Intraspecific variation in growth, morphology and toxin quotas for the cyanobacterium, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii

Anusuya Willis; Ann W Chuang; Jason N Woodhouse; Brett A Neilan; Michele A Burford

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.07.005

Intraspecific variation in growth, morphology and toxin quotas for the cyanobacterium, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii

Toxicon. 2016 Sep 1:119:307-10. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.07.005. Epub 2016 Jul 5.

Authors

Anusuya Willis¹, Ann W Chuang², Jason N Woodhouse³, Brett A Neilan⁴, Michele A Burford⁵

Affiliations

¹ Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan 4111, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: anusuya.willis@griffith.edu.au.
² Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan 4111, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: a.chuang@griffith.edu.au.
³ School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: woodhouse@igb-berlin.de.
⁴ School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: b.neilan@unsw.edu.au.
⁵ Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan 4111, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: m.burford@griffith.edu.au.

PMID: 27390039
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.07.005

Abstract

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a bloom forming cyanobacterium with complex population dynamics and toxicity. In January of 2013 a single sample was collected from surface waters in Lake Wivenhoe, Australia, and twenty-four individual trichomes were isolated. Each isolate exhibited differences in growth rate, toxin cell quota and morphology, in the absence of phylogenetic heterogeneity. This study demonstrates substantial intraspecific isolate variation within a small sample and this has implications for understanding the population dynamics of this species.

Keywords: Cyanobacteria; Cylindrospermopsin; Ecotype; Harmful algae blooms; Morphology; Strain.

MeSH terms

Bacterial Toxins / metabolism*
Cyanobacteria / growth & development*
Cyanobacteria / metabolism*

Substances

Bacterial Toxins