Morphology and ultrastructure of 25 oscillatorian strains was examined and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA oscillatorian sequences was conducted. Genera Phormidium and Oscillatoria were shown to be polyphyletic. Although morphologically similar strains are found in different branches of the phylogenetic tree, considerable correlation between molecular, ultrastructural and some morphological and ecological traits was detected in several lineages.

Morphological and phylogenetic diversity of 143 strains belonging to Oscillatoriales with focuson traditional genera Phormidium sensu lato and Microcoleus were studied. The 88 strains of Ph. autumnale, Ph. setchelianum, Ph. subfuscum, Ph. favosum etc., and M. vaginatus confirmed the generic identity with typical Microcoleus Desmazi?res ex Gomont. The necessary nomenclatoric transfers were realized defining the revised genus Microcoleus. Based on phylogeny and morphology the taxonomic revision of the Antarctic species Ph. murrayi (Lyngbya murray West & West) was implemented and the genus Wilmottia was established. The phylogenetic evaluation of morpho-species included in Phormidium group I (Ph. lloydianum and Ph. acuminatum Gomont) preceded the definition of species Oxynema thaianum spec. nova. The biogeography of Antarctic and Arctic strains of M. vaginatus (Ph. autumnale) based on 16S rDNA and ITS (internal transcribed spacer of the 16S rDNA -23SrDNA ribosomal operon) sequences and strain's morphology was evaluated. The comparison of polar and non-polar strains indicated that the Antarctic populations of M. vaginatus remained isolated from time of the isolation of the Antarctica from the Gondwana before ~31?45 Ma, whereas the transport of populations within Arctic is relatively frequent even at the present time. It was shown that the polar strains of M. vaginatus from the north and south polar areas were not identical.

Submitted by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2013-12-06T18:21:21Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_ResistenciaBioacumulacaoArsenio.pdf: 658991 bytes, checksum: a40d3444f6b9f083c08c6db338495936 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva(arosa@ufpa.br) on 2013-12-16T13:00:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_ResistenciaBioacumulacaoArsenio.pdf: 658991 bytes, checksum: a40d3444f6b9f083c08c6db338495936 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-12-16T13:00:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_ResistenciaBioacumulacaoArsenio.pdf: 658991 bytes, checksum: a40d3444f6b9f083c08c6db338495936 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / FAPESPA - Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas / UFPA - Universidade Federal do Pará / A contaminação ambiental por arsênio vem aumentando nos últimos anos, seja através de fontes naturais ou antropogênicas, o que pode ocasionar uma maior exposição do homem a este composto tóxico. Vários estudos vêm analisando o potencial de espécies cianobacterianas como possíveis biorremediadoras na busca de soluções para diminuir os impactos causados por este metaloide. A cianobactéria filamentosa Phormidium sp. se destaca por apresentar mecanismos bem desenvolvidos de adaptação às diversas condições ambientais. O presente estudo objetivou analisar o perfil de resistência da Phormidium sp. em diferentes concentrações de arsenato de sódio. A cianobactéria foi inoculada em tubos contendo 4 mL de meio BG-11 líquido e diferentes concentrações de arsenato (5, 10, 30, 50, 100, 130, 150, 200 e 250 mM) e sem a presença do metaloide (controle) e cultivadas durante 20 dias a 25ºC, sem agitação e com fotoperíodo de 12/12 horas de luz/escuro. A toxicidade do arsenato para Phormidium sp. foi caracterizada pela inibição do crescimento, sendo este determinado pela concentração de clorofila a. Todas as condições foram realizadas em triplicatas. A determinação do arsênio total presente nas amostras foi obtida através da técnica de espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma induzido, do Instituto Evandro Chagas. A resistência de Phormidium sp. ao arsenato foi observada em até 50 mM do composto (p>0,05). À partir de 100 mM de arsenato foi observada inibição do crescimento cianobacteriano (p<0,05). As análises da dosagem de arsênio total no meio de cultura mostram que, durante os primeiros dias de experimento, a concentração de arsênio no meio de cultura foi reduzido, seguido de um aumento gradativo na concentração deste metaloide. Provavelmente, esta cianobacteria pode acumular o arsênio e posteriormente excretar este metaloide para o meio extracelular. Os resultados obtidos indicam a capacidade que a cianobactéria Phormidium sp. possui de crescer em meio contendo altas concentrações de arsênio. No entanto, outras análises se tornam fundamental para elucidar as vias metabólicas envolvidas durante o processo de resistência a este metaloide. / Environmental contamination by arsenic has been increasing in recent years, either through natural or anthropogenic sources, which can cause greater exposure of humans to this toxic compound. Several studies have been developed to analyze the capacity of cyanobacterial species in bioremediation. The filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidium sp. excels due to well developed mechanisms to adapt to different environmental conditions. The present study aimed to analyze the resistance profile of Phormidium sp. at different concentrations of sodium arsenate. The cyanobacterium was inoculated in tubes containing 4 ml of BG-11 liquid medium and different concentrations of arsenate (5, 10, 30, 50, 100, 130, 150, 200 and 250 mM) without the presence of metalloid (control) and cultured for 20 days at 25 ° C without agitation and with a photoperiod of 12/12 h light / dark. The toxicity of arsenate to Phormidium sp. has been characterized by growth inhibition being determined by the concentration of chlorophyll a. All conditions were performed in triplicate. The determination of total arsenic in the samples was obtained using the technique of optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma, the Instituto Evandro Chagas. The resistance of Phormidium sp. to arsenate was observed up to 50 mM of compound (p>0.05). Growth inhibition was observed above 100mM of arsenate (p<0.05). The analyzes of the total dose of arsenic in the culture medium showed that during the first day of experiment, the concentration of arsenic in the culture medium was lowered, followed by a gradual increase in the concentration of this metalloid. Probably, this cyanobacteria can accumulate arsenic and later excrete this metalloid to the extracellular medium. The results indicate the ability of the cyanobacterium Phormidium sp. has to grow in medium containing high concentrations of arsenic. However, other analyzes become fundamental for elucidating the metabolic pathways involved in the process of resistance to this metalloid.

