Observations of Toxic Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) in Some Scandinavian Lakes

Blooms of blue-green algae from 51 eutrophic Scandinavian lakes were investigated during the period 1978–1984, to ascertain the occurrence of toxinogenic species. Toxicity assays were performed by intraperitoneal injection of suspensions of freeze-dried algal material in mice. Toxin-producing blue-green algae were found in 30 lakes. They belonged to 11 different species of the six genera Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Gomphosphaeria, Microcystis, Nodularia and Oscillatoria. The presence of toxinogenic strains of blue-green algae seemed quite constant in several of the localities studied. In some lakes, more than one toxic species were found to develop simultaneously. The level of toxicity showed large variation (MLD100, 6 to > 2500 mg/kg), but clinical and pathological changes were quite uniform. The results indicate that water-blooms of toxin-producing blue-green algae, in the geographical area in question, are regionally widespread. In some localities, blooms of blue-green algae are apparently always toxic. Several aspects of the toxic blue-green algae problem are discussed.     

A light and electron microscopic study of the blue-green algae living either in the coralloid roots of « Macrozamia communis » or isolated in culture

Abstract

The present work is a study of the blue-green algae living in the coralloid roots of Macrozamia communis and isolated from Macrozamia communis in culture.

The light and electron microscopic study pointed out the distribution of these microorganisms in the cortical area of coralloids and did not reveal any cells invaded by bacteria. On the basis of their aspect the blue-green algae living either in the coralloid roots or in culture were classified as belonging to the genus Nosloc, with some features of Nosloc commune.

Inside the coralloids the cells of the blue-green algae were surrounded by abundant mucilage and contain granulations. In culture the blue-green algae were on the contrary very poor in mucilage and rich in polyphosphate granules. Numerous phycobilosomes were ranged along the outside of the thylakoid membranes in alternate arrangement to the granules of the neighbouring lamellae.     

The physiology of some blue-green algal isolates from peat

An investigation of the physiology of a number of blue-green algae isolated from peat sites in Glenamoy, Co. Mayo, is reported. Physical and nutritional parameters were studied and correlated to the conditions prevailing in the natural environment of the algae. The occurrence of blue-green algae in peat was found to be controlled by the pH level and the presence of phosphorus in the environment.     

Isolation and properties of fungi that lyse blue-green algae.

Of 70 pure microbial cultures isolated from aquatic habitats, soil, and air according to the ability to lyse live blue-green algae, 62 were fungi representing the genera Acremonium, Emericellopsis, and Verticillium. Algal-lysing fungi were isolated from all habitat types sampled. The remaining isolates comprised four bacteria and four streptomycetes. All isolates lysed Anabaena flos-aquae and, in most cases, several other filamentous and unicellular blue-green algae. The fungi generally showed greater activity than most other isolates towards a wider range of susceptible algae, including green algae in some cases. Acremonium and Emericellopsis isolates, but not Verticillium, also inhibited the growth of blue-green algae and gram-positive bacteria, but did not lyse the latter. Lysis of blue green algae by Acremonium and Emericellopsis spp. was associated with the formation of diffusible heat-stable extracellular factors which, evidence suggests, could be cephalosporin antibiotic(s). Blue-green algae were also lysed by pure cephalosporin C. The frequent isolation of lytic fungi from algal habitats suggests a possible natural algal-destroying role for such fungi, which might be exploitable for algal bloom control.     

Isolation and properties of fungi that lyse blue-green algae.

Of 70 pure microbial cultures isolated from aquatic habitats, soil, and air according to the ability to lyse live blue-green algae, 62 were fungi representing the genera Acremonium, Emericellopsis, and Verticillium. Algal-lysing fungi were isolated from all habitat types sampled. The remaining isolates comprised four bacteria and four streptomycetes. All isolates lysed Anabaena flos-aquae and, in most cases, several other filamentous and unicellular blue-green algae. The fungi generally showed greater activity than most other isolates towards a wider range of susceptible algae, including green algae in some cases. Acremonium and Emericellopsis isolates, but not Verticillium, also inhibited the growth of blue-green algae and gram-positive bacteria, but did not lyse the latter. Lysis of blue green algae by Acremonium and Emericellopsis spp. was associated with the formation of diffusible heat-stable extracellular factors which, evidence suggests, could be cephalosporin antibiotic(s). Blue-green algae were also lysed by pure cephalosporin C. The frequent isolation of lytic fungi from algal habitats suggests a possible natural algal-destroying role for such fungi, which might be exploitable for algal bloom control.     

Carbon dioxide assimilation in blue-green algae: initial studies on the structure of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase.

D-Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase was purified from the blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica (Lemm) by procedures involving acid precipitation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The enzyme was homogeneous by the criterion of polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and was a multimer of a single-size polypeptide chain of 54,000 daltons. The carboxylases from four species of blue-green algae (Anabaena, Nostoc strain MAC, Agmenellum quadruplicatum strain PR-6, and Anacystis nidulans strain TX20) were closely similar in molecular size, since enzyme activity was eluted at the same volume after sucrose gradient centrifugation. Further analysis by gel filtration indicated that the four blue-green algal carboxylases were nearly identical in molecular weight, ranging from 449 to 453,000. The amino acid composition of the Anabaena carboxylase was determined and was found to resemble closely the composition of the large subunit from eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms.     

