Cyanobacteria, or """"""""blue-green algae,"""""""" particularly in freshwater habitats, are recognized to produce an array of potently toxic compounds. Growing evidence indicates that toxigenic cyanobacteria represent a serious concern to human and environmental health. Development of novel approaches will be key to understanding both current and emerging roles of cyanobacterial toxins in environmental health. The proposed research will utilize the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo as a toxicological model to investigate toxic or otherwise bioactive metabolites from cyanobacteria. This research will isolate and culture cyanobacteria from two, ecologically unique and distinct freshwater microbial communities, namely the Florida Everglades (and associated waterways in South Florida) and the northern Great Lakes. Cyanobacterial isolates will be screened using the zebrafish embryo as a model of vertebrate development specifically to identify metabolites which interfere with developmental pathways (i.e. developmental toxins). The bioassay will be further utilized to guide initial purification of identified toxins toward the goal of chemical and biological characterization of potentially novel compounds. In addition, the zebrafish model will be used specifically to investigate a ubiquitous class of bacterial toxins, the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), from cyanobacteria. Though LPSs (or """"""""endotoxins"""""""") from Gram-negative heterotophic eubacteria are well described, the same compounds from cyanobacteria have been largely unexplored. However, emerging evidence indicates that cyanobacterial LPSs may have specific effects on certain """"""""detoxifying enzymes,"""""""" and a subsequent interactive effects with other toxins. Accordingly, the proposed research will further utilize the zebrafish embryo model to test several hypothesis related to the effects of LPSs, specifically from isolated strains of Microcystis, on heavy metal toxicity and accumulation. The proposed research will contribute significantly to our growing understanding of the role of freshwater cyanobacterial toxins in environmental health. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21ES014037-01A1
Application #
7097701
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-A (90))
Program Officer
Tyson, Frederick L
Project Start
2006-06-01
Project End
2006-08-15
Budget Start
2006-06-01
Budget End
2006-08-15
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$21,073
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami Coral Gables
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
625174149
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
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Jaja-Chimedza, Asha; Saez, Christopher; Sanchez, Kristel et al. (2015) Identification of teratogenic polymethoxy-1-alkenes fromCylindrospermopsis raciborskii, and taxonomically diverse freshwater cyanobacteria and green algae. Harmful Algae 49:156-161
Walton, Katherine; Gantar, Miroslav; Gibbs, Patrick D L et al. (2014) Indole alkaloids from Fischerella inhibit vertebrate development in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo model. Toxins (Basel) 6:3568-81
Jaja-Chimedza, Asha; Gantar, Miroslav; Mayer, Gregory D et al. (2012) Effects of cyanobacterial lipopolysaccharides from microcystis on glutathione-based detoxification pathways in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo. Toxins (Basel) 4:390-404
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Poste, Amanda E; Hecky, Robert E; Guildford, Stephanie J (2011) Evaluating microcystin exposure risk through fish consumption. Environ Sci Technol 45:5806-11
Notch, Emily G; Miniutti, Danielle M; Berry, John P et al. (2011) Cyanobacterial LPS potentiates cadmium toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Environ Toxicol 26:498-505
Berry, John P; Gibbs, Patrick D L; Schmale, Michael C et al. (2009) Toxicity of cylindrospermopsin, and other apparent metabolites from Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Aphanizomenon ovalisporum, to the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo. Toxicon 53:289-99
Berry, John P; Gantar, Miroslav; Perez, Mario H et al. (2008) Cyanobacterial toxins as allelochemicals with potential applications as algaecides, herbicides and insecticides. Mar Drugs 6:117-46