Aquatic primary productivity mainly depends on pelagic phytoplankton. The globally abundant marine picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus comprises a significant fraction of the photosynthetic biomass in most tropical, oligotrophic oceans. The Red Sea is an enclosed narrow body of water characterized by continuous solar irradiance, and negligible annual rainfall, in addition to elevated temperatures and salinity levels, which mimics a global warming scenario. Analysis of 16S rRNA sequences of bacterioplankton communities indicated the predominance of a high-light adapted ecotype (HL II) of Prochlorococcus at the surface of the Northern and Central Red Sea. To this end, we analyzed the distribution of Prochlorococcus at multiple depths within and below the euphotic zone in different regions of the Red Sea, using clone libraries of the 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Results indicated a high diversity of Prochlorococcus ecotypes at the 100 m depth in the water column and an unusual dominance of HL II-related sequences in deeper waters of the Red Sea. To further investigate the microdiversity of Prochlorococcus over a wider biogeographical scope, we used a 454-pyrosequencing approach to analyze rpoC1 gene pyrotags. Samples were collected from the surface of the water column to up to 500 m at 45 stations that span the Red Sea’s main basin from 4 north to south. Phylogenetic analysis of abundant rpoC1 OTUs revealed genotypes of recently discovered strains that belong to the high-light and lowlight clades. In addition, we used a rapid community-profiling tool (GraftM) and quantitatively analyzed rpoC1 gene abundance from 45 metagenomes to assess the Prochlorococcus community structure across vertical and horizontal physicochemical gradients. Results revealed the clustering of samples according to their depth and a strong influence on ecotypic distribution by temperature and oxygen levels. In efforts to better understand how the cells survive the unusual features of the Red Sea, a Prochlorococcus strain of the HL II adapted clade from the euphotic zone was cultured, enabling morphological analyses and growth rates measurements for the strain. In addition, we successfully sequenced and annotated the genome of the strain, which was then used for genomic comparison with other ecotypes. Interestingly, the set of unique genes identified in the draft genome included genes encoding proteins involved in salt tolerance mechanisms. The expression level and pattern of these genes in the Red Sea water column was explored through metatranscriptomic mapping and revealed their occurrence throughout, independent of the diel cycle. This led to the hypothesis that Prochlorococcus populations in the highly saline Red Sea are able to biosynthesize additional compatible solutes via several pathways to counterbalance the effects of salt stress. The results presented in this dissertation provide the first glimpse on how the environmental parameters of the Red Sea can affect the evolution, diversity and distribution patterns of Prochlorococcus ecotypes.

Manguezais são ecossistemas de transição entre ambientes terrestres e marinhos encontrados em regiões tropicais e subtropicais. A ampla faixa de variações de salinidade e teor oxigênio, típica desses ambientes, está entre os principais fatores condicionantes da colonização e desenvolvimento da biota. Apesar disso, são ambientes com elevada produção primária. Entre os nutrientes, o nitrogênio é um dos principais fatores limitantes que afetam o desenvolvimento da vegetação do manguezal e somente baixa disponibilidade de formas reduzidas está presente. Portanto, há a necessidade de determinar os micro-organismos fixadores de nitrogênio que colonizam os ecossistemas de manguezais. Dentre esses, existem as cianobactérias, um grupo bem conhecido de micro-organismos fotossintéticos oxigênicos e fixadores de nitrogênio. Neste estudo, 50 linhagens de cianobactérias foram isoladas de amostras ambientais de solos, água e material perifítico, coletadas nos ecossistemas de manguezais da Ilha do Cardoso e Bertioga, São Paulo. Essas linhagens foram isoladas usando meios específicos de crescimento e análises morfológicas identificaram representantes das ordens Chroococcales (35 linhagens, 70%), Oscillatoriales (9 linhagens, 18%) e Nostocales (6 linhagens, 12%). Dezesseis linhagens distribuídas entre as ordens Chroococcales e Nostocales foram selecionadas para os estudos de filogenia usando o gene rpoC1. A maioria das sequências de rpoC1 geradas pela amplificação por PCR usando o conjunto específico