title: First report of microcystin-producing Fischerella sp. (Stigonematales, Cyanobacteria) in tropical Australia.
abstract: A polyphasic study of four Stigonematales cyanobacteria from tropical Australia (Queensland) revealed production of the hepatotoxins microcystins (MC-LR, MC-LA, MC-LF, MC-FR and demethyl-MC-LR) by Fischerella sp. NQAIF311 isolated from a seasonal creek. Total microcystin content reached 43 μg g(-1) dry weight. Phylogeny demonstrated high sequence similarities for 16S rRNA (99%), mcyE (97%) and mcyD (95%) genes with microcystin-producing Fischerella sp. CENA161 from Brazil. This is the first report of a cyanotoxin-producing Stigonematal in Australia.
authors.affiliation: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Comparative Genomics Centre, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cirés
authors.affiliation: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Roa
authors.affiliation: Cawthron Institute, Nelson 7042, New Zealand; Department of Biological Sciences, Private Bag 3105, University of Waikato, Hamilton 2001, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Susanna A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Cawthron Institute, Nelson 7042, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puddick
authors.affiliation: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loza
authors.affiliation: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Comparative Genomics Centre, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: kirsten.heimann@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heimann
mesh_terms: D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011793:Queensland
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; C078588:microcystin
keywords: Benthic; Fischerella; Hepatotoxin; Microcystin; Stigonematales; Tropical