title: The first detection of potentially toxic Microcystis strains in two Middle Atlas Mountains natural lakes (Morocco).
abstract: Aguelmam Azizgza (LAZ) and Dayet Afourgah (DAF) are two Moroccan natural lakes located in a humid hydrographic basin of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Both are considered important reservoirs of plant and animal biodiversity. In addition, they are extensively used for recreational and fishing activities and as a water source for irrigation of agricultural crops. Recurrent cyanobacteria scum episodes in the two water bodies have been reported, Microcystis being the main genus in the scums. Here, we report on the toxic potential of three Microcystis aeruginosa strains isolated from those lakes: Mic LAZ and Mic B7 from LAZ and Mic DAF isolated from DAF. The toxic potential was checked by their microcystin (MC) content and the presence of mcy genes involved in MC synthesis. The identification and quantification of MC variants were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography-photo-diode array. The detection of mcy genes was achieved by whole-cell multiplex PCR that allowed the simultaneous amplification of DNA sequences corresponding to specific mcy regions. MC content of cultured cells, as MC-LR equivalents per gram cell biomass, was slightly higher in Mic LAZ (ca. 860) than in Mic B7 (ca. 700) and Mic DAF (ca. 690). Four MC variants were identified in the three isolates: MC-WR, MC-RR, MC-DM-WR, and MC-YR. The presence of toxic Microcystis strains in the two studied lakes may be regarded as an environmental and health hazard, especially during periods of bloom proliferation. It would be recommended the use of two complementary techniques, as those utilized herein (HPLC and mcy detection) to alert on highly probable toxicity of such lakes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mountasser
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Douma
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Youness
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ouahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loudiki
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisca F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Del Campo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, University Cadi Ayyad, P.O. Box 2390, Marrakesh, Morocco. oudra@uca.ma.
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6295-9637
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oudra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D060106:Lakes / Q000382:microbiology*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D046931:Microcystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009018:Morocco; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D052998:Microcystins; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Microcystins; Microcystis; Morocco; Natural lakes; Toxigenic strains; mcy genes