de primer rpoC1-1/rpoC1-T mostraram baixas similaridades (menor que 90%) com seqüências disponíveis no GenBank, indicando que estas linhagens de cianobactérias são únicas. As exceções foram somente duas linhagens (Synechococcus sp. CENA177 and Cyanothece sp. CENA169) que apresentaram altas similaridades com sequências de cianobactérias isoladas de ambientes de água doce do Brasil. A análise filogenética Neighbor-Joining mostrou que várias das novas linhagens cianobactérias dos manguezais se agruparam, sem relação com a descrição taxonômica baseada na caracterização morfotípica. Uma busca pelo gene funcional nifH, o qual codifica para a redutase da nitrogenase, em 27 isolados dos manguezais, revelou a sua presença em 21 linhagens (77%) dispersas entre as ordens Chroococcales, Oscillatoriales e Nostocales. Os 21 fragmentos do gene nifH amplificados foram clonados e seqüenciados e todas as sequências também mostram baixas similaridades (menor que 95%) com seqüências de cianobactérias disponíveis no GenBank. A análise filogenética do gene nifH posicionou as novas linhagens de cianobactérias dos manguezais em vários agrupamentos distribuídos ao longo da árvore, e como também observado para o gene rpoC1, sem correlação com a descrição taxonômica baseada na caracterização morfotípica. Atividade da nitrogenase, avaliada pela técnica de redução de acetileno, foi encontrada em cinco linhagens pertencentes à ordem Nostocales e em uma linhagem pertencente à ordem Chroococcales. A estimativa da fixação biológica de nitrogênio por essas linhagens variaram de 327,01 a 1.954,15 pmol N2.g-1 de biomassa seca.dia-1. / Mangroves are transitional ecosystems between terrestrial and marine environments found in tropical and subtropical regions. The broad range of variations of salinity and oxygen content, typical of these environments, is among the main constraint factors for the establishment and development of biota. Nevertheless, mangroves have high primary production. Among the nutrients, nitrogen is one of the most important limiting factors affecting the development of mangrove vegetation and only low availability of reduced forms is present. Therefore, there is a need to determine the nitrogen fixing microorganisms that colonize mangrove ecosystems. Among those, there are the cyanobacteria, a well known group of oxygenic photosynthetic and nitrogen fixing microorganisms. In this study, 50 cyanobacterial strains were isolated from environmental samples of soil, water and periphytic material collected in the Cardoso Island and Bertioga mangrove ecosystems, São Paulo. These strains were isolated using specific growth media and morphological analyses identified representatives of the orders Chroococcales (35 strains, 70%), Oscillatoriales (9 strains, 18%) and Nostocales (6 strains, 12%). Sixteen strains belong to the orders Chroococcales and Nostocales were selected for phylogeny studies using the gene rpoC1. The majority of rpoC1 sequences generated by PCR amplification using the specific set primer rpoC1-1/rpoC1-T showed low similarities (below 90%) with sequences available in the GenBank, indicating that these cyanobacterial strains are unique. The exceptions were only two strains (Synechococcus sp. CENA177 and Cyanothece sp. CENA169) that had high similarities with cyanobacterial sequences isolated from Brazilian freshwater environments. The Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic analysis showed that several of the new mangrove cyanobacterial strains clustered together, with no relationship with the taxonomical description based on morphotypic characterization. A search for the functional nifH gene, which coding for nitrogenase reductase, on 27 mangrove isolates revealed its presence in 21 strains (77%) dispersed among the orders Chroococcales, Oscillatoriales and Nostocales. The 21 amplified fragments of nifH were cloned and sequenced, and all the sequences also showed low similarities (below 95%) with cyanobacterial sequences available in the GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis of nifH gene positioned the new mangrove cyanobacterial strains in several clusters distributed along the tree, and as also observed for rpoC1 gene, with no correlation with the taxonomical description based on morphotypic characterization. Nitrogenase activity, measured by the acetylene reduction technique, was found in five strains belonging to the order Nostocales and one strain belonging to the order Chroococcales. The estimation of biological nitrogen fixation by these strains ranged from 327.01 to 1954.15 pmol N2.g-1 dry biomass.day-1.

