7/26/2019 Microbiol. Rev.-1983-Ciferri-551-78
1/28
M I C R O B I O L O G I C A L
R E V I E W S ,
D e c .
1 9 8 3 ,
p .
5 5 1 - 5 7 8
V o l .
4 7 ,
N o . 4
0 1 4 6 - 0 7 4 9 / 8 3 / 0 4 0 5 5 1 - 2 8 0 2 . 0 0 / 0
C o p y r i g h t
1 9 8 3 , A m e r i c a n
S o c i e t y
f o r
M i c r o b i o l o g y
S p i r u l i n a , t h e
E d i b l e
M i c r o o r g a n i s m
ORIO
C I F E R R I
D e p a r t m e n t
o f
G e n e t i c s
a n d
M i c r o b i o l o g y ,
U n i v e r s i t y
o f
P a v i a , 2 7 1 0 0
P a v ' i a ,
I t a l y
INTRODUCTION.............................................................
5 5 1
OCCURRENCE AND
ISOLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................
5 5 2
MORPHOLOGY AND
TAXONOMY...............................................
5 5 8
PHYSIOLOGY .............................................................
5 6 3
BIOCHEMISTRY .............................................................
5 6 3
CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION
.
...................................................
5 6 6
PRODUCTION .............................................................
5 6 7
NUTRITION
AND
TOXICOLOGY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................
5 6 9
CONCLUSIONS AND
PROSPECTS
OF
THE
UTILIZATION
OF
SPIRULINA
AS
A
FOOD
SOURCE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .........................................................
5 7 4
LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 7 4
INTRODUCTION
I n
1 9 4 0
t h e
F r e n c h p h y c o l o g i s t D a n g e a r d
d e s c r i b e d
i n a c o m m u n i c a t i o n
t o
t h e
L i n n e a n
S o c i e t y
o f
B o r d e a u x
a
s a m p l e
r e c e i v e d
f r o m M r .
C r d a c h ,
p h a r m a c i s t
w i t h t h e F r e n c h
C o l o n i a l
t r o o p s
s t a t i o n e d
a t F o r t
L a m y ,
a t
t h a t
t i m e i n
F r e n c h
E q u a t o r i a l
A f r i c a a n d now
i n
t h e
R e p u b -
l i c
o f
C h a d
( 3 1 ) .
T h e
s a m p l e
was o b t a i n e d
f r o m
t h e m a r k e t
o f
M a s s a k o r y ,
a s m a l l
v i l l a g e
l o c a t e d
a p p r o x i m a t e l y
5 0
km
e a s t
o f L a k e
C h a d .
D a n -
g e a r d r e p o r t e d
t h a t t h e
m a t e r i a l c a l l e d
D i h d
( o r
d i d )
i n
t h e l o c a l
l a n g u a g e ( K a n e n b o u ) ,
w a s e a t e n
b y
t h e n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n ,
a n d w a s
o b t a i n e d
a s
f o l l o w s :
m a t s
o f
m i c r o s c o p i c a l g a e ,
f l o a t i n g
o n
t h e s u r f a c e o f s m a l l
l a k e s o r
p o n d s
a r o u n d
L a k e
C h a d , w e r e
c o l l e c t e d
a n d
s u n d r i e d o n
t h e
s a n d y
s h o r e s ( F i g . 1 ) .
T h e h a r d e n e d
c a k e s
w e r e
b r o k e n
i n t o s m a l l
p i e c e s a n d ,
w i t h o u t
a n y
f u r t h e r t r e a t -
m e n t ,
r e p r e s e n t e d
D i h e , o b j e c t
o f
s o m e
c o m -
m e r c e
i n
t h e
l o c a l
m a r k e t s .
A c c o r d i n g
t o
M r .
C r d a c h ,
D i h d w a s u s e d
t o
m a k e
s a u c e s a c c o m -
p a n y i n g
t h e s t a n d a r d
m i l l e t
m e a l . On
s t u d y i n g
t h e
s a m p l e s
o f
D i h d , D a n g e a r d
c o n c l u d e d
t h a t i t
w a s
a
t r u e
p u r e e
o f
a f i l a m e n t o u s , s p i r a l -
s h a p e d
b l u e
a l g a .
T h e
a l g a
w a s
A r t h r o s p i r a ( =
S p i r u l i n a ) p l a t e n s i s .
A
c o l l e a g u e
o f
D a n g e a r d ,
t h e
a b b o t F r e m y ,
i n f o r m e d
h i m
t h a t t h e
o r g a -
n i s m h a d
a l r e a d y
b e e n
i d e n t i f i e d b y R i c h
a s
t h e
m a i n
c o n s t i t u e n t o f
t h e
p h y t o p l a n k t o n
i n
a n u m -
b e r
o f l a k e s
i n t h e
R i f t
V a l l e y
o f
E a s t A f r i c a
( 1 2 8 ) .
R i c h
h a d
a l s o r e p o r t e d
t h a t
t h e o r g a n i s m
r e p r e s e n t e d
t h e
m a i n
f o o d
s o u r c e
f o r t h e
p o p u l a -
t i o n o f l e s s e r f l a m i n g o e s
( P h o e n i c o p t e r a )
i n h a b -
i t i n g
t h o s e
l a k e s .
B e c a u s e o f t h e
w a r a n d ,
p o s s i -
b l y ,
t h e
l i m i t e d
c i r c u l a t i o n
o f
t h e
j o u r n a l
i n
w h i c h t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n w a s p u b l i s h e d ,
D a n -
g e a r d ' s
r e p o r t
w e n t
u n n o t i c e d . A l m o s t
2 5
y e a r s
l a t e r , J . L e o n a r d
( a
b o t a n i s t p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n
t h e
B e l g i a n
T r a n s - S a h a r a n
e x p e d i t i o n ) ,
w h i l e
l o o k i n g f o r p l a n t p r o d u c t s
i n t h e
n a t i v e
m a r k e t s
i n a n d
a r o u n d
F o r t L a m y , w a s s t r u c k
b y
a
' c u r i o u s
s u b s t a n c e
g r e e n b l u i s h ,
s o l d
a s
d r i e d
b i s c u i t s
( 9 1 ) .
L d o n a r d
h a d r e d i s c o v e r e d D i h e
a n d c o n f i r m e d t h a t i t w a s
c o m p o s e d
a l m o s t
e x c l u s i v e l y o f
d r i e d
m a t s o f
S . p l a t e n s i s
c o l l e c t -
e d
f r o m
t h e
w a t e r s
o f
t h e a l k a l i n e l a k e s
i n
t h e
s u b d e s e r t
Kanem
a r e a ,
n o r t h e a s t
o f
L a k e
C h a d .
L d o n a r d a n d
h i s
c o l l e a g u e
C o m p d r e
c o n f i r m e d
t h e
r e p o r t
b y D a n g e a r d t h a t
D i h e w a s
c o n s u m e d
b y
t h e l o c a l
p o p u l a t i o n s
a n d
p e r f o r m e d a f i r s t
g r o u p
o f c h e m i c a l a n a l y s e s t h a t
r e v e a l e d a
v e r y
h i g h
p r o t e i n
c o n t e n t , c l o s e
t o 50 o f
t h e
d r y
w e i g h t . A l t h o u g h
i m p r e s s i v e , t h i s f i g u r e
w a s a n
u n d e r e s t i m a t e s i n c e
i n d e p e n d e n t s t u d i e s , c a r -
r i e d o u t
b y t h e
I n s t i t u t F r a n c a i s e d u P d t r o l e o n
l a b o r a t o r y - g r o w n
S .
p l a t e n s i s , g a v e
p r o t e i n c o n -
t e n t s
t h a t
r a n g e d f r o m
6 2 t o 68 o f t h e
d r y
w e i g h t
( 2 8 ) .
A t
t h e
s a m e
t i m e , t h e
F r e n c h g r o u p h a d b e g u n
t o
i n v e s t i g a t e a l s o a n o t h e r
s p e c i e s o f
S p i r i i l i n a ,
S .
m a x i m a
( = S .
g e i t l e r i ) ,
t h a t
w a s g r o w i n g
a b u n d a n t l y
i n
L a k e
T e x c o c o , n e a r
M e x i c o
C i t y
( 2 7 , 4 0 ) . A l t h o u g h t h e r e
w a s n o i n d i c a t i o n t h a t
S .
m a x i m a
w a s
u s e d i n M e x i c o a s a
f o o d ,
a
s e a r c h o f t h e h i s t o r i c a l
l i t e r a t u r e r e v e a l e d t h a t ,
a t
t h e
t i m e s
o f t h e S p a n i s h
c o n q u e s t , S .
maxima
w a s
h a r v e s t e d
f r o m
t h e
l a k e , d r i e d , a n d s o l d f o r
human
c o n s u m p t i o n . T h e v e r y a t t e n t i v e S p a n i s h
i n v a d e r s d u l y
r e c o r d e d a l l
a n i m a l s , p l a n t s , a n d
f o o d s
t h a t
t h e y
e n c o u n t e r e d
i n
t h e
n e w l y
c o n -
q u e r e d
t e r r i t o r i e s .
( I n d e e d ,
f o r
i n s t a n c e ,
C o l u m -
b u s
h i m s e l f
n o t e d t h a t ,
d u r i n g h i s
f i r s t
v i s i t t o
C u b a i n
1 4 9 2 ,
h e s a w a
t y p e
o f g r a i n
l i k e
m i l l e t
t h a t t h e n a t i v e s c a l l e d
m a i z e . ) B e r n a l
D i a z d e l
C a s t i l l o , a
member
o f C o r t e z ' t r o o p s ,
d e s c r i b e d
among
t h e
many
a s t o n i s h i n g i t e m s
t h a t
h e s a w i n
t h e m a r k e t o f T e n o c h t i t l a n ( t o -
d a y ' s M e x i c o
C i t y )
s m a l l
c a k e s m a d e
5 5 1
onJune13,2016
byguest
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m.org/
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5 5 2 CIFERRI
F I G .
1 .
P r e p a r a t i o n
a n d
s a l e
o f
D i h e .
