title: Toxic alkaloids in Lyngbya majuscula and related tropical marine cyanobacteria.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK.
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stahl-Timmins
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Clare H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Redshaw
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Osborne
keywords: Aplysiatoxins; Climate change; Dermatoxin; Epidemiology; Lyngbya majuscula; Lyngbyatoxins; Manauealides; Recreational water activity; Teleocidins