Manguezais são ecossistemas de transição entre ambientes terrestres e marinhos encontrados em regiões tropicais e subtropicais. A ampla faixa de variações de salinidade e teor oxigênio, típica desses ambientes, está entre os principais fatores condicionantes da colonização e desenvolvimento da biota. Apesar disso, são ambientes com elevada produção primária. Entre os nutrientes, o nitrogênio é um dos principais fatores limitantes que afetam o desenvolvimento da vegetação do manguezal e somente baixa disponibilidade de formas reduzidas está presente. Portanto, há a necessidade de determinar os micro-organismos fixadores de nitrogênio que colonizam os ecossistemas de manguezais. Dentre esses, existem as cianobactérias, um grupo bem conhecido de micro-organismos fotossintéticos oxigênicos e fixadores de nitrogênio. Neste estudo, 50 linhagens de cianobactérias foram isoladas de amostras ambientais de solos, água e material perifítico, coletadas nos ecossistemas de manguezais da Ilha do Cardoso e Bertioga, São Paulo. Essas linhagens foram isoladas usando meios específicos de crescimento e análises morfológicas identificaram representantes das ordens Chroococcales (35 linhagens, 70%), Oscillatoriales (9 linhagens, 18%) e Nostocales (6 linhagens, 12%). Dezesseis linhagens distribuídas entre as ordens Chroococcales e Nostocales foram selecionadas para os estudos de filogenia usando o gene rpoC1. A maioria das sequências de rpoC1 geradas pela amplificação por PCR usando o conjunto específico de primer rpoC1-1/rpoC1-T mostraram baixas similaridades (menor que 90%) com seqüências disponíveis no GenBank, indicando que estas linhagens de cianobactérias são únicas. As exceções foram somente duas linhagens (Synechococcus sp. CENA177 and Cyanothece sp. CENA169) que apresentaram altas similaridades com sequências de cianobactérias isoladas de ambientes de água doce do Brasil. A análise filogenética Neighbor-Joining mostrou que várias das novas linhagens cianobactérias dos manguezais se agruparam, sem relação com a descrição taxonômica baseada na caracterização morfotípica. Uma busca pelo gene funcional nifH, o qual codifica para a redutase da nitrogenase, em 27 isolados dos manguezais, revelou a sua presença em 21 linhagens (77%) dispersas entre as ordens Chroococcales, Oscillatoriales e Nostocales. Os 21 fragmentos do gene nifH amplificados foram clonados e seqüenciados e todas as sequências também mostram baixas similaridades (menor que 95%) com seqüências de cianobactérias disponíveis no GenBank. A análise filogenética do gene nifH posicionou as novas linhagens de cianobactérias dos manguezais em vários agrupamentos distribuídos ao longo da árvore, e como também observado para o gene rpoC1, sem correlação com a descrição taxonômica baseada na caracterização morfotípica. Atividade da nitrogenase, avaliada pela técnica de redução de acetileno, foi encontrada em cinco linhagens pertencentes à ordem Nostocales e em uma linhagem pertencente à ordem Chroococcales. A estimativa da fixação biológica de nitrogênio por essas linhagens variaram de 327,01 a 1.954,15 pmol N2.g-1 de biomassa seca.dia-1. / Mangroves are transitional ecosystems between terrestrial and marine environments found in tropical and subtropical regions. The broad range of variations of salinity and oxygen content, typical of these environments, is among the main constraint factors for the establishment and development of biota. Nevertheless, mangroves have high primary production. Among the nutrients, nitrogen is one of the most important limiting factors affecting the development of mangrove vegetation and only low availability of reduced forms is present. Therefore, there is a need to determine the nitrogen fixing microorganisms that colonize mangrove ecosystems. Among those, there are the cyanobacteria, a well known group of oxygenic photosynthetic and nitrogen fixing microorganisms. In this study, 50 cyanobacterial strains were isolated from environmental samples of soil, water and periphytic material collected in the Cardoso Island and Bertioga mangrove ecosystems, São Paulo. These strains were isolated using specific growth media and morphological analyses identified representatives of the orders Chroococcales (35 strains, 70%), Oscillatoriales (9 strains, 18%) and Nostocales (6 strains, 12%). Sixteen strains belong to the orders Chroococcales and Nostocales were selected for phylogeny studies using the gene rpoC1. The majority of rpoC1 sequences generated by PCR amplification using the specific set primer rpoC1-1/rpoC1-T showed low similarities (below 90%) with sequences available in the GenBank, indicating that these cyanobacterial strains are unique. The exceptions were only two strains (Synechococcus sp. CENA177 and Cyanothece sp. CENA169) that had high similarities with cyanobacterial sequences isolated from Brazilian freshwater environments. The Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic analysis showed that several of the new mangrove cyanobacterial strains clustered together, with no relationship with the taxonomical description based on morphotypic characterization. A search for the functional nifH gene, which coding for nitrogenase reductase, on 27 mangrove isolates revealed its presence in 21 strains (77%) dispersed among the orders Chroococcales, Oscillatoriales and Nostocales. The 21 amplified fragments of nifH were cloned and sequenced, and all the sequences also showed low similarities (below 95%) with cyanobacterial sequences available in the GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis of nifH gene positioned the new mangrove cyanobacterial strains in several clusters distributed along the tree, and as also observed for rpoC1 gene, with no correlation with the taxonomical description based on morphotypic characterization. Nitrogenase activity, measured by the acetylene reduction technique, was found in five strains belonging to the order Nostocales and one strain belonging to the order Chroococcales. The estimation of biological nitrogen fixation by these strains ranged from 327.01 to 1954.15 pmol N2.g-1 dry biomass.day-1.