( A ) S u n -
d r y i n g
o f S .
p l a t e n s i s
mats
on t h e s h o r e s
o f Lake
Rombou
( R e p u b l i c
o f
C h a d ) ,
ca. 1 9 6 7 .
( P h o t o b y
A .
I l t i s . ) ( B )
D i h E
o n
s a l e
i n
t h e
v i l l a g e
m a r k e t
o f
Massa-
k o r y ( R e p u b l i c o f
C h a d ) ,
c a . 1 9 6 7 .
( P h o t o
b y
A .
I l t i s . )
f r o m a
s o r t o f
a
ooze w h i c h
t h e y
g e t
o u t o f
t h e
g r e a t l a k e ,
a n d
f r o m w h i c h
t h e y
make a b r e a d
h a v i n g
a
f l a v o u r s o m e t h i n g
l i k e
c h e e s e
( 3 6 ) .
A
f e w
years l a t e r ,
a
F r a n c i s c a n
f r i a r ,
B e r n a r d i n o
d a
S a h a g i i n ,
d e s c r i b e d h ow
f i s h e r m e n
...
w i t h
very f i n e n e t s i n
c e r t a i n
p e r i o d s
o f
t h e
y e a r
c o l l e c t
a
s o f t
t h i n g
t h a t
i s
c r e a t e d
on
t h e
w a t e r s
o f t h e
l a g o o n s o f M e x i c o , a n d
w h i c h
c u r d l e s ,
a n d i t
i s
n o t
g r a s s n o r e a r t h , r a t h e r
l i k e
h a y
. . .
o f c l e a r
b l u e
c o l o r ,
f r o m
w h i c h
t h e y
make
b r e a d ,
t h a t
t h e y
e a t
c o o k e d ( 3 4 ) ( F i g . 2 ) .
Th e
n a t i v e s
c a l l e d i t
T e c u i t l a t l ,
l i t e r a l l y
s t o n e ' s excre-
ment
s i n c e , a s
F a r r a r h a s
p o i n t e d
o u t
( 4 2 ) ,
b r e e d i n g o f
m i n e r a l s
was s t i l l a common
b e l i e f i n t h e
1 6 th c e n t u r y .
T e c u i t l a t l
w a s
m e n -
t i o n e d b y h i s t o r i a n s o f t h e
c o n q u e s t
o r v i s i t i n g
n a t u r a l i s t s
u p
t o
t h e
e n d o f t h e 1 6 t h
c e n t u r y .
A f t e r t h a t
p e r i o d ,
T e c u i t l a t l
i s n o t m e n t i o n e d
a n y l o n g e r , p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e t h e p r a c t i c e
o f
m a k i n g T e c u i t l a t l
d i s a p p e a r e d
s o o n
a f t e r
t h e
c o n q u e s t . I t
i s p o s s i b l e
t h a t t h e l o c a l
p o p u l a t i o n ,
d e c i m a t e d a l s o
b y r e p e a t e d
o u t b r e a k s o f c o n t a -
g i o u s
d i s e a s e s ,
c o u l d
s a t i s f y i t s a l i m e n t a r y n e e d s
w i t h
m o r e
c o n v e n t i o n a l
f o o d s . F u r t h e r , i t
i s
p o s s i b l e
t h a t
d u e
t o
t h e
p r o f o u n d
s o c i a l ,
p o l i t i -
c a l , a n d r e l i g i o u s c h a n g e s c a u s e d b y t h e S p a n i s h
c o n q u e s t many
t r a d i t i o n s
w e r e q u i c k l y
l o s t
( 4 2 ) .
T h u s ,
o v e r
t h e a g e s , t w o
p o p u l a t i o n s ,
a p p r o x -
i m a t e l y 1 0 , 0 0 0
km
a p a r t , d i s c o v e r e d i n d e p e n -
d e n t l y
a n d e x p l o i t e d t h e n u t r i t i o n a l p r o p e r t i e s o f
S p i r u l i n a .
E x c e p t p e r h a p s
f o r
t h e
F a r
E a s t ,
t h i s
i s
t h e o n l y
r e c o r d
o f t r a d i t i o n a l
u s e o f
a m i c r o b i -
a l
b i o m a s s a s a
f o o d
f o r
human
c o n s u m p t i o n .
T h e a i m o f
t h i s r e v i e w
w a s t o c o l l a t e t h e
i n f o r -
m a t i o n
a v a i l a b l e i n t h e
c a s e
o f t h e t w o s p e c i e s
t h a t
a p p e a r t o h a v e b e e n u t i l i z e d a s a
f o o d
s o u r c e ,
S .
p l a t e n s i s
a n d S .
m a x i m a .
I t i s h o p e d
t h a t
t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n
ma y e n c o u r a g e f u r t h e r
i n -
v e s t i g a t i o n o n
t h e
d i f f e r e n t
a s p e c t s
o f
t h e
l i f e
a n d t h e
p o s s i b l e
e x p l o i t a t i o n o f
t h e s e o r g a n i s m s .
T h i s w o r k
m a y , i n t u r n , b e o f some
h e l p
i n
a l l e v i a t i n g o n e
o f
t h e m o s t
p r e s s i n g
p r o b l e m s
now
f a c i n g
m a n k i n d .
OCCURRENCE
AND ISOLATION
S p i r u l i n a
i s a
u b i q u i t o u s
o r g a n i s m .
A f t e r
t h e
f i r s t
i s o l a t i o n b y T u r p i n
i n
1 8 2 7
f r o m
a f r e s h w a -
t e r s t r e a m
( 1 5 9 ) , s p e c i e s
o f
S p i r u l i n a
h a v e b e e n
f o u n d
i n a
v a r i e t y
o f
e n v i r o n m e n t s :
s o i l , s a n d ,
m a r s h e s ,
b r a c k i s h w a t e r ,
s e a w a t e r ,
a n d f r e s h w a -
t e r .
S p e c i e s
o f S p i r u l i n a
h a v e
b e e n
i s o l a t e d ,
f o r
i n s t a n c e , f r o m
t r o p i c a l
w a t e r s t o t h e N o r t h
S e a
( 6 8 ) ,
t h e r m a l
s p r i n g s
( 6 ) ,
s a l t
p a n s ( 5 2 ) ,
w a r m
w a t e r s f r o m p o w e r
p l a n t s ( 4 9 ) ,
f i s h
p o n d s
( 1 2 2 ) ,
e t c .
T h u s ,
t h e
o r g a n i s m
a p p e a r s
t o
b e
c a p a b l e
o f
a d a p t a t i o n
t o
v e r y
d i f f e r e n t
h a b i t a t s
a n d
c o l o -
n i z e s
c e r t a i n
e n v i r o n m e n t s
i n w h i c h
l i f e
f o r o t h e r
m i c r o o r g a n i s m s i s ,
i f
n o t
i m p o s s i b l e , v e r y
d i f f i -
c u l t .
T y p i c a l
i s t h e
p o p u l a t i o n
b y
a l k a l o p h y l i c
S .
p l a t e n s i s
o f c e r t a i n
a l k a l i n e
l a k e s
i n A f r i c a
a n d
b y S . maxima
o f
L a k e T e x c o c o
i n
M e x i c o .
I n
s o m e o f
t h e s e l a k e s
S p i r u l i n a g r o w s
a s
a
q u a s i -
m o n o c u l t u r e .
I n t h e
c a s e
o f t h e A f r i c a n
l a k e s i n
t h e C h a d
r e g i o n ,
I l t i s
h a s c o n d u c t e d
a n e x t e n -
s i v e
s u r v e y
o f
t h e p h y t o p l a n k t o n
o f
t h e
a l k a l i n e
l a k e s , p e r m a n e n t
o r
t e m p o r a r y ( 7 5 ) .
T h e s e b o d -
i e s
o f w a t e r
h a v e b e e n
c l a s s i f i e d
i n t o
t h r e e
g r o u p s
a c c o r d i n g
t o
t h e i r
s a l t
c o n t e n t , m o s t l y
c a r b o n a t e s a n d
b i c a r b o n a t e s .
T h e
l a k e s
w i t h
a
s a l t c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f
< 2 . 5
g / l i t e r p r e s e n t e d
a
v e r y v a r i e d m i c r o b i a l
p o p u l a t i o n c o m p o s e d
o f
C h l o r o p h y c e a e , c y a n o b a c t e r i a ,
a n d
d i a t o m s .
I n
t h e
m e s o h a l i n e
l a k e s ,
c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y
s a l t c o n -
c e n t r a t i o n s
r a n g i n g
f r o m
2 . 5
t o
3 0
g / l i t e r ,
t h e
M I C R O B I O L . R E V .
onJune13,2016
byguest
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m.org/
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http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/http://mmbr.asm.org/7/26/2019 Microbiol. Rev.-1983-Ciferri-551-78
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S P I R U L I N A , THE EDIBLE MICROORGANISM
5 5 3
c y a n o b a c t e r i a l p o p u l a t i o n
b e c a m e p r e d o m i n a n t ,
a l t h o u g h many
s p e c i e s w e r e
p r e s e n t ( S y n e c h o -
c y s t i s ,
O s c i l l a t o r i a ,
S p i r u l i n a , A n a b a e n o p s i s )
( 7 4 ) . I n
t h e l a k e s c o n t a i n i n g
s a l t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s
> 3 0
g / l i t e r ,
t h e
c y a n o b a c t e r i a l
p o p u l a t i o n
b e -
c a m e
p r a c t i c a l l y m o n o s p e c i f i c a n d
S p i r u l i n a
w a s
t h e o n l y
o r g a n i s m
p r e s e n t i n s i g n i f i c a n t
q u a n t i t i e s
( 6 9 , 7 0 ) . I n d e e d ,
S . p l a t e n s i s
w a s
f o u n d i n
w a t e r s
c o n t a i n i n g
f r o m 8 5 t o 2 7 0
g
o f
s a l t
p e r
l i t e r ,
b u t
g r o w t h s e e m e d t o b e o p t i m a l a t
s a l t
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s r a n g i n g f r o m 2 0 t o 7 0
g / l i t e r ,
a n d
i t i s
p o s s i b l e
t h a t
t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s f o u n d a t t h e
h i g h e s t s a l t
c o n c e n t r a -
t i o n s ,
s u c h
a s i n
t e m p o r a r y p o n d s
j u s t
b e f o r e
d r y i n g , w a s t h a t o f
t h e
c y a n o b a c t e r i a l b i o m a s s
e s t a b l i s h e d w h e n
t h e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f s a l t s w a s
m u c h
l o w e r
( 7 1 ) .
