Open AccessThe presence of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin in black band disease of corals
Author(s) -
Richardson Laurie L.,
Sekar Raju,
Myers Jamie L.,
Gantar Miroslav,
Voss Joshua D.,
Kaczmarsky Longin,
Remily Elizabeth R.,
Boyer Gregory L.,
Zimba Paul V.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00751.x
Subject(s) - microcystin , cyanotoxin , cyanobacteria , coral , biology , anthozoa , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , ecology , genetics
Black band disease (BBD) is a migrating, cyanobacterial dominated, sulfide‐rich microbial mat that moves across coral colonies lysing coral tissue. While it is known that BBD sulfate‐reducing bacteria contribute to BBD pathogenicity by production of sulfide, additional mechanisms of toxicity may be involved. Using HPLC/MS, the cyanotoxin microcystin was detected in 22 field samples of BBD collected from five coral species on nine reefs of the wider Caribbean (Florida Keys and Bahamas). Two cyanobacterial cultures isolated from BBD, Geitlerinema and Leptolyngbya sp. contained microcystin based on HPLC/MS, with toxic activity confirmed using the protein phosphatase inhibition assay. The gene mcyA from the microcystin synthesis complex was detected in two field samples and from both BBD cyanobacterial cultures. Microcystin was not detected in six BBD samples from a different area of the Caribbean (St Croix, USVI) and the Philippines, suggesting regional specificity for BBD microcystin. This is the first report of the presence of microcystin in a coral disease.