Effect of Antibiotic Treatment on Toxin Production by Alexandrium tamarense

Objective Impact of the presence of bacteria associated with a marine dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense CI01, on the growth and toxin production of the algae in batch culture was investigated. Methods Pronounced changes in the activities of the algal culture were observed when the culture was treated with different doses of a mixture of penicillin and streptomycin. Results In the presence of antibiotics at the initial concentration of 100 u/mL in culture medium, both algal growth and toxin yield increased markedly. When the concentration of antibiotics was increased to 500 u/mL, the microalgal growth was inhibited, but resumed in a few days to eventually reach the same level of growth and toxin production as at the lower dose of the antibiotics. When the antibiotics were present at a concentration of 1 000 u/mL, the algal growth was inhibited permanently. Conclusions The results indicate that antibiotics can enhance algal growth and toxin production not only through their inhibition of the growth and hence competition for nutrients, but also through their effects on the physiology of the algae.

A Label-Free Colorimetric Aptasensor Containing DNA Triplex Molecular Switch and AuNP Nanozyme for Highly Sensitive Detection of Saxitoxin

Saxitoxin(STX),one of the most toxic paralytic shellfish poisons discovered to date,is listed as a required item of aquatic product safety inspection worldwide.However,conventional detection methods for STX are limited by various issues,such as low sensitivity,complicated operations,and ethical considerations.In this study,an aptamer-triplex molecular switch(APT-TMS)and gold nanoparticle(AuNP)nanozyme were combined to develop a label-free colorimetric aptasensor for the rapid and highly sensitive de-tection of STX.An anti-STX aptamer designed with pyrimidine arms and a purine chain was fabricated to form an APT-TMS.Specific binding between the aptamer and STX triggered the opening of the switch,which causes the purine chains to adsorb onto the surface of the AuNPs and enhances the peroxidase-like activity of the AuNP nanozyme toward 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine.Under optimized conditions,the proposed aptasensor showed high sensitivity and selectivity for STX,with a limit of detection of 335.6 pmol L^(−1) and a linear range of 0.59-150 nmol L^(−1).Moreover,good recoveries of 82.70%-92.66%for shellfish and 88.97%-106.5%for seawater were obtained.The analysis could be completed within 1 h.The proposed design also offers a robust strategy to achieve detection of other marine toxin targets by altering the corresponding aptamers.

Removal of saxitoxin and anatoxin-a by PAC in the presence and absence of microcystin-LR and/or cyanobacterial cells

Cyanobacteria can produce cyanotoxins such as microcystin-LR(MC),saxitoxin(STX),and anatoxin-a(ANTX-a)which are harmful to humans and other animals.Individual removal efficiencies of STX and ANTX-a by powdered activated carbon(PAC)was investigated,aswell as when MC-LR and cyanobacteriawere present.Experimentswere conductedwith distilled water and then source water,using the PAC dosages,rapid mix/flocculation mixing intensities and contact times of two drinking water treatment plants in northeast Ohio.At pH 8 and 9,STX removal was 47%-81%in distilled water and 46%-79%in source water,whereas it was 0-28%for pH 6 in distilled water and 31%-52%in source water.When 1.6μg/L or 20μg/L MC-LR was present with STX,STX removal was increased with PAC simultaneously removing 45%-65%of the 1.6μg/L MC-LR and 25%-95%of the 20μg/L MC-LR depending on the pH.ANTX-a removal at pH 6 was 29%-37%for distilled water and 80%for source water,whereas it was 10%-26%for pH 8 in distilled water and 28%for pH 9 in source water.The presence of cyanobacteria cells decreased ANTX-a removal by at least 18%.When 20μg/L MC-LR was present with ANTX-a in source water,59%-73%ANTX-a and 48%-77%of MCLR was removed at pH 9 depending on the PAC dose.In general,a higher PAC dose led to higher cyanotoxin removals.This study also documented that multiple cyanotoxins can be effectively removed by PAC for water at pH’s between 6 and 9.