A
d e t a i l e d
i n v e s t i g a t i o n
o f
t w o
l a k e s ,
Rombou
a n d B o d o u , b o t h
c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y a
v e r y a l k a l i n e pH ( 1 0
t o 1 0 . 3 f o r
Rombou
a n d
1 0 . 2 t o
1 0 . 4 f o r
B o d o u ) b u t
d i f f e r e n t s a l t
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s
( 1 3 t o
2 6
g / l i t e r f o r
t h e
f o r m e r
a n d
3 2 t o 5 5 g l l i t e r
f o r t h e l a t t e r ) , s e e m e d t o
c o n f i r m
t h a t
s a l t c o n c e n t r a t i o n p l a y s
a
d i r e c t
r o l e
i n
t h e
g r o w t h o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s .
I n
L a k e
R o m b o u , c y a n o b a c t e r i a r e p r e s e n t
7/26/2019 Microbiol. Rev.-1983-Ciferri-551-78
4/28
5 5 4 CIFERRI
i n
c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t s .
Y e t ,
o n
a p e r - c e l l
b a s i s , e v e n
i n t h i s
l a k e
S .
p l a t e n s i s
w a s
5 -
t o 1 0 -
f o l d m o r e
a b u n d a n t t h a n C .
m i n u t u s
( 1 0 2 ) . I n
a n o t h e r
l a k e
o f t h e s a m e a r e a ,
L a k e S i m b i ,
S .
p l a t e n s i s
w a s
t h e
o n l y
o r g a n i s m
t h a t
c o u l d
b e
d e t e c t e d ,
r e a c h i n g , i n t h e
f i r s t m e t e r s
f r o m
t h e
s u r f a c e ,
a
c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o f 2 0 0 , 0 0 0
c e l l s p e r m l
( e a c h
c o i l b e i n g c o m p o s e d
o f c a . 1 0
c e l l s ) ,
w h i c h
w a s r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r
t h e
e x c e p t i o n a l l y
h i g h r a t e s
o f p h o t o s y n t h e s i s
( u p t o 1 3
g o f
0 2
p r o d u c e d / m 3
p e r
h )
( 1 0 1 ) .
S i m i l a r l y ,
t w o c r a t e r l a k e s
i n E t h i o -
p i a ,
L a k e s K i l o t e s
a n d A r a n g u a d i ,
b o t h c h a r a c -
t e r i z e d
b y a h i g h s a l t
c o n t e n t a n d a n
a l k a l i n e
p H ,
s u p po r t a d e n s e
p o p u l a t i o n o f
S p i r u l i n a
( 1 5 0 ) . I n
L a k e
K i l o t e s
( p H
9 . 6 ) , S .
p l a t e n s i s
i s t h e p r e -
d o m i n a n t
o r g a n i s m ,
a l t h o u g h
i t
i s
a c c o m p a n i e d
b y
a n
u n i d e n t i f i e d s p e c i e s
o f
C h r o o c o c c u s .
I n
L a k e
A r a n g u a d i ,
c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y
a
m o r e a l k a -
l i n e
pH
( 1 0 . 3 ) ,
S . p l a t e n s i s i s t h e
o n l y
m i c r o o r -
g a n i s m
p r e s e n t
a n d i t s a b u n d a n c e i s
s u c h
t h a t
w a t e r s
a p p e a r
d e e p
g r e e n
( i n
A b y s s i n i a n , a r a n -
g u a d i m e a n s g r e e n ) .
T h e
h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o f
S . p l a t e n s i s w a s r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r t h e e x t r e m e l y
h i g h p h o t o s y n t h e t i c r a t e s
( 1 . 2
t o 2 . 4 g
o f
0 2
p r o d u c e d / M 2
p e r h ) .
I t
m u s t b e s t r e s s e d
t h a t i n
m a n y
o f
t h e s e
l a k e s
d r a m a t i c
c h a n g e s
i n
t h e
p o p u l a t i o n
o f S p i r u l i n a
may
r e s u l t f r o m
f l u c t u a t i o n s
i n
t h e a l k a l i n i t y
a n d
t h e
s a l t
c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o f
t h e w a t e r .
F o r
i n s t a n c e ,
i n
t h e c a s e
o f
L a k e N a k u r u ,
t h e a l k a l i n i t y
( e x -
p r e s s e d
a s
m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s
o f HC03-
+
C 0 2 2 -
p e r l i t e r )
w a s
2 9 6 i n
1 9 2 9 , 2 0 5
i n
1 9 3 1 , 1 , 4 4 0
i n
1 9 6 1 ,
a n d
1 2 2 i n 1 9 6 9
( 1 0 2 ) .
A m o r e
r e c e n t
i n v e s t i g a t i o n
o n t h e l a k e s
s t u d i e d
b y R i c h ( 1 2 8 )
a n d
J e n k i n ( 7 9 )
h a s s h o w n
t h a t
t h e
d e n s i t y
o f
S p i r u l i n a
n o t
o n l y
u n d e r g o e s
s e a s o n a l
v a r i a t i o n s
b u t
a l s o may b e
r e d u c e d
f r o m
t h e
p r e d o m i n a n t ,
o r
s o l e ,
c o m p o n e n t
o f t h e
p h y t o p l a n k t o n
t o
a
m i n o r c o m p o n e n t
o f
t h e b i o m a s s .
T h u s ,
t h e
c o n t r i b u t i o n
o f S p i r u l i n a
t o
t h e
p r i m a r y p r o d u c -
t i o n
may
b e c o m e
a l m o s t
n e g l i g i b l e
w h e r e a s
t h a t
o f
o t h e r
s p e c i e s ( e . g . ,
b e n t h i c d i a t o m s )
b e c o m e s
p r e d o m i n a n t
( 1 5 7 ) .
T h e s e c h a n g e s ,
a t
t i m e s
f u l l y
r e v e r s i b l e ,
ma y b e o f
c o n s i d e r a b l e
i m p o r t a n c e
f o r
t h e a n i m a l c o m m u n i t i e s
a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h
t h e s e l a k e s
( s e e
b e l o w ) .
O f
c o u r s e
t h e
l a k e s
w h o s e p h y s i c o c h e m i c a l
c o n d i t i o n s
d o
n o t
v a r y
may
m a i n t a i n
a
s t a b l e a n d
a b u n d a n t
p o p u l a t i o n
o f
S p i r u l i n a
a s m u s t b e
t h e c a s e
f o r s o m e
o f t h e
l a k e s i n t h e C h a d a r e a
a n d
L a k e T e x c o c o
i n
M e x i c o . F o r
t h e s e
l a k e s
i t m u s t
b e a s s u m e d
t h a t
S p i r u l i n a
h a s
b e e n
t h e
p r i m a r y
c o m p o n e n t
o f
t h e
b i o m a s s
a t
l e a s t
f o r c e n t u r i e s .
I n
c o n c l u s i o n ,
s o m e
s p e c i e s
o f
S p i r u l i n a ,
n o t a b l y
S .
p l a t e n s i s
a n d S . m a x i m a ,
a r e
c a p a b l e
o f
g r o w i n g
i n
w a t e r s
w h o s e
c h e m i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n
m a k e s l i f e f o r o t h e r
m i c r o o r g a n i s m s v e r y
d i f f i c u l t
i f
n o t i m p o s s i b l e .
I n t h e s e
e n v i r o n m e n t s , S p i r u l i n a
g r o w s
a s a
q u a s i - m o n o c u l t u r e
( T a b l e
1 ) .
T h i s d o e s
n o t
m e a n ,
o f c o u r s e ,
t h a t
o t h e r m i c r o o r g a n i s m s
d o
n o t
g r o w
a t
a l l ,
a s d e m o n s t r a t e d ,
f o r
i n s t a n c e ,
b y t h e
f i n d i n g t h a t
a l l s p e c i e s o f S p i r u l i n a
s o
f a r
i s o l a t e d
e v e n f r o m t h e
m o s t
a l k a l i n e
l a k e s
a r e
a l w a y s c o n t a m i n a t e d
b y
b a c t e r i a . T h e
b a c t e r i a l
f l o r a
a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h
t h e c u l t u r e s
o f
S p i r u l i n a
i s
v a r i e d
b u t
w i t h
a
p r e p o n d e r a n c e
o f
g r a m - n e g a -
t i v e r o d s ( 1 0 5 ) .
I t i s
n o t k n o w n
w h e t h e r a n y
m u t u a l i s t i c
r e l a t i o n s
e x i s t b e t w e e n t h e s e
b a c t e r i a
a n d
t h e
c y a n o b a c t e r i u m ,
a l t h o u g h
i n
t h e l a b o r a -
t o r y
a x e n i c c u l t u r e s o f
S . p l a t e n s i s
g r o w a s w e l l ,
a n d
p e r h a p s
e v e n
b e t t e r , t h a n n o n a x e n i c
o n e s
( 2 ,
1 0 5 ) .
I n
a d d i t i o n ,
a l t h o u g h
n o c o m p a r i s o n
o f
t h e
r e q u i r e m e n t s
( m e d i u m
c o m p o s i t i o n
i n c l u d -
i n g t r a c e e l e m e n t s ,
a l k a l i n i t y ,
l i g h t ,
e t c . ) o f
a x e n i c
c u l t u r e s
a n d n o n a x e n i c
o n e s
h a s b e e n
p e r f o r m e d ,
a l l d a t a
s o f a r
a v a i l a b l e i n d i c a t e t h a t
a x e n i c
c u l t u r e s
g r o w
a t
l e a s t
a s w e l l
a s
n o n a x -
e n i c
c u l t u r e s
i n t h e
m e d i a
a n d
u n d e r t h e c o n d i -
t i o n s d e v e l o p e d
f o r
t h e
l a t t e r
i s o l a t e s
( 2 , 1 0 5 ,
1 0 6 , 1 2 6 ,
1 6 0 ) .
