Test with luminescent bacteria for the toxicity assessment of cyanobacterial bloom samples

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are one of the most morphologically, physiologically and metabolically diverse groups of Prokaryotes. The intensive cyanobacteria blooms on surface waters are observed as an effect of water eutrophication. Cyanobacteria are responsible for the production of different types of toxins. Therefore, cyanobacterial blooms pose not only a recreational problems, but also problems to health of humans and animals. Microcystins (cyclic heptapeptides) are the most common group of cyanobacterial toxins. In Poland, they are produced mainly by the Microcystis aeruginosa species. Microcystins (MC) are hepatotoxic to animals and people. Having contact with them, or ingestion of water containing cyanobacterial cells and released toxins, can cause symptoms such as skin irritations, allergic responses, mucosa blistering, hay fever, diarrhoea, acute gastroenteritis, liver and kidney damage [1 - 6]. For these reasons, the screening of toxic cyanobacterial bloom samples is needed. Bacterial tests as cost-effective and rapid methods are useful tools for toxicity assessment. ToxAlert((R))100 bioluminescence assay, based on the inhibition of vitality of the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri, is a rapid and automated method for toxicity analysis. In this test, the decrease of the intensity of produced light, is closely correlated with decreasing vitality of bacteria and can be used to rank the toxic effect of a sample. In this presented research, the application of the bacterial tests named ToxAlert((R))100 for determining the toxicity of crude and purified cyanobacterial extracts containing microcystins will be investigated.