title: Bacterial degradation of microcystin toxins in drinking water eliminates their toxicity.
abstract: Microcystin-LR and -LA were readily biodegraded by a bacterium, Sphingpoyxis sp. LH21, in a treated reservoir water. Detection of the microcystins was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition assay and a cell-based cytotoxicity assay. The HPLC results correlated well with the two assays. The decrease in cytotoxicity, coupled with the associated decrease in microcystin concentrations, indicated that no cytotoxic by-products were being generated, highlighting the applicability of biodegradation as a feasible treatment option for effective microcystin removal.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment, South Australian Water Corporation, PMB 3, Salisbury, SA 5108, Australia. lionel.ho@sawater.com.au
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gaudieux
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanok
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Humpage
mesh_terms: D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D052998:Microcystins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014709:Vero Cells; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; D014867:Water