T h e b a c t e r i a
a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t h e
c y a n o b a c t e r i a l
t r i c h o m e s may
b e
e a s i l y i s o l a t e d
b y
p l a t i n g
t r i c h o m e s
o n
s t a n d a r d
b a c t e r i o l o g i c a l
m e d i a i n w h i c h t h e
pH
h a s b e e n
a d j u s t e d t o 9 t o
9 . 2 .
I f m e d i a w i t h
pH
c l o s e
t o
n e u t r a l i t y
a r e
u s e d , v e r y
f e w
b a c t e r i a l
c o l o n i e s a r e
f o u n d . I t i s
p o s s i b l e
t o
d i s t i n g u i s h
t w o m a i n
g r o u p s
o f
b a c t e -
r i a l
c o n t a m i n a n t s ,
t h a t o f t h e
o r g a n i s m s
p r e s e n t
m o s t l y
i n
t h e
c u l t u r e m e d i u m
a n d l o o s e l y a d h e r -
i n g
t o
t h e
t r i c h o m e s
a n d
t h o s e ,
c a l l e d
e p i p h y t i c
c o n t a m i n a n t s ,
b o u n d
o r
t i g h t l y a d h e r i n g
t o
t h e
t h i n
s h e a t h
e n c l o s i n g
t h e t r i c h o m e s . W a s h i n g
t h e
t r i c h o m e s
w i t h
a q u e o u s
s o l u t i o n s
r e m o v e s
t h e
f i r s t
g r o u p
o f
b a c t e r i a w i t h o u t s i g n i f i c a n t l y
a f f e c t i n g
t h e
s e c o n d
o n e .
F r a g m e n t s
o f
t r i -
c h o m e s c o n t a i n i n g
n o
b a c t e r i a
a n d h e n c e
a m e -
n a b l e t o
t h e
e s t a b l i s h m e n t
o f
a x e n i c
c u l t u r e s
may
b e
o b t a i n e d
b y e x t e n s i v e l y
w a s h i n g
t h e
t r i c h o m e s
w i t h
s t e r i l e s o l u t i o n s
f o l l o w e d b y
m e -
c h a n i c a l f r a g m e n t a t i o n
t o
g i v e
s i n g l e
c e l l s
o r
s h o r t f i l a m e n t s c o n t a i n i n g
t w o t o f o u r
c e l l s
e a c h .
T h e
f r a g m e n t s
a r e
t h e n
i r r a d i a t e d
w i t h
UV
l i g h t
a n d ,
a f t e r
f u r t h e r
w a s h i n g s ,
u s e d
t o i n o c u l a t e
t e s t
t u b e s
o f
m i n i m a l
m e d i u m
i n
s u c h
a
way
a s t o
g i v e
a
c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o f
c a . o n e
c e l l
p e r
t u b e .
A f t e r
i n c u b a t i o n
i n
t h e
l i g h t ,
a f e w
t u b e s
( 3
t o
5 )
c o n t a i n
v i a b l e
c u l t u r e s
o f S .
p l a t e n s i s
t h a t
a p p e a r ,
e v e n
a f t e r
r e p e a t e d
s u b c u l t u r e ,
t o
b e
d e v o i d o f d e t e c t a b l e
b a c t e r i a
( 1 0 5 , 1 2 7 ) .
R e c e n t -
l y ,
a s t r a i n
o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s
h a s
b e e n
r e p o r t e d
t o
h a v e b e e n r e n d e r e d
a x e n i c
s i m p l y
b y r e p e a t e d
s t r e a k i n g s
o n
a g a r
p l a t e s
( 2 1 ) . H o w e v e r ,
t h e
p o s s i b l e p r e s e n c e
o f
b a c t e r i a
was
a s s e s s e d
o n
s t a n d a r d
m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l
m e d i a ,
t h a t
i s ,
p r e s u m -
a b l y
o n
m e d i a w h o s e
pH
i s
n o t
s u i t a b l e
f o r
g r o w t h
o f
t h e
b a c t e r i a
a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t h e
t r i -
c h o m e s .
T h e
a v a i l a b i l i t y
o f
a x e n i c
c u l t u r e s
a l -
l o w e d
i t
t o
b e
e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h
S .
p l a t e n s i s
c a n n o t
g r o w
u n d e r
h e t e r o t r o p h i c
c o n -
d i t i o n s ,
m i x o t r o p h i c
c u l t u r e s
a r e
p o s s i b l e ,
c o n -
s i s t e n t l y g i v i n g
y i e l d s
h i g h e r
t h a n t h o s e
o f c u l -
M I C R O B I O L . R E V .
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m.org/
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CIFERRI
M I C R O B I O L .
R E V .
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5 5 8
CIFERRI
t u r e s
g r o w n u n d e r
p h o t o a u t o t r o p h i c c o n d i t i o n s
( s e e b e l o w ) .
Du e t o
t h e a l k a l i n i t y o f
t h e
g r o w t h
m e d i u m ,
t h e m i c r o b i a l l o a d
o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s
c u l t u r e s h a s
b e e n
r e p o r t e d
t o
b e
o n e
o r d e r
o f
m a g n i t u d e
l o w e r t h a n t h a t
o f e u c a r yo ti c a l g a e ,
s u c h
a s
S c e n e d e s m u s a c u t u s , w h i c h
g r o w i n a c i d m e d i a
( 1 0 ) . H o w e v e r , a q u a n t i t a t i v e
s t u d y
o f
t h e b a c t e -
r i a l f l o r a a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o p e n - p o n d c u l t u r e s o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s
a n d S . m a x i m a h a s s h o w n
t h a t
t h e
c o n t a m i n a t i n g
b a c t e r i a
may
a c c o u n t
f o r
c a . 1
o f
t h e
t o t a l b i o m a s s
( 1 0 0 ) .
I f
t h e t r i c h o m e s
a r e
w a s h e d
r e p e a t e d l y w i t h s t e r i l e p h y s i o l o g i c a l
s o -
l u t i o n ,
t h e
b a c t e r i a l
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o
t h e
t o t a l
b i o m a s s
b e c o m e s
n e g l i g i b l e
( < 1 0 3 b a c t e r i a l c e l l s
p e r
t r i c h o m e ) ( 1 2 7 ) . T h u s , h a r v e s t i n g o f c u l t u r e s
b y
f i l t r a t i o n
o r
c e n t r i f u g a t i o n
f o l l o w e d
b y w a s h -
i n g may
r e s u l t i n b i o m a s s e s
t h a t c o n t a i n
i n s i g -
n i f i c a n t a m o u n t s o f b a c t e r i a l c o n t a m i n a n t s . M i -
c r o b i o l o g i c a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s
o f s a m p l e s o f
D i h d
o b t a i n e d
f r o m l o c a l m a r k e t s i n t h e C h a d a r e a h a v e
i n d i c a t e d
t h e p r e s e n c e o f a e r o b i c a n d
a n a e r o b i c
b a c t e r i a ,
a n d
f e c a l
s t r e p t o c o c c i h a v e b e e n i s o l a t -
e d
f r o m S . m a x i m a
h a r v e s t e d f r o m L a k e T e x c o -
c o
( 7 6 ) .
A s e x p e c t e d , t h e n u m b e r o f a l l
v i a b l e
b a c t e r i a ,
i n c l u d i n g t h o s e
t h a t
may r e p r e s e n t
a
d a n g e r
t o
human
h e a l t h , d e c r e a s e s i n
t h e d r i e d
s a m p l e s e v e n i n
t h o s e
p r o c e s s e d
b y s u n d r y i n g
( 1 0 , 7 6 ) .
MORPHOLOGY
AND
TAXONOMY
S p i r u l i n a
i s
a
m u l t i c e l l u l a r ,
f i l a m e n t o u s
c y -
a n o b a c t e r i u m . U n d e r
t h e
m i c r o s c o p e , S p i r u l i n a
a p p e a r s
a s
b l u e - g r e e n
f i l a m e n t s
c o m p o s e d
o f
c y l i n d r i c a l
c e l l s
a r r a n g e d
i n
u n b r a n c h e d ,
h e l i c o i -
d a l
t r i c h o m e s
( F i g . 3 ) .
T h e f i l a m e n t s
a r e
m o t i l e ,
g l i d i n g
a l o n g
t h e i r
a x i s .
H e t e r o c y s t s
a r e
a b s e n t .
T h e h e l i c a l
s h a p e
o f
t h e
t r i c h o m e
i s c h a r a c t e r -
i s t i c
o f
t h e
g e n u s
b u t t h e
h e l i c a l
p a r a m e t e r s
i . e . ,
p i t c h l e n g t h
a n d h e l i x
d i m e n s i o n s )
v a r y
w i t h
t h e
s p e c i e s ,
a n d
e v e n
w i t h i n
t h e
s a m e
s p e c i e s ,
d i f -
f e r e n c e s
h a v e b e e n o b s e r v e d
i n
t h e s e
p a r a m e -
t e r s ( 9 8 ,
1 2 8 )
o r
may
b e i n d u c e d
b y
c h a n g i n g
t h e
e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s
s u c h
a s
g r o w t h
t e m -
p e r a t u r e
( 1 6 2 ) .
T h e
h e l i c a l
s h a p e
i s m a i n t a i n e d
o n l y
i n
l i q u i d m e d i a ,
a n d
i n
s o l i d
m e d i a
t h e
f i l a m e n t s
b e c o m e
t r u e
s p i r a l s
( 1 6 4 ) .
T h e
t r a n s i -
t i o n f r o m
a h e l i x
t o
a f l a t
s p i r a l
i s
a s l o w
p r o c e s s
d e p e n d i n g
o n
t h e
w a t e r c o n t e n t
o f t h e
a g a r
s u r f a c e ,
w h e r e a s t h e
r e v e r s e o c c u r s
a l m o s t
i n -
s t a n t l y
w h e n ,
f o r
i n s t a n c e ,
a
d r o p
o f
w a t e r
i s
d e p o s i t e d
o n
t h e
a g a r
s u r f a c e
i n
c o n t a c t
w i t h
a
s p i r a l .