Cyanobacteria can form nuisance proliferations and produce large concentrations of toxins that pose a health hazard. This thesis investigates cyanotoxin production by New Zealand benthic cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria were sampled from lakes, reservoirs, streams, and rivers. Thirty-five strains were isolated into culture and screened for genes involved in the biosynthesis of common cyanotoxins. Positive results were confirmed and cyanotoxin concentrations quantified using analytical chemistry techniques. Genes involved in anatoxin a/homoanatoxin a biosynthesis were detected in nine out of ten Phormidium cf. uncinatum strains isolated from a single mat. Anatoxin a was confirmed in these strains by LC–MS/MS at concentrations from 0.3 to 6.4 mg kg⁻¹. One strain also produced homoanatoxin-a. Anatoxin-a variation between strains may explain the wide range in anatoxin a concentrations previously observed in New Zealand. The sxtA gene involved in saxitoxin biosynthesis was identified in Scytonema cf. crispum strains. Saxitoxin was confirmed in strains and environmental samples by Jellett PSP Rapid Test and HPLC–FD. Gonyautoxins, neosaxitoxin, and decarbamoyl derivatives were also detected. This study is the first identification of these compounds in Scytonema and in New Zealand cyanobacterial strains. These strains were isolated from recreational and pre-treatment drinking water reservoirs, highlighting the risk benthic cyanobacteria pose to human and animal health. Experiments were undertaken using cultures of Phormidium and Scytonema to determine how growth influences cyanotoxin production. The effects of iron and copper stress on P. autumnale were also investigated. High iron concentrations disrupted attachment mechanisms. Iron and copper had a significant effect on growth, without significantly affecting anatoxin a production. However, the maximum anatoxin a quota was consistently observed during early exponential growth. Scytonema cf. crispum produced higher saxitoxin quota throughout exponential growth than during the stationary phase. Both the Phormidium and Scytonema growth experiments indicate that high toxin quota can be expected early in benthic mat development, making early detection of these proliferations important.