HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABS) MONITORING USING THE ENZYME-

LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) AND SCREENING TECHNOLOGIES

KATIE VIGIL

BAYWORK TRAINING BUFFET 2018

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

WHAT IS CYANOBACTERIA?

• AKA “BLUE-GREEN ALGAE” ARE A PHYLUM OF

BACTERIA THAT OBTAIN ENERGY THROUGH

PHOTOSYNTHESIS (THYLAKOIDS).

• ONLY PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROKARYOTES THAT

PRODUCE OXYGEN AND ARE NITROGEN-FIXING (N

AMMONIA, NITRITES, OR NITRATES) UNDER

ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS.

• UNICELLULAR, FILAMENTOUS OR COLONIAL SPECIES.

• AQUATIC HABITATS- OCEANS, FRESH WATER, DAMP

SOIL, AND MOISTENED ROCKS.

• CAN BE BENEFICIAL AND SOME ARE NUISANCE (HABS).

WHAT IS A HAB?

• HIGH ALGAE BIOMASS THAT MAY PRODUCE

TOXINS.

• MAY OCCUR IN :

• FRESH OR SALT WATER

• LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

• RIVERS AND STREAMS

• WETLANDS

• ESTUARIES

• MARINE WATERS

• CAN RESULT IN TASTE, ODOR AND TOXICITY

(CYANOTOXINS) PROBLEMS.

https://www.cleanwateraction.org/features/harmful-algal-outbreaks-and-drinking-water

What are the Causes of Algae Blooms?

Rastogi et al. 2015

THE RISE OF ALGAE TOXIN BLOOMS… TOLEDO OHIO2014 TAP WATER BAN

https://www.mbari.org/environmental-sample-processor-monitors-drinking-water-lake-erie/

HABS IN SOURCE WATER 2018

http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2018/08/toxic-algae-bloom-killing-fish-eels.html

Karenia bravis, neurotoxins, brevetoxins(marine

neurotoxin) Florida red tide 2018

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2018/06/23/salem-water-crisis-health-risks-algal-

toxins-unknown/726933002/

EPA NATIONAL 2015 HEALTH ADVISORY

http://www.stewardsofwater.com/blog/2018/5/20/algae-corner-toxic-noxious-smelly-part-2

Children < 6 years old Older children and adults

Microcystins (µg/L) 0.3 1.6

Cylindrospermopsin (µg/L) 0.7 3.0

Caution Warning Danger

Total Microcystins (µg/L) 0.8 6 20

Anatoxin-a (µg/L) Detection 20 90

Cylindrospermopsin (µg/L) 1 4 17

US EPA finished drinking water 10-day health advisory levels:

:

CA recreational health advisory levels

WHAT DO HABS IMPACT?

• RECREATIONAL

• AGRICULTURAL

• WILDLIFE, AQUATIC HABITAT

• DRINKING WATER

• FILTER CLOGGING, T&O AND

TOXINS

WHAT ARE CYANOTOXINS?

• LARGE GROUP OF PHYCOTOXINS PRODUCED BY

CERTAIN SPECIES OF CYANOBACTERIA.

• FOUND INTRACELLULARLY- RELEASED IF CELL DIES

OR IS LYSED.

• MANY ARE POTENT NEUROLOGICAL, HEPATIC,

AND DERMATOLOGICAL TOXICANTS.

• MICROCYSTIN-LR IS THE MOST WELL STUDIED

HEPATOTOXIC CYANOTOXIN.

Microcystis sp., Dolichospermum sp, Aphanizomenon sp. San Luis

1meter 2015.

COMMON GENUS’ OF TOXIN PRODUCING CYANOBACTERIA

Cylindrospermopsis- Cylindrospermopsin, AnatoxinMicrocystis- Microcystin

Dolichospermum- Anatoxin,

Microcystin, Saxitoxin

Oscillatoria- Microcystin

Aphanizomenon-Anatoxin,

CylindrospermopsinPlanktothrix-Anatoxin, Microcystin

Cyanobacteria Genera Cyanotoxin Primary target organ in

mammals

Microcystis, Anabaena, Dolichospermum, Limnothrix,

Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Planktothrix, Phormidium,

Woronichinia

Microcystins Liver

Nodularia Nodularins Liver

Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Planktothrix, Pseudanabaena,

Phormidium, Dolichospermum, Cuspidothrix,

Cylindrospermopsis, Synechocystis

Anatoxin-a Nerve synapse

Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis Cylindrospermopsins Liver

Aphanizomenon, Cuspidothrix, Cylindrospermopsis,

Dolichospermum

Saxitoxin Nerve Synapse

Lyngbya Lyngbyatoxin-a Skin, Gastro-intestinal tract

All Lipopolysaccharides Potential irritant; affects any

exposed tissue

TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT HABS

• FLUORESCENCE- FLUOROMETER

• PHYCOCYANIN- FLUOROMETER, PROBES

• ELISA- ABRAXIS STRIP TESTS AND ELISA 96 WELL TEST KITS

• LC/MS/MS- LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS SPECTROMETRY

HAB SCREENING TOOLS TO DEVELOP TRIGGER LEVELS

HAB DETECTION METHODSLC/MS/MS

https://shimadzu.com.au/brief-explanation-lcmsms-terminology

HAB DETECTION METHODENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA)

COMPETITIVE

ADDA-MICROCYSTIN COMPETITIVE ELISA

CALIFORNIA HAB RESOURCE

https://mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs/index.html

REFERENCES

• RASTOGI R.P. ET AL. 2015. BLOOM DYNAMICS OF CYANOBACTERIA AND THEIR TOXINS: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS AND

MITIGATION STRATEGIES. FRONT. MICROBIOL.

• HTTPS://WWW.EPA.GOV/NUTRIENT-POLICY-DATA/GUIDELINES-AND-RECOMMENDATIONS

• HTTPS://WWW.EPA.GOV/SITES/PRODUCTION/FILES/2017-06/DOCUMENTS/CYANOTOXINS-FACT_SHEET-2015.PDF

• HTTPS://MYWATERQUALITY.CA.GOV/HABS/

• HTTPS://WWW.EPA.GOV/NUTRIENTPOLLUTION/HARMFUL-ALGAL-BLOOMS

• HTTPS://WWW.EPA.GOV/NUTRIENT-POLICY-DATA/MONITORING-AND-RESPONDING-CYANOBACTERIA-AND-CYANOTOXINS-

RECREATIONAL-WATERS

THE END