T h e
t r a n s i t i o n
f r o m
h e l i x
t o
s p i r a l
i s
p r o b a b l y
r e l a t e d
t o
t h e
n e c e s s i t y
o f
r e d u c i n g ,
i n
s o l i d
m e d i a ,
t h e
s u r f a c e
a r e a
e x p o s e d
t o
a i r .
I t i s
p o s s i b l e
t h a t t h e s e t r a n s i t i o n s
a r e c a u s e d
b y
h y d r a t i o n
o r
d e h y d r a t i o n
o f
t h e
o l i g o p e p t i d e s
i n
t h e
p e p t i d o g l y c a n
l a y e r ,
r e s u l t i n g
i n
c h a n g e s
i n
t h e
r i g i d i t y
o f t h e c e l l s
( 1 6 5 ) .
T h e d i a m e t e r
o f
t h e c e l l s
r a n g e s
f r o m
1
t o
3
p . m i n t h e
s m a l l e r
s p e c i e s a n d
f r o m 3 t o
1 2 p . m
i n
t h e
l a r g e r
o n e s .
C o m p a r i s o n o f
a n
a u t h e n t i c
i s o l a t e
o f S .
p l a t e n s i s
f r o m C h a d a n d o f
S .
m a x i m a
f r o m M e x i c o ,
g r o w n
i n t h e
l a b o r a t o r y
u n d e r
i d e n t i c a l
c o n d i t i o n s ,
s h o w e d
t h a t
S .
m a x i -
ma
i s
c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y a d i a m e t e r o f
t h e
h e l i x o f
5 0 t o
6 0
p . m
a n d p i t c h
o f 8 0 p m ; v a l u e s > 3 5
t o
5 0
p . m a n d 6 0
p m ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
w e r e
o b s e r v e d
f o r
S .
p l a t e n s i s . On t h e
o t h e r h a n d , c e l l d i m e n s i o n s
w e r e g r e a t e r
i n
S . p l a t e n s i s t h a n i n
S .
m a x i m a
( d i a m e t e r ,
6 t o 8
p . m i n t h e f o r m e r a n d
4 t o 6 p . m
i n t h e l a t t e r ) ( 9 7 ) . T h e c y t o p l a s m
o f
t h e
s m a l l e r
s p e c i e s a p p e a r s
h o m o g e n e o u s , w i t h n o
g a s
v a c -
u o l e s
o r i n c l u s i o n s a n d s c a r c e l y
v i s i b l e s e p t a .
On t h e
c o n t r a r y ,
t h e l a r g e r s p e c i e s
s u c h a s S .
p l a t e n s i s
a n d
S . m a x i m a
h a v e
a g r a n u l a r c y t o -
p l a s m
c o n t a i n i n g g a s
v a c u o l e s
a n d
e a s i l y
v i s i b l e
s e p t a . A s w i l l b e
d i s c u s s e d l a t e r ,
t h e
p r e s e n c e
o r
a b s e n c e o f t h e s e p t a
h a s
b e e n o n e o f
t h e
d i s t i n -
g u i s h i n g c h a r a c t e r s u s e d i n t h e
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a n d
g e n e r i c a s s i g n m e n t
o f t h e s e o r g a n i s m s . T r i -
c h o m e s
a r e ,
i n
g e n e r a l ,
a
f e w m i l l i m e t e r s
l o n g ,
a l t h o u g h u n d e r c e r t a i n
c o n d i t i o n s
t r i c h o m e s
o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s
a s l o n g a s
2 0
mm h a v e
b e e n
o b -
s e r v e d ( 1 6 2 ) .
Among t h e m a c r o m o r p h o l o g i c a l v a r i a t i o n s
o c c u r r i n g
i n
S p i r u l i n a ,
t h e
a p p e a r a n c e
o f i s o -
l a t e s w i t h
s t r a i g h t
t r i c h o m e s
h a s b e e n
r e p o r t e d
t o
o c c u r
s p o n t a n e o u s l y
o r
a f t e r
m u t a g e n e s i s .
T h i s h a s
i n d u c e d
B o u r r e l l y ( 1 6 ) t o c o n s i d e r
S p i r u l i n a
a n
O s c i l l a t o r i a ,
d e s e r v i n g ,
a t
m o s t ,
t h e
s t a t u s
o f a
s u b g e n u s
w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y O s c i l l a t o r -
i a c e a e .
H o w e v e r ,
a s
d i s c u s s e d b e l o w , t h i s
o p i n -
i o n
i s
n o t
w i d e l y
a c c e p t e d .
E l e c t r o n m i c r o s c o p y o f
u l t r a t h i n
s e c t i o n s
o f
S .
p l a t e n s i s
r e v e a l e d
t h a t t h e
c e l l
w a l l
i s c o m -
p o s e d
o f
p o s s i b l y f o u r l a y e r s ( 9 8 , 1 6 0 ) .
T h e m o s t
e x t e r n a l
o r o u t e r m e m b r a n e
l a y e r ( L - I V )
i s
c o m p o s e d
o f
m a t e r i a l
a r r a n g e d
l i n e a r l y
i n
p a r a l -
l e l
w i t h
t h e
t r i c h o m e
a x i s
a n d
i s
c o n s i d e r e d
a n a l o g o u s
t o
t h a t
p r e s e n t
i n
t h e
c e l l
w a l l
o f
g r a m - n e g a t i v e b a c t e r i a .
L a y e r
I I I
i s
p o s s i b l y
c o m p o s e d
o f
p r o t e i n
f i b r i l s w o u n d
h e l i c a l l y
a r o u n d
t h e
t r i c h o m e s ,
w h e r e a s
t h e
p e p t i d o g l y -
c a n - c o n t a i n i n g l a y e r
( L - I I )
f o l d s t o w a r d s
t h e
i n s i d e
o f
t h e
f i l a m e n t ,
g i v i n g
r i s e ,
t o g e t h e r
w i t h
a
p u t a t i v e
f i b r i l l a r i n n e r
L - I ,
t o
t h e
s e p t u m
s e p a -
r a t i n g
t h e
c e l l s .
H o w e v e r ,
i f
l a y e r s
I a n d I I I
w e r e
a r t i f a c t s
a r i s i n g d u r i n g
t h e
p r e p a r a t i o n
o f
t h e
s a m p l e s
f o r e l e c t r o n
m i c r o s c o p y ( 3 8 ) ,
t h e
s e p -
t u m
s e p a r a t i n g
t h e c e l l s
w o u l d
b e
c o m p o s e d
o f
t h e
p e p t i d o g l y c a n l a y e r o n l y .
T h e
s e p t u m
a p -
p e a r s
a s
a
t h i n
d i s k ,
f o l d e d
i n
p a r t .
T h i s
f o l d
c o v e r s a
p o r t i o n
o f t h e
s e p t u m s u r f a c e ,
a n d
i t s
e x t e n t
s e e m s t o
b e
r e l a t e d
t o
t h e
p i t c h
o f
t h e
t r i c h o m e ;
t h e
l a r g e r
t h e
p i t c h ,
t h e
s m a l l e r t h e
f o l d e d a r e a a n d v i c e v e r s a .
I n d e e d ,
w h e r e a s
i n
S .
p l a t e n s i s
t h e f o l d c o v e r s c a .
5 o f
t h e t o t a l
s e p t u m a r e a ,
i n S . l a x i s s i m a , c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y
a
much
l a r g e r
p i t c h ,
t h e f o l d
c o v e r s
c a .
3
o f
t h e
M I C R O B I O L . R E V .
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9/28
S P I R U L I N A ,
THE
E D I B L E
MICROORGANISM
5 5 9
s e p t u m a r e a .
S t r e t c h i n g
o f
t h e
f i l a m e n t
r e s u l t s
i n
t h e
d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f
t h e
s e p t a l
f o l d
t h a t ,
i n d e e d ,
i s a p p a r e n t l y
a b s e n t i n
n o n h e l i c a l c y a n o b a c t e r i a
( 1 6 5 ) .
T h e
m o s t p r o m i n e n t
c y t o p l a s m i c
s t r u c t u r e
i s
t h e
s y s t e m o f
t h y l a k o i d s
o r i g i n a t i n g f r o m
t h e p l a s m a l e m m a ( 5 7 ,
6 4 ,
9 7 ,
1 6 2 )
b u t
q u i t e
d i s t i n c t
f r o m t h e
w e l l - e v i d e n t
m e s o s o m e s
( 3 ,
1 5 4 ) .
A t
t i m e s ,
t h e
t h y l a k o i d s
a p p e a r
t o
b e
a r r a n g e d
i n
c o n c e n t r i c
w h o r l s
e s p e c i a l l y
e v i d e n t
i n
a d u l t
c e l l s . D u r i n g
c e l l
d i v i s i o n ,
t h e
i n v a g i n a -
t i o n o f
t h e
p l a s m a l e m m a ,
f r o m t h e o u t e r
p o r t i o n
t o w a r d s t h e
c e l l
c e n t e r ,
i s
a c c o m p a n i e d
b y
b r e a k a g e
o f
t h e
t h y l a k o i d s t h a t
t h u s
b e c o m e
d i s t r i b u t e d
b e t w e e n
t h e
t w o
d a u g h t e r
c e l l s .
P h y -
c o b i l i s o m e s ,
h i g h - m o l e c u l a r - w e i g h t a g g r e g a t e s
o f
p h y c o c y a n i n s , a p p e a r
t o
b e
a t t a c h e d
t o
t h e
t h y l a k o i d s
( 1 6 2 ) , a s
e x p e c t e d o n
t h e
b a s i s o f
t h e i r
f u n c t i o n
a s
l i g h t - h a r v e s t i n g
a n t e n n a e .