Studies with deoxyribonucleic Acid from blue-green algae

DNA from two blue-green algae was isolated and characterized. The buoyant densities, thermal denaturation and renaturation, thermal melting values, base compositions, sedimentation coefficients, and molecular weights were determined. Blue-green algal DNA renatured extensively and at a comparable rate to that of bacterial DNA. The similarities among the kinds of DNA from bacteria and blue-green algae were interpreted to reflect a close relationship.     

太湖蓝藻滤液的遗传毒性研究

蓝藻爆发是环境污染引发的重要事件之一,随之产生的蓝藻毒素又直接危及区域水安全.该论文采用蚕豆和大蒜根尖微核试验研究了太湖蓝藻暴发期间蓝藻滤液的遗传毒性.结果表明,同阴性对照相比,所有试验处理对蚕豆根尖细胞微核发生率的影响显著增加;对大蒜根尖细胞微核发生率而言除蓝藻滤液8倍稀释液的影响不显著外,其它水平效应显著高于阴性对照,而且表现出一定的剂量效应.暴发期蓝藻滤液原液对蚕豆根尖细胞微核发生率影响显著高于阳性对照(0.8mg·mL^-1环磷酰胺)的效应,从而说明蓝藻暴发时期蓝藻滤液具有较强的遗传毒性.通过微核试验效果分析,蚕豆作为植物监测系统的敏感性和稳定性都优于大蒜材料.     

Proceedings: Preservation of marine and fresh water algae by means of freezing and freeze-drying

Several species of marine and fresh water algae have been isolated from various habitats. Recently they were examined for their viability after freezing and freeze-drying procedures.The addition of suspending agents to algal cultures has resulted in greater viability for most of the green algae, but has shown little effect on the blue-green algae.It is considered that the preservation of algae by means of freezing and freeze-drying procedures are of great benefit as they offer the possibility of long-term preservation of viable collections, especially for patent depository for industrial applications.     

Biochemical effects of technetium-99-pertechnetate on microorganisms

The biochemical effects of technetium-99 as pertechnetate (TcO(4) (-)) were investigated in a variety of microorganisms (a nonsulfur purple bacterium, five blue-green algae, a protozoan, a diatom, two heterotrophic bacteria, a red alga and two green algae). Sensitivity to pertechnetate as measured by growth ranged from marked inhibition at 1 mug Tc/ml (nonsulfur purple bacterium) to no effect at 600 mug Tc ml (both green algae). No correlation between organism type and growth susceptibility to pertechnetate was apparent. The blue-green alga, Agmenellum quadruplicatum strain PR-6, bound technetium-99 to a level of 3 mug/mg dry weight cells (from medium containing 1.5 mm pertechnetate) in the light, but little or none in the dark; cell death occurred only with uptake. Addition of TcO(4) (-) to the medium caused a rapid but temporary increase in ATP levels of PR-6 (in the light only) and Tetrahymena pyriformis strain WH14. Respiration of organisms WH14 and Bacillus subtilis and photosynthesis of organism PR-6 were immediately slowed by the introduction of pertechnetate. Technetium as pertechnetate has a possible biochemical effect on cells, unrelated to its radioactivity or to a general oxidation effect.     

Glucan and glucosyltransferase isozymes of Glaucocystis nostochinearum

The storage glucan of the alga, Glaucocystis nostochinearum was isolated in dimethyl sulfoxide. The absorption spectrum of its iodine complex was identical with those of other green algae but differed from that of blue-green algae. It was similar to amylopectin, and was much less branched than the phytoglycogen of Cyanophytes. The pattern of glycosyltransferase isozymes involved in the synthesis of this glucan (phosphorylases, synthetases and branching isozymes) was similar to those of Chlorophytes. The branching isozymes of this alga were typical Chlorophycean “Q” enzymes and could only insert branch linkages into linear amylose-like substrates; they were unable to further branch amylopectins, as can the branching isozymes of blue-green algae. If the plastids of this alga are endosymbiotic blue-green algae, then they have lost the ability to form highly branched glucans typical of Cyanophytes.     

The blue-green algae in nuclear power plant cooling water.

A study was undertaken to determine the effects of passage through the cooling system of the Zion Nuclear Plant, Illinois, U.S.A., on the blue-green algae present in lake water. The blue-green algae were isolated by means of membrane filtration, enumerated and identified to genera. As a result of cooling system passage there was a definite reduction in the numbers of blue-green algae. This reduction appeared to be due to mechanical, as well as elevated temperature, damage. A few genera showed only a slight change in number.     

Phycoerythrin in the deeper water layer of a stratified eutrophic lake: An application of bile pigment in determining the standing crop of blue-green algae

Absorption spectra of intact phytoplankton cells collected from a stratified eutrophic lake in Japan were studied. Vertical and seasonal changes in the content of phycoerythrin of blue-green algae were indicated on the basis of the absorbance at 560 nm in those spectra. The possibility of an application of the technique to estimate the standing crop of blue-green algae in the phytoplankton community was discussed.     