A afiliação genérica de Fischerella e Hapalosiphon é problemática devido à instabilidade dos caracteres morfológicos. Os gêneros Fischerella e Hapalosiphon são diferenciados pela presença de tricoma multisseriado e uni ou bisseriado, respectivamente. Porém, geneticamente esses caracteres não se mostraram diacríticos para diferenciar gêneros. Estudos moleculares de linhagens isoladas de ecossistemas brasileiros são escassos para Fischerella e inexistentes para Hapalosiphon. Neste estudo, oito linhagens de cianobactérias, pertencentes à família Hapalosiphonaceae, isoladas de água doce e solos brasileiros foram caracterizadas morfologicamente e geneticamente e analisadas para a produção de substâncias bioativas. As análises morfológicas identificaram cinco morfotípos de Fischerella (CENA19, CENA161, CENA212, CENA213, CENA214) e três de Hapalosiphon (CENA63, CENA71, CENA72). As análises filogenéticas do RNAr 16S usando neighbor-joining (NJ) e máxima verossimilhança (MV) colocaram todas as linhagens isoladas em um agrupamento com alto suporte (reamostragens de 99% NJ e MV) contendo membros da ordem Nostocales. Além disso, as linhagens de Fischerella selecionadas para o estudo agruparam-se em um clado interno com alto valor de reamostragem (100% NJ e 86% MV), com exceção da Fischerella CENA19. A posição dessa estirpe na árvore filogenética indica que necessita de revisão taxonômica. As linhagens de solo Hapalosiphon CENA71 e CENA72 também formaram um clado interno separado (99% NJ e 98% MV), mas a linhagem de água doce CENA63 foi colocada em um clado diferente (com valores de reamostragens de 99% NJ e MV), juntamente com linhagens do gênero Hapalosiphon e Westielopsis prolífica SAG 16.93, oriundas de solo. A comparação das análises filogenéticas individuais de regiões dos genes RNAr 16S, rpoC1, rbcL, tufA, e cpcBA-IGS das três linhagens de Hapalosiphon e de duas linhagens de Fischerella, CENA19 e CENA161, mostrou resultados incongruentes devido as diferentes taxas evolutivas desses genes. No entanto, a análise filogenética concatenada desses genes, mostrou que a Fischerella CENA19 agrupou com as duas linhagens de Hapalosiphon CENA71 e CENA72, com alto valor de reamostragem (100%), enquanto que a Fischerella CENA 161 e a Hapalosiphon CENA63 posicionaram-se cada uma em clados separados. Os resultados indicam que a nomenclatura das linhagens de cianobactérias da família Hapalosiphonaceae necessita de revisão. Os extratos intra e extracelulares das linhagens Fischerella sp. CENA161 e CENA19 e Hapalosiphon sp. CENA71 e CENA72 mostraram efeitos inibitórios no crescimento de bactérias patogênicas. As análises em espectrômetro de massas Q-TOF MS/MS indicaram a putativa presença de aeruginopeptina, cianopeptolina, fischerelina, aeruginosina, oscilapeptilida, microcistinas e ácido tumonóico nos extratos. No extrato intracelular da Fischerella sp. CENA161 identificou-se três ou quatro variantes de microcistinas, LR, LL, FR e/ou M(O)R. Fragmentos dos genes mcyA, mcyB, mcyC, mcyD, mcyE, mcyG e mcyI dessa linhagem foram seqüenciados. Nas duas análises filogenéticas realizadas com sequências de aminoácidos de McyE e sequências concatenadas de McyD, McyE e McyG, as enzimas da microcistina sintetase ficaram agrupadas de acordo com os gêneros de cianobactérias indicando um padrão de evolução / The generic affiliation of Fischerella and Hapalosiphon is problematic due to instability of morphological characters. The Fischerella and Hapalosiphon genera are differentiated by the presence of trichome multisseriate and uni or bisseriate, respectively. However, genetically these characters were not diacritical to distinguish genera. Molecular studies of strains isolated from Brazilian ecosystems