C y a n o p h y c i n
g r a n u l e s ,
a
r e s e r v e m a t e r i a l
c o m p o s e d
i n
o t h e r
c y a n o b a c t e r i a
o f
c o p o l y m e r s
o f
a m i n o a c i d s i n
g e n e r a l c h a i n s
o f
p o l y - L -
a s p a r t i c a c i d w i t h
a r g i n i n e a t t a c h e d t o
t h e
, B -
c a r b o x y l
g r o u p s ,
a r e
p r e s e n t
i n S .
p l a t e n s i s ,
t h e i r
r e l a t i v e
a m o u n t
v a r y i n g
w i t h t h e
m e d i u m
c o m p o s i t i o n ,
c e l l
a g e
( 1 6 3 ) ,
a n d
g r o w t h
t e m p e r a -
t u r e
( 1 6 2 ) .
P o l y g l u c a n
g r a n u l e s , c y l i n d r i c a l
b o d -
i e s , c a r b o x y s o m e s ,
a n d
m e s o s o m e s h a v e a l s o
b e e n
d e t e c t e d
( 3 ,
9 8 , 1 5 4 , 1 6 2 ,
1 6 3 ) .
Van
E y k e -
l e n b u r g
d e s c r i b e d t h e s e
o r g a n e l l e s i n
S . p l a t e n -
s i s
a n d
e v a l u a t e d
t h e i r
o c c u r r e n c e i n
c u l t u r e s
g r o w n a t
d i f f e r e n t
t e m p e r a t u r e s
a n d
l i g h t c o n d i -
t i o n s
( 1 6 2 ) a n d i n
m e d i a
c o n t a i n i n g d i f f e r e n t
c o n c e n tr a ti o n s o f n i t r a t e
( 1 6 3 ) . A t l o w
t e m p e r a -
t u r e s ,
when
t h e d e m a n d
f o r a m i n o
a c i d s
i s
l i m i t e d
b y t h e
r e d u c e d g r o w t h
r a t e ,
c y a n o p h y c i n
g r a n u l e s
a r e t h e m o s t
a b u n d a n t
o r g a n e l l e s ,
o c -
c u p y i n g
u p
t o
18 o f
t h e
c e l l v o l u m e .
On
i n c r e a s i n g
t h e
g r o w t h t e m p e r a t u r e ,
t h e c o n t e n t
i n
t h e s e
g r a n u l e s p r o g r e s s i v e l y
d e c r e a s e s , a n d
a t
2 5
t o
3 0 C
t h e y
a r e
p r a c t i c a l l y
u n d e t e c t a b l e .
P o l y g l u c a n
g r a n u l e s w e r e m o s t
p r o m i n e n t a t l o w
t e m p e r a t u r e s
( 1 5 t o
1 7 C ) , d e c r e a s i n g i n
c o n c e n -
t r a t i o n a t
h i g h e r
t e m p e r a t u r e s . T h e r e l a t i v e
c o n -
c e n t r a t i o n o f t h e
o t h e r
c e l l
o r g a n e l l e s w a s n o t
i n f l u e n c e d
s i g n i f i c a n t l y
b y
l i g h t o r
t e m p e r a t u r e .
C a r b o x y s o m e s , p o l y h e d r a l
b o d i e s
c o n t a i n i n g
r i b u l o s e - 1
, 5 - b i s p h o s p h a t e
c a r b o x y l a s e ,
w e r e
p r e s e n t
o n l y
w h e n S .
p l a t e n s i s w a s g r o w n
a t
h i g h
l i g h t i n t e n s i t i e s
a n d i n m e d i a
c o n t a i n i n g a
h i g h
n i t r a t e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n .
A t
l o w
l i g h t
i n t e n s i -
t i e s
o r
a t
l o w n i t r a t e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s ,
c a r b o x y -
s o m e s
d i s a p p e a r e d
t h u s
s u p p o r t i n g t h e v i e w
t h a t
t h e s e o r g a n e l l e s
may
r e p r e s e n t s o m e
s o r t
o f
s t o r a g e b o d i e s
f o r
r i b u l o s e - 1 , 5 - b i s p h o s p h a t e
c a r b o x y l a s e a n d ,
p o s s i b l y , o t h e r
p r o t e i n s .
G a s
v e s i c l e s ,
i n t h e s h a p e o f
h o l l o w
c y l i n d e r s w i t h
c o n e - s h a p e d
e n d s , w i t h
a
d i a m e t e r o f c a . 6 5
nm
a n d a
l e n g t h o f u p
t o
1
, u m
w e r e e a s i l y
d e t e c t e d .
T h e
v e s i c l e
m e m b r a n e
c o n s i s t s o f c o i l s o f
p r o -
t e i n
m o l e c u l e s ,
p o s s i b l y
a l l
o f t h e
same
t y p e ,
a r r a n g e d
i n r i b s
s p a c e d
4
t o 5 n m
a p a r t .
T h e
o r g a n e l l e s
a r e
r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r
c e l l
b u o y a n c y
a n d
h e n c e f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n o f
t h e
o r g a n i s m
a l o n g
t h e
w a t e r
c o l u m n
( 1 7 4 a ) .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y ,
n o
i n f o r -
m a t i o n
i s a v a i l a b l e o n
t h e r e l a t i v e
a b u n d a n c e o f
t h e s e
o r g a n e l l e s
i n
S p i r u l i n a
o r
o n
t h e i r v a r i a t i o n
i n r e l a t i o n
t o
c h a n g e s
i n
t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n -
d i t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y
l i g h t i n t e n s i t y
a n d d i s s o l v e d
o x y g e n
c o n t e n t .
A
n u m b e r
o f
u n u s u a l i n c l u s i o n s
h a v e
b e e n
r e p o r t e d
i n
a
c y t o l o g i c a l
s t u d y
o f
6 0 d i f f e r e n t
c y a n o b a c t e r i a ,
r e p r e s e n t i n g
a t l e a s t
3 0
s p e c i e s
a n d
i n c l u d i n g
two
i s o l a t e s o f
S p i r u l i n a
( 8 2 ) .
T h e
s i g n i f i c a n c e
o f t h e s e
i n c l u s i o n s c o u l d
n o t
b e
a s s e s s e d s i n c e
many
w e r e
p r e s e n t i n a f e w o f
t h e
c y a n o b a c t e r i a
e x a m i n e d
a n d ,
a t
t i m e s ,
w e r e
u n i q u e
t o
o n e
o r a f e w
s p e c i e s .
T h e
a u t h o r s
s u g g e s t e d
t h a t
s o m e ,
p e r h a p s m a n y , o f t h e s e
i n c l u s i o n s w e r e
d u e t o
i n f e c t i o n b y
i n t r a c e l l u -
l a r s y m b i o n t s
o r
v i r u s e s . T h i s
ma y b e t h e c a s e
a l s o
o f
r h a p i d o s o m e s ,
o r g a n e l l e s o f u n c e r t a i n
o r i g i n
a n d
f u n c t i o n , p e r h a p s
c o m p o n e n t s o f a
p u t a t i v e
m o t i l i t y o r g a n e l l e o r
p a r t s o f
a n
i n c o m -
p l e t e p h a g e ,
w h i c h
h a v e b e e n
o b s e r v e d i n a n
u n i d e n t i f i e d
s p e c i e s o f
S p i r u l i n a
( 2 4 ) b u t n o t i n
S .
p l a t e n s i s ( 1 6 2 ) . S i n c e
r h a p i d o s o m e s
h a v e
b e e n c h a r a c t e r i z e d
i n
t h e
f l e x i b a c t e r i u m
S a p r o -
s p i r a
g r a n d i s
( 3 2 ) ,
t h e
o c c u r r e n c e
i n
S p i r u l i n a
w o u l d
h a v e
s t r e n g t h e n e d
t h e
s i m i l a r i t i e s b e -
t w e e n
S p i r u l i n a a n d
S a p r o s p i r a ,
t h e
l a t t e r
b e i n g
c o n s i d e r e d
b y
s o m e a u t h o r s
a s
a n
a p o c h l o r o t i c ,
n o n p h o t o s y n t h e t i c
c y a n o b a c t e r i u m
( 9 2 ) .
T h e
l i f e
c y c l e
o f
S p i r u l i n a
i n
l a b o r a t o r y
c u l -
t u r e i s
r a t h e r
s i m p l e ( F i g .
4 ) . A m a t u r e
t r i c h o m e
i s b r o k e n i n
s e v e r a l p i e c e s
t h r o u g h
t h e
f o r m a t i o n
o f
s p e c i a l i z e d
c e l l s ,
n e c r i d i a ,
t h a t
u n d e r g o
l y s i s ,
g i v i n g
r i s e
t o
b i c o n c a v e
s e p a r a t i o n d i s k s .
T h e
f r a g m e n t a t i o n
o f
t h e
t r i c h o m e
a t
t h e
n e c r i d i a
p r o d u c e s
g l i d i n g ,
s h o r t ( t w o
t o
f o u r c e l l s )
c h a i n s
o f
c e l l s ,
t h e
h o r m o g o n i a ,
t h a t
move
a w a y
f r o m
t h e
p a r e n t a l f i l a m e n t
t o g i v e r i s e
t o a
new
t r i c h o m e .
T h e c e l l s
i n
t h e
h o r m o g o n i u m l o s e
t h e
a t t a c h e d
p o r t i o n s o f t h e
n e c r i d i a l c e l l s , b e c o m -
i n g
r o u n d e d a t
t h e d i s t a l
e n d s w i t h
l i t t l e
o r
n o
t h i c k e n i n g o f
t h e w a l l s .
D u r i n g t h i s
p r o c e s s , t h e
c y t o p l a s m
a p p e a r s l e s s
g r a n u l a t e d a n d
t h e
c e l l s
a s s u m e
a
p a l e
b l u e - g r e e n c o l o r . T h e
n u m b e r
o f
c e l l s i n
h o r m o g o n i a
i n c r e a s e s b y
c e l l f i s s i o n
w h i l e
t h e
c y t o p l a s m b e c o m e s
g r a n u l a t e d ,
a n d
t h e
c e l l s
a s s u m e
a
b r i l l i a n t
b l u e - g r e e n c o l o r .
