Toxin composition of the 2016 Microcystis aeruginosa bloom in the St. Lucie Estuary, Florida

Toxicon. 2017 Nov:138:169-172. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.09.005. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Abstract

A bloom of the cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa occurred in the St. Lucie Estuary during the summer of 2016, stimulated by the release of waters from Lake Okeechobee. This cyanobacterium produces the microcystins, a suite of heptapeptide hepatotoxins. The toxin composition of the bloom was analyzed and was compared to an archived bloom sample from 2005. Microcystin-LR was the most abundant toxin with lesser amounts of microcystin variants. Nodularin, cylindrospermopsin and anatoxin-a were not detected.

Keywords: Algal bloom; Cyanobacteria; Microcystins; Microcystis.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Toxins / analysis
  • Biomass
  • Estuaries
  • Florida
  • Harmful Algal Bloom*
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins / analysis*
  • Microcystis / chemistry*
  • Saline Waters / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins
  • microcystin
  • cyanoginosin LR