A bacterium capable of degrading microcystins-RR, -YR, and -LR was isolated from a hypertrophic lake. The bacterium, designated Y2 and classified phenotypically as a member of the genus Sphingomonas, was shown to be distinct phylogenetically from any established species of Sphingomonas on the basis of 16S rDNA sequencing. The bacterium was tentatively identified as Sphingomonas by manual chemot...

Lichens are symbiotic associations between fungi and photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. Microcystins are potent toxins that are responsible for the poisoning of both humans and animals. These toxins are mainly associated with aquatic cyanobacterial blooms, but here we show that the cyanobacterial symbionts of terrestrial lichens from all over the world commonly produce microcystins. We scre...

Toxin producing cyanobacterial blooms have increased globally in recent decades in both frequency and intensity. Despite the recognition of this growing risk, the extent and magnitude of cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxin prevalence is poorly characterized in the heavily populated region of southern California. Recent assessments of lentic waterbodies (depressional wetlands, lakes, reservoirs...

In the current study, the hepatotoxic peptide microcystins, were measured in the zooplankton community of Jacarepaguá Lagoon during a 6-month period. Concurrent phytoplankton and seston samples were obtained. Microcystins were measured in seston and phytoplankton by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and in zooplankton by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA). Zooplankton com...

We measured microcystins in blood from people at risk for swallowing water or inhaling spray while swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, or boating during an algal bloom. We monitored water samples from a small lake as a Microcystis aeruginosa bloom developed. We recruited 97 people planning recreational activities in that lake and seven others who volunteered to recreate in a nearby bloom-free l...

The most commonly encountered cyanobacterial toxins in freshwater are microcystins. Microcystins are extremely stable and resistant to chemical hydrolysis or oxidation and can cause illness or death in animals and humans. In this study, a total of 15 bacterial strains were isolated and screened for microcystin degradative activity from Kaen Nakhon Lake, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. Among these...

Microcystins are a family of cyclic peptides that are potent inhibitors of the protein phosphatase families PP1 and PP2A. Only three human proteins are thought to be able to mediate the hepatic uptake of microcystins (the organic anion-transporting polypeptides OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and OATP1A2), and the predominant hepatic expression of these transporters accounts for the liver-specific toxicity o...