By
t h i s
p r o c e s s
t r i c h o m e s
i n c r e a s e i n
l e n g t h
a n d
a s s u m e
t h e t y p i c a l h e l i c o i d a l
s h a p e .
Random
b u t
r a r e
s p o n t a n e o u s
b r e a k a g e
o f
t r i c h o m e s
t o g e t h -
e r
w i t h
t h e
f o r m a t i o n o f
n e c r i d i a a s s u r e
g r o w t h
a n d
d i s p e r s a l
o f t h e
o r g a n i s m . A k i n e t e s
h a v e n o t
b e e n
r e p o r t e d .
D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e
t a x o n o m i c
p o s i t i o n o f
S p i r u l i n a
h a s
p r o v e d t o
b e r a t h e r d i f f i c u l t .
T h e
g e n u s S p i r u l i n a w a s
e s t a b l i s h e d
i n
1 8 2 7 b y
T u r -
V O L .
4 7 ,
1 9 8 3
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w~
p
F I G .
3 .
M o r p h o l o g y
o f
S p i r u l i n a .
( A ) O p t i c a l
m i c r o s c o p y ( X 4 0 0 )
o f
a x e n i c S .
p l a t e n s i s .
( P h o t o
b y
G .
C a r e t t a . )
( B )
S c a n n i n g
e l e c t r o n m i c r o g r a p h
o f
a t r i c h o m e
o f a x e n i c
S .
p l a t e n s i s .
( P h o t o
b y
R .
L o c ( i . )
( C )
S c a n n i n g e l e c t r o n
m i c r o g r a p h
o f
a
p o r t i o n
o f
a
t r i c h o m e
o f
a x e n i c
S .
p l a t e n s i s .
( P l h o t o
b y
R .
L o c c i . )
( D ) S c a n n i n g
e l e c t r o n
m i c r o g r a p h
o f
n o n a x e n i c
t r i c h o m e s
o f
S .
i n a x i m a .
( P l h o t o
b y R .
L o c c i . )
W V -
- A ,
I _ z l
..
s I
-, ] L .
i l i p
- P r -
-,
0
48
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4X
w::w
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ FG-Cn.iue
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5 6 2
CIFERRI
F I G . 4 . L i f e c y c l e o f S p i r u l i n a . F o r
d e t a i l s ,
s ee
t e x t . ( R e d r a w n
f r o m
r e f e r e n c e
8 . )
p i n f o r
S . o s c i l l a r i o i d e s ( 1 5 9 ) .
S i n c e T u r p i n d i d
n o t
m e n t i o n
t h e p r e s e n c e
o f s e p t a i n
h i s i s o l a t e ,
i n
1 8 5 2
S t i z e n b e r g e r c r e a t e d t h e
g e n u s
A r t h r o -
s p i r a f o r t h e
s p i r a l c y a n o b a c t e r i a i n w h i c h s e p t a
w e r e
c l e a r l y
v i s i b l e
( 1 4 9 ) .
T h i s
d i s t i n c t i o n ,
w h i c h a l s o
s e p a r a t e s
t h e
l a r g e r f o r m s f r o m
t h e
s m a l l e r
ones, was
m a i n t a i n e d f o r a n o t h e r
1 0 0
years. T h u s , f o r
i n s t a n c e ,
Gomont
i n 1 8 9 2
( 5 3 )
g r o u p e d
i n t h e g e n u s
A r t h r o s p i r a S t i z e n b e r g e r
t h e
f o r m s
w i t h v i s i b l e
s e p t a
a n d
l a r g e r
d i m e n -
s i o n s , s u c h as S . p l a t e n s i s ,
w h e r e a s
h e r e s e r v e d
t h e
g e n u s
S p i r u l i n a
T u r p i n f o r
t h e s m a l l e r
f o r m s
i n
w h i c h
s e p t a
were
n o t
v i s i b l e
a n d
t h u s
w e r e
c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y
u n i c e l l u l a r
t r i c h o m e s .
I n
1 9 1 7 ,
G a r d n e r
( 4 9 ) q u e s t i o n e d t h e v a l i d i t y
o f
t h e
presen c e
o f
s e p t a
t o d i s t i n g u i s h
b e t w e e n
A r t h r o -
s p i r a
a n d
S p i r u l i n a
s i n c e
h e
h a d
d e t e r m i n e d
r e p e a t e d l y
t h a t
t h i s
d i s t i n c t i o n
c a n n o
l o n g e r
m a i n t a i n .
H o w e v e r ,
f o r
t h e s a k e
o f conve-
n i e n c e ,
h e
s u g g e s t e d
r e t a i n i n g
t h e name
A r t h -
r o s p i r a
f o r
t h e f o r m s
w i t h
c o n s p i c u o u s
c ross-
w a l l s
a n d t h a t o f
S p i r u l i n a
f o r t h o s e
w i t h
o b s c u r e c r o s s - w a l l s .
A l t h o u g h
a f e w
years
l a t e r
F i g i n i
s h o w e d
t h a t ,
w i t h
a p p r o p r i a t e s t a i n s ,
s e p t a
c o u l d
b e
d e m o n s t r a t e d
i n f r e s h
a n d
d r y
s p e c i m e n s
o f
1 3
d i f f e r e n t
s p e c i e s
o f
S p i r u l i n a ,
i n c l u d i n g t h e
most
m i n u t e o n e s s u c h
a s
S .
s u b t i -
l i s s i m a
( 4 7 ) ,
Crow r e p o r t e d
t h a t , i n d e e d ,
i n
c e r t a i n
S p i r u l i n a
s e p t a
c o u l d
b e d e m o n s t r a t e d
b u t t h a t i t
was
i m p o s s i b l e
t o
d o s o
i n o t h e r
i s o l a t e s
( 3 0 ) .
T h e
f o r m e r ,
even i f t h e y
h a d
t h e
t y p i c a l
s m a l l
d i m e n s i o n s
o f a
S p i r u l i n a ,
h a d t o
b e
g r o u p e d
w i t h
A r t h r o s p i r a , a n d
t h e name
S p i r u l i n a
was t o
b e
r e s e r v e d f o r
t h e
a s e p t a t e
f o r m s . T h i s
p o s i t i o n
was
a l s o t h a t
o f
G e i t l e r
( 5 0 ) ,
wh o r e v i s e d
t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
b y g r o u p i n g
t h e
t w o
g e n e r a i n
a s i n g l e o n e ,
S p i r u l i n a ,
s u b d i v e d
i n
s e c t i o n I ,
A r t h r o s p i r a , f o r
t h e l a r g e f o r m s
w i t h t r a n s v e r s e w a l l
w h i c h a r e s e e n i n
l i v i n g
a l g a e a n d s e c t i o n
I I ,
E u s p i r u l i n a ,
f o r
t h e
s m a l l -
e r
f o r m s
w i t h
i n v i s i b l e
s e p t a .
T h e
s e p a r a t i o n
o f
S p i r u l i n a a n d
A r t h r o s p i r a
w a s a c c e p t e d a s
v a l i d
u p t o 1 9 5 9
( 3 5 ) .
F i n a l l y ,
i n
1 9 6 1 W e l s h ( 1 7 6 )
c l e a r l y
p o i n t e d
o u t
t h a t
w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e
t r a n s v e r s e w a l l s
c a n b e s e e n d e p e n d s
o n w h e t h -
e r t h e a l g a i s d e a d o r
a l i v e
a n d
o n
t h e
m i c r o s c o p -
i c a l t e c h n i q u e u s e d . W i t h
t o d a y ' s p h a s e - c o n t r a s t
[ m i c r o s c o p y ] much c a n b e
s e e n w h i c h a t
t h e
t i m e
o f p u b l i c a t i o n
o f G e i t l e r ' s w o r k w a s
i n v i s i -
b l e . T h u s h e s u g g e s t e d
t h a t t h e g e n e r i c n a m e
S p i r u l i n a , o l d e r
t h a n A r th r o s p i r a , b e u s e d
r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e p r e s e n c e
o f v i s i b l e s e p t a
t h a t
c a n ,
o f c o u r s e ,
b e
e a s i l y
d e t e c t e d
e v e n
i n
S p i r u -
l i n a b y
e l e c t r o n
m i c r o s c o p y
( 6 4 ) . Y e t , a s l a t e a s
1 9 6 8 ,
D r o u e t
( 3 9 )
s t i l l m a i n t a i n e d
t h e t w o g e -
n e r a ,
A r t h r o s p i r a
f o r
t h e f o r m s
w i t h
a p p a r e n t
c r o s s w a l l s
a n d S p i r u l i n a
f o r
t h e
f o r m s a p p e a r -
i n g u n i c e l l u l a r
w i t h o u t
e a s i l y
d e m o n s t r a b l e
c r o s s
w a l l s .
I n
a d d i t i o n , much
t o t h e
c o n f u s i o n
o f t h e
n o n s p e c i a l i s t ,
d u e
t o
d i f f e r e n c e s
i n t h e
m o r p h o l o g y o f
t h e
o u t e r w a l l o f t h e t e r m i n a l
c e l l s , b o t h
S .
m a x i m a
a n d S . p l a t e n s i s
a r e
p l a c e d
i n
t h e g e n u s
M i c r o c o l e u s , a s M . l y n g b y a -
c e u s .
To
m a k e
t h i n g s
w o r s e ,
2
y e a r s
l a t e r ,
B o u r r e l l y
( 1 6 )
c o n c l u d e d
t h a t
o n l y
t h e c h a r a c t e r
o f
t h e
h e l i c o i d a l s h a p e
o f
t h e t r i c h o m e
s e p a r a t e s S p i r u -
l i n a f r o m
O s c i l l a t o r i a .
S i n c e
c e r t a i n
O s c i l l a -
t o r i a
h a v e p o r t i o n s o f
t h e t r i c h o m e
t h a t
a p p e a r
h e l i c o i d a l
a n d t h e
d e g r e e
o f s p i r a l i z a t i o n
o f
c e r t a i n
S p i r u l i n a may v a r y
( 7 2 , 1 2 8 ) a n d ,
a t
t i m e s ,
e v e n
s t r a i g h t
t r i c h o m e s
a r e e v i d e n t
( 9 3 ,
9 8 ) , B o u r r e l l y s u g g e s t e d c o n s i d e r i n g
S p i r u l i n a
a
s u b g e n u s
o f
O s c i l l a t o r i a .
