaterina Chernova, Sophia Barinova, Andrey Sharov and Valeria Smirnova
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110457 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 490
Abstract
Toxigenic cyanobacteria and microcystins in the oligotrophic pelagic zone and mesotrophic bay of Lake Onego—the second largest lake in Europe—were found for the first time. Microscopic analysis revealed that Dolichospermum lemmermannii, D. circinale and D. spiroides dominated in bloom spots in the oligotrophic [...] Read more.
Toxigenic cyanobacteria and microcystins in the oligotrophic pelagic zone and mesotrophic bay of Lake Onego—the second largest lake in Europe—were found for the first time. Microscopic analysis revealed that Dolichospermum lemmermannii, D. circinale and D. spiroides dominated in bloom spots in the oligotrophic zone of the lake and D. flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa OKin the eutrophic bay. The abundance of cyanobacteria in bloom spots is potentially hazardous for humans and animals. PCR-analysis showed that mcyA gene involved in microcystin biosynthesis was found in cyanobacteria of the genera Dolichospermum and Microcystis. Five structural variants of intracellular microcystins were detected in a trace amount using high-performance liquid chromatography–mass-spectrometry of high resolution. The most hazardous hepatotoxin, MC-LR, was found only in the eutrophic bay. In the present study, the reasons for the low cyanotoxin content in the phytoplankton dominated by Dolichospermum are discussed. The findings of our study make a significant contribution to the accumulation of facts which state that toxigenic cyanobacterial blooms can occur in large oligotrophic lakes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Reports of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Understudied Regions)
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20 pages, 3758 KiB  
Article
Description of Pegethrix niliensis sp. nov., a Novel Cyanobacterium from the Nile River Basin, Egypt: A Polyphasic Analysis and Comparative Study of Related Genera in the Oculatellales Order
by Guilherme Scotta Hentschke, Zakaria Mohamed, Alexandre Campos and Vitor M. Vasconcelos
Toxins 2024, 16(10), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16100451 - 21 Oct 2024
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Abstract
In this paper, we examine the filamentous cyanobacterial strain NILCB16 and describe it as a new species within the genus Pegethrix. The original population was sampled from a mat growing in an irrigation canal in the Nile River, Egypt. Initially classified under [...] Read more.
In this paper, we examine the filamentous cyanobacterial strain NILCB16 and describe it as a new species within the genus Pegethrix. The original population was sampled from a mat growing in an irrigation canal in the Nile River, Egypt. Initially classified under Plectonema or Planktolyngbya, the strain is a potential producer of the toxins microcystin and β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine (BMAA). Additionally, we reviewed the taxonomic relationships between the Oculatellales genera. To describe the new species, we conducted a polyphasic study, encompassing 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analyses performed using both Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods, sequence identity (p-distance) analysis, 16S-23S ITS secondary structures, and morphological and habitat comparisons. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain NILCB16 clustered within the Pegethrix clade with strong phylogenetic support, but in a distinct position from other species in the genus. The strain shared a maximum 16S rRNA gene identity of 97.3% with P. qiandaoensis and 96.1% with the type species, P. bostrychoides. Morphologically, NILCB16 can be differentiated from other species in the genus by its lack of false branching. Our phylogenetic analyses also show that Pegethrix, Cartusia, Elainella, and Maricoleus are clustered with strong phylogenetic support. They exhibit high 16S rRNA gene identity and are morphologically indistinguishable, suggesting they could potentially be merged into a single genus in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Reports of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Understudied Regions)
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14 pages, 1403 KiB  
Article
New Report of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in El Pañe Reservoir: A Threat for Water Quality in High-Andean Sources from PERU
by Victor Hugo Rodriguez Uro, Joana Azevedo, Mário Jorge Araújo, Raquel Silva, Jürgen Bedoya, Betty Paredes, Cesar Ranilla, Vitor Vasconcelos and Alexandre Campos
Toxins 2024, 16(9), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16090378 - 28 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1337
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are cosmopolitan organisms; nonetheless, climate change and eutrophication are increasing the occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms (cyanoblooms), thereby raising the risk of cyanotoxins in water sources used for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. This study aimed to determine the presence of cyanobacteria, including toxigenic [...] Read more.
