After
billions of years of evolution, cyanobacteria are capable of thriving in
extreme and changing environments. The problem, however, is that that these
microorganisms inhabit many areas where humans may potentially be exposed to
them. Such areas include but are not limited to marine, freshwater, and terrestrial
habitats. Research on risk assessment of contaminated water bodies is always
ongoing in order to determine which kind of environments favor toxin production
in these cyanobacteria. Hence, the genetic basis for toxin production in
cyanobacteria has been identified and is used in continuing research for
contaminated bodies of water. These discoveries are crucial for determining the
environmental factors that influence toxin production and thus affect water
quality.
Figure
from Neilan et al (2013) Structure of one kind of cyanobacteria.
Neilan, Brett A. et al. Environmental conditions
that influence toxin biosynthesis in cyanobacteria. Enviro Microbiol 2013;
e-pub ahead of print 20 March 2013, DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02729.x
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