T h u s ,
S .
p l a t e n s i s
s h o u l d
b e n a m e d
0 .
p l a t e n s i s
a n d
S .
g e i t l e r i
( s y n o n y m o u s
w i t h S .
m a x i m a )
s h o u l d
b e
n a m e d
0 .
p s e u d o p l a t e n s i s
( t h e
n a m e s
o f 0 .
maxima
a n d 0 .
g e i t l e r i
b e i n g
u s e d t o
d e s i g n a t e
o t h e r
c y a n o b a c t e r i a )
( 1 6 , 7 2 ) .
H o w e v e r ,
more
r e c e n t l y
R i p p k a
a n d
c o - w o r k e r s
( 1 3 4 )
e m p h a s i z e d
t h a t
t h e
h e l i c a l
s h a p e
o f
S p i r u l i n a
i s a
s t a b l e a n d
c o n s t a n t
p r o p e r t y
o f
t h e
g e n u s
t h a t
p e r m i t s
i t s
d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n
f r o m t h e
o t h e r
g r o u p s
o f
f i l a m e n -
t o u s ,
n o n - h e t e r o c y s t o u s c y a n o b a c t e r i a :
O s c i l l a -
t o r i a ,
P s e u d a n a b a e n a ,
a n d
t h e LPP
( L y n g b i a ,
P h o r m i d i u m ,
a n d
P l e c t o n e m a )
g r o u p
( 1 3 5 ) .
I n
a d d i t i o n ,
d i f f e r e n c e s
b e t w e e n
S p i r u l i n a
a n d
O s -
c i l l a t o r i a
h a v e b e e n
r e p o r t e d
i n t h e
g e n o m e
s i z e
( 5 9 ) ,
c h e m i c a l
c o m p o s i t i o n
( e s p e c i a l l y
i n
t h e
c a s e o f
f a t t y
a c i d s
[ s e e
l a t e r ] ) , a n t i g e n i c i t y
( 2 2 ) ,
a n d
u l t r a s t r u c t u r e
( 1 5 4 ) . T h u s ,
i t d o e s
n o t
s e e m
u n r e a s o n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n
t h e
g e n u s
S p i r u l i n a
f o r
a t l e a s t t h e
c y a n o b a c t e r i a
c h a r a c t e r i z e d
b y h i g h -
l y s p i r a l i z e d
t r i c h o m e s
l i v i n g
i n
f r e s h w a t e r s w i t h
h i g h
s a l t
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s a n d a l k a l i n e
p H ;
t h a t
i s
t h e
o b j e c t o f
t h i s r e v i e w .
I n
a d d i t i o n ,
t h e n a m e s
M I C R O B I O L . R E V .
onJune13,2016
byguest
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m.org/
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13/28
S P I R U L I N A , THE
EDIBLE
MICROORGANISM
5 6 3
S .
p l a t e n s i s
a n d
S .
maxima
( =
S .
g e i t l e r i )
a r e
t h o s e u t i l i z e d i n
p r a c t i c a l l y
a l l t h e r e c e n t
l i t e r a -
t u r e
d e a l i n g
w i t h t h e s e
t wo
c y a n o b a c t e r i a .
PHYSIOLOGY
L i k e
most
c y a n o b a c t e r i a ,
S p i r u l i n a
i s
a n
o b l i -
g a t e
p h o t o a u t o t r o p h a n d c a n n o t
grow
i n t h e d a r k
i n m e d i a
c o n t a i n i n g o r g a n i c
s ou r ces
o f
c a r b o n
( 8 5 , 1 0 5 ) .
H o w e v e r , i n t h e
l i g h t
i t
may
u t i l i z e
c a r b o h y d r a t e s
s i n c e , f o r
i n s t a n c e ,
t h e a d d i t i o n
o f 0 . 1
g l u c o s e
t o t h e
g r o w t h
medium e n h a n c e s
g r o w t h r a t e
a n d c e l l y i e l d
( 1 0 6 ) . E s p e c i a l l y i n
d i m
l i g h t , m i x o t r o p h i c
g r o w t h
r e s u l t s i n
c e l l
y i e l d s
t h a t
a r e t w o - t o
t h r e e f o l d h i g h e r
t h a n t h e
c o r r e s p o n d i n g y i e l d s
o b t a i n e d
p h o t o a u t o t r o p h i -
c a l l y .
P e p t o n e
a t t h e
same c o n c e n t r a t i o n was
l e s s
e f f e c t i v e
b u t
g l u c o s e
a n d
peptone
a d d e d
t o g e t h e r s e e m e d
t o e x e r t a
s y n e r g i s t i c
e f f e c t
( 1 0 5 ) . T h e
u t i l i z a t i o n o f
g l u c o s e
was v e r i f i e d
b y
s u p p l y i n g
c u l t u r e s
o f S . p l a t e n s i s w i t h
[ 1 4 C ] -
g l u c o s e
( 1 0 6 ) .
W i t h i n l e s s
t h a n
4
d a y s
o f
c u l t u r e ,
a l l
l a b e l e d
g l u c o s e d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e
medium
a n d
a l m o s t 50
o f
t h e
l a b e l
was
r e c o v e r e d
w i t h
t h e c e l l s , t h e
r e s t
b e i n g
r e l e a s e d
e i t h e r a s C O -
( 3 4 )
or
a s o r g a n i c
b y - p r o d u c t s
e x c r e t e d
i n t o
t h e m e d i u m ( 1 9 ) . I n
t h e s e
e x p e r i m e n t s a n
i n t e r e s t i n g p h e n o m e n o n ,
t h e s o - c a l l e d
m i x o t r o -
p h i c l y s i s , was
o b s e r v e d . I f
t h e s i z e
o f
t h e
i n o c u l u m
was
k e p t
s m a l l
i . e . ,
c u l t u r e s i n o c u l a t -
e d
t o
g i v e
a n
i n i t i a l o p t i c a l
d e n s i t y a t 5 6 0 nm o f
< 0 . 1 a t
1 - c m
l i g h t
p a t h ) ,
a f t e r
a
b r i e f
p e r i o d
o f
g r o w t h , t h e c u l t u r e s
s t o p p e d
g r o w i n g a n d t h e
c e l l s u n d e r w e n t
c o m p l e t e
l y s i s . On t h e o t h e r
h a n d ,
g r o w t h
was
n o r m a l
i f t h e c u l t u r e
was
i n o c u l a t e d
t o
a n
i n i t i a l
o p t i c a l d e n s i t y
o f c a .
0 . 2 .
No e x p l a n a t i o n
f o r t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f
m i x o t r o -
p h i c
l y s i s h a s b e e n o f f e r e d b u t
i t
h a s
b e e n
o b s e r v e d
t h a t , b e f o r e
l y s i s ,
c e l l s f r o m a
c u l t u r e
s t a r t e d
w i t h
a
s m a l l
i n o c u l u m c o n t a i n e d s i x
t o
seven
t i m e s
more a l k a l i n e
p r o t e a s e a c t i v i t y
t h a n
c e l l s
f r o m
c u l t u r e s
w i t h
a
l a r g e
i n o c u l u m
or
c e l l s
f r o m
p h o t o a u t o t r o p h i c c u l t u r e s .
M i x o t r o -
p h i c
l y s i s
c o u l d
b e p r e v e n t e d b y d e p r i v i n g
t h e
medium
o f
Mn
i o n s .
B o t h
g r o w t h r a t e a n d
c e l l
y i e l d
may
b e
i n c r e a s e d u n d e r
p h o t o a u t o t r o p h i c
c o n d i t i o n s
b y
i n c r e a s i n g
t h e
amount
o f
n i t r o g e n
s u p p l i e d ( u p t o 1 2 0 mM
n i t r a t e ) ,
e s p e c i a l l y when
c u l t u r e s
w e r e
p e r f o r m e d
a t temperatures ( 3 5
t o
3 7 C ) h i g h e r
t h a n
t h e o p t i m a l o n e s ( 3 2 t o
3 5 C
( 1 6 3 ) .
I n
t h e l a b o r a t o r y ,
c u l t u r e s o f S .
p l a t e n s i s
s h o w
a
w i d e
pH
o p t i m u m
( 8 t o 1 1 ) , b u t g r o w t h
i s
e v i d e n t
a l s o
a t
pH v a l u e s
c l o s e t o 7
a n d
a s
h i g h
a s
1 1 . 3
( 5 4 ) .
T h e
o p t i m a l
l i g h t
i n t e n s i t y
was
f o u n d
t o b e
b e t w e e n 2 0 a n d
3 0
k l x
( 1 0 5 ) .
U n d e r
f i e l d
c o n d i t i o n s , o p t i m a l
d a y
t e m p e r a t u r e h a s
b e e n
r e p o r t e d
t o b e
a r o u n d
4 0 C
a n d t h e
n i g h t
t e m p e r a t u r e
i s
a r o u n d 2 5 C ( s e e b e l o w ) .
A b o v e
4 0 C
t h e
c u l t u r e s d o n o t
g r o w .
L a b o r a t o r y c u l -
t u r e s
k e p t a t
4 5 C f o r up t o
2 4 h d o
n o t g r o w ,
b u t
g r o w t h i s
r e s u m e d when
t h e
c u l t u r e i s b r o u g h t
b a c k t o
3 5 0 C .
A b o v e
4 5 0 C ,
m a s s i v e
b r e a k a g e
o f
t h e
t r i c h o m e s f o l l o w e d
b y
c e l l
l y s i s
h a s b e e n
o b s e r v e d .
E v e n
a
b r i e f
p e r i o d
( e . g . ,
1 0
m i n )
o f
e x p o s u r e
a t
t e m p e r a t u r e s
a r o u n d 5 0 C r e s u l t s
i n
d e a t h o f
t h e c u l t u r e s
( 2 5 ) .
C o m p a r e d
w i t h
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