Antimicrobial effects of Cellvibrio on blue-green algae

Summary The culture fluids from two Cellvibrio strains, in the stationary phase of growth, are shown to contain heat-resistant, low molecular weight substances with antibiotic-like effects on blue-green algae. Morphological changes and lysis of cells were observed in various species of blue-green algae; ultrastructural changes were noted in the cell walls of growing vegetative cells of Anabaena inaequalis. The viability of resting cells, including heterocysts and akinetes was not affected.     

The Characteristics of Reflection Spectrum in Subaerial Blue-Green Algae in Ding Hu Mo Ore-field,Guangdong Province

The reflection spectra of subaerial blue-green algae (Cyanophyceae) lack the reflected high peak of the reflected infrared spectral wave band (770--1000 nm)as usually exists in green seed plants. The curve of reflected ratio slopes gently. The reflected ratio of bluegreen algae growing on the mineral soil was positively correlated with the Mo concentration in the cells, and was evidently greater than that of the normal soil blue-green algae (13 %-- 27 %). This abnormal reflection ratio was related to the mineral concentration in soil. The reflection spectra of green algae (Chlorophyceae) and bryophyta were similar to these of the subaerial blue-green algae.     

Thermotropic Properties of Thermophilic, Mesophilic, and Psychrophilic Blue-green Algae

Thermotropic properties of blue-green algae grown at high, room, and low temperatures in H₂O and D₂O media were studied by highly sensitive differential scanning microcalorimetry. The thermograms of these organisms contain an endothermal peak in the temperature range of 50 to 70 C with an endothermal heat ranging from 0.14 to 1.91 joules per gram organism. The temperature at which the endothermal peak occurs is comparable with the thermal denaturation temperature of phycocyanin, the major biliprotein isolated from these algae. A good correlation can be found for the relative thermal stability of various organisms with that of the isolated biliproteins. The ability of these algae to resist thermal disruption is correlated with the thermal environments in which these algal cells grow. The thermal stability of normal algae is in the order of thermophile > mesophile > psychrophile. It was found that the deuterated mesophilic algae were less able to resist thermal disruption than ordinary mesophilic algae.     

Grazing on filamentous algae by herbivorous zooplankton

SUMMARY. 1. Feeding experiments were conducted to examine filtering rates and selectivity of a variety of zooplankton taxa (including cladocerans, copepods and a rotifer) for filamentous diatoms, green and blue-green algae.
2. Most herbivores were capable of consuming some filamentous algae at rates similar to or higher than those on unicellular algae. Only feeding of Diaphanosoma brachyurum Liéven and Moina micrura Kurz seemed to be primarily limited by the filamentous morphology.
3. Filtering rates and selectivities of most herbivores were much higher for the diatom Melosira granulata angustissima Müller than for similarly sized blue-green algal filaments, indicating that chemical factors strongly influence consumption of filamentous algae.
4. The toxic blue-green algal filament Anabaena flos-aquae De Brébisson NRC 44–1 had a much strong inhibitory effect on zooplankton feeding than other filaments. The only herbivores that were not inhibited by this strain have been shown to be resistant to blue-green algal toxins, or strongly avoided consuming the blue-green alga. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of filamentous algae is due more to toxic or noxious chemicals than to the filamentous morphology.
5. Selectivities of zooplankton for filamentous algae were largely independent of herbivore body size. The small-bodied cladoceran Bosmina longirostris Müller had the highest selectivities for filamentous algae.     

Adenylate kinase activity of phycobilisomes from the blue-green algae Microcystis aerogenosa

The phycobilisomes (PBS) from the blue-green algae Microcystis aerogenosa was found to possess the adenylate kinase activity. The enzyme activity of PBS is kept for 2 weeks, reaching its maximum on th 2nd-4th day after PBS isolation from the cells, and is retained after passage of freshly isolated PBS through a column with Sephadex G-25. The adenylate kinase activity of PBS is thermostable, depends on the protein concentration in the sample, undergoes activation by white light and is inhibited by glutaric aldehyde. The enzyme activity is presumably determined by the components of the low molecular weight protein fraction of non-pigment origin, which are constituents of PBS.     

Microplate Technique for Determining Accumulation of Metals by Algae

A microplate technique was developed to determine the conditions under which pure cultures of algae removed heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Variables investigated included algal species and strain, culture age (11 and 44 days), metal (mercury, lead, cadmium, and zinc), pH, effects of different buffer solutions, and time of exposure. Plastic, U-bottomed microtiter plates were used in conjunction with heavy metal radionuclides to determine concentration factors for metal-alga combinations. The technique developed was rapid, statistically reliable, and economical of materials and cells. Results (expressed as concentration factors) were in reasonably good agreement with literature values. All species of algae studied removed mercury from solution. Green algae proved better at accumulating cadmium than did blue-green algae. No alga studied removed zinc, perhaps because cells were maintained in the dark during the labeling period. Chlamydomonas sp. proved superior in ability to remove lead from solution.