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Screening of cyanotoxin producing genes in Ecuadorian freshwater systems

Abstract:

Aim: This study pursued the detection of cyr and mcy genes to assess the presence of cylindrospemopsin (CN) and microcystin (MC) potential producers in Ecuadorian water bodies. Methods: Environmental DNA (eDNA) was extracted from eight water bodies and one wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) from Ecuador. A nested PCR was designed to amplify mcyB, cyrE, and cyrJ genes in these environmental samples. PCR products were sequenced and blasted against GenBank database. Results: Potential CN producers were found in seven water bodies and the WWTP. cyrE amplification revealed three variants belonging to Raphidopsis and Aphanizmenon species and one for cyrJ with around 90% identity with Raphidiopsis and Oscillatoria species. Four water bodies presented the same variant for mcyB similar to Microcystis panniformis with 99% of identity. Conclusions: This study contributes new data on the presence of toxic cyanobacteria strains and provides new molecular tools to assess cyanotoxin hazards in Ecuadorian water bodies.