Toxic alkaloids in Lyngbya majuscula and related tropical marine cyanobacteria

Mark S Taylor; Will Stahl-Timmins; Clare H Redshaw; Nicholas J Osborne

doi:10.1016/j.hal.2013.09.003

Toxic alkaloids in Lyngbya majuscula and related tropical marine cyanobacteria

Harmful Algae. 2014 Jan:31:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.hal.2013.09.003. Epub 2013 Oct 2.

Authors

Mark S Taylor¹, Will Stahl-Timmins², Clare H Redshaw³, Nicholas J Osborne⁴

Affiliations

¹ European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK. Electronic address: mark.taylor@exeter.ac.uk.
² European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK.
³ European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK.
⁴ European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK; Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, University of Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 28040098
DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2013.09.003

Abstract

The cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula is found in the littoral zone and to a depth of 30m in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions across the globe, as well as being an important contributor to coral reef ecosystems. This cyanobacterium produces a range of chemicals that may contribute to a variety of negative health outcomes including skin, eye and respiratory irritation. The toxic compounds, lyngbyatoxin A and debromoaplysiatoxin, have been implicated in acute dermatologic reactions in human swimmers, and experiments involving these two toxins show the formation of acute dermal lesions. We explore the reported distribution and health implications of L. majuscula, with reference to factors affecting bloom frequency. The likely implications of climate change upon the distribution of the organism, and frequency of blooms are also described.

Keywords: Aplysiatoxins; Climate change; Dermatoxin; Epidemiology; Lyngbya majuscula; Lyngbyatoxins; Manauealides; Recreational water activity; Teleocidins.