Cyanobacteria are cosmopolitan organisms; nonetheless, climate change and eutrophication are increasing the occurrence of cyanobacteria blooms (cyanoblooms), thereby raising the risk of cyanotoxins in water sources used for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. This study aimed to determine the presence of cyanobacteria, including toxigenic cyanobacteria and the occurrence of cyanotoxins in the El Pañe reservoir located in the high-Andean region, Arequipa, Peru, to support water quality management. The study included morphological observation of cyanobacteria, molecular determination of cyanobacteria (16S rRNA analysis), and analysis of cyanotoxins encoding genes (mcyA for microcystins, cyrJ for cylindrospermopsins, sxtl for saxitoxins, and AnaC for anatoxins). In parallel, chemical analysis using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to detect the presence of cyanotoxins (microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxin, and anatoxin, among others) and quantification of Microcystin-LR. Morphological data show the presence of Dolichospermum sp., which was confirmed by molecular analysis. Microcystis sp. was also detected through 16S rRNA analysis and the presence of mcyA gene related to microcystin production was found in both cyanobacteria. Furthermore, microcystin-LR and demethylated microcystin-LR were identified by chemical analysis. The highest concentrations of microcystin-LR were 40.60 and 25.18 µg/L, in May and November 2022, respectively. Microcystins were detected in cyanobacteria biomass. In contrast, toxins in water (dissolved) were not detected. Microcystin concentrations exceeded many times the values established in Peruvian regulation and the World Health Organization (WHO) in water intended for human consumption (1 µg/L). This first comprehensive report integrates morphological, molecular, and chemical data and confirms the presence of two toxigenic cyanobacteria and the presence of microcystins in El Pañe reservoir. This work points out the need to implement continuous monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the reservoir and effective water management measures to protect the human population from exposure to these contaminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Reports of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Understudied Regions)
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19 pages, 1106 KiB  
Article
Molecular Screening for Cyanobacteria and Their Cyanotoxin Potential in Diverse Habitats
by Maša Jablonska, Tina Eleršek, Polona Kogovšek, Sara Skok, Andreea Oarga-Mulec and Janez Mulec
Toxins 2024, 16(8), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16080333 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1049
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are adaptable and dominant organisms that exist in many harsh and extreme environments due to their great ecological tolerance. They produce various secondary metabolites, including cyanotoxins. While cyanobacteria are well studied in surface waters and some aerial habitats, numerous other habitats and [...] Read more.
Cyanobacteria are adaptable and dominant organisms that exist in many harsh and extreme environments due to their great ecological tolerance. They produce various secondary metabolites, including cyanotoxins. While cyanobacteria are well studied in surface waters and some aerial habitats, numerous other habitats and niches remain underexplored. We collected 61 samples of: (i) biofilms from springs, (ii) aerial microbial mats from buildings and subaerial mats from caves, and (iii) water from borehole wells, caves, alkaline, saline, sulphidic, thermal, and iron springs, rivers, seas, and melted cave ice from five countries (Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia). We used (q)PCR to detect cyanobacteria (phycocyanin intergenic spacer—PC-IGS and cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene) and cyanotoxin genes (microcystins—mcyE, saxitoxins—sxtA, cylindrospermopsins—cyrJ), as well as amplicon sequencing and morphological observations for taxonomic identification. Cyanobacteria were detected in samples from caves, a saline spring, and an alkaline spring. While mcyE or sxtA genes were not observed in any sample, cyrJ results showed the presence of a potential cylindrospermopsin producer in a biofilm from a sulphidic spring in Slovenia. This study contributes to our understanding of cyanobacteria occurrence in diverse habitats, including rare and extreme ones, and provides relevant methodological considerations for future research in such environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Reports of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Understudied Regions)
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