are scarce for Fischerella and absent for Hapalosiphon. In this study, eight cyanobacterial strains, belonging to Hapalosiphonaceae family, isolated from Brazilian freshwater and soil were morphologically and genetically characterized and analyzed for bioactive compound productions. The morphological analyses identified five Fischerella (CENA19, CENA161, CENA212, CENA213, CENA214) and three Hapalosiphon (CENA63, CENA71, CENA72) morphotypes. The neighbor-Joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA placed all isolated strains in high supported (99% NJ and ML of bootstrap) cluster containing members of the order Nostocales. Furthermore, the Fischerella strains studied were grouped in an internal clade with high bootstrap value (100% NJ and 86% ML), with exception of Fischerella CENA19. The position of this strain in the phylogenetic tree indicates that it needs taxonomical revision. The soil Hapalosiphon strains CENA71 and CENA72 also formed a separated tight internal clade (99% NJ and 98% ML), but the freshwater strain CENA63 was placed in a different clade (99% NJ and ML of bootstrap value) together with Hapalosiphon strains genera and Westielopsis prolifica SAG 16.93, originated from soil. The comparison of the phylogenetic analyses of individual regions of the genes 16S rRNA, rpoC1, rbcL, tufA, and cpcBA-IGS from the three Hapalosiphon strains and the two Fischerella strains CENA19 and CENA161 showed incongruent results due to different evolutionary rates of these genes. However, the concatenated phylogenetic analysis of these genes, showed that Fischerella CENA19 grouped with the two Hapalosiphon strains CENA71 and CENA72 with high bootstrap value (100%), while Fischerella CENA 161 and Hapalosiphon CENA63 were positionated each one in separate clades. The results indicate that the nomenclature of cyanobacterial strains from the family Hapalosiphonaceae needs revision. The intra and extracellular extracts of the Fischerella sp. strains CENA161 and CENA19 and Hapalosiphon sp. strains CENA71 and CENA72 showed inhibitory effects on the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The analysis in the mass spectrometer Q-TOF MS/MS indicated the presence of aeruginopeptin, cyanopeptolin, fischerellin, aeruginosin, oscillapeptilide, microcystins and tumonoic acid in the extracts. In the intracellular extracts of Fischerella sp. CENA161, three or four variants of microcystins, LR, LL, FR and/or M(O)R, were identified. Fragments of genes mcyA, mcyB, mcyC, mcyD, mcyE, mcyG and mcyI of this strain were sequenced. In both phylogenetic analyses performed with amino acid sequences of McyE and concatenated sequences of McyD, McyE and McyG, the microcystin synthetase enzymes were grouped according to the cyanobacterial genera, indicating a pattern of evolution

A afiliação genérica de Fischerella e Hapalosiphon é problemática devido à instabilidade dos caracteres morfológicos. Os gêneros Fischerella e Hapalosiphon são diferenciados pela presença de tricoma multisseriado e uni ou bisseriado, respectivamente. Porém, geneticamente esses caracteres não se mostraram diacríticos para diferenciar gêneros. Estudos moleculares de linhagens isoladas de ecossistemas brasileiros são escassos para Fischerella e inexistentes para Hapalosiphon. Neste estudo, oito linhagens de cianobactérias, pertencentes à família Hapalosiphonaceae, isoladas de água doce e solos brasileiros foram caracterizadas morfologicamente e geneticamente e analisadas para a produção de substâncias bioativas. As análises morfológicas identificaram cinco morfotípos de Fischerella (CENA19, CENA161, CENA212, CENA213, CENA214) e três de Hapalosiphon (CENA63, CENA71, CENA72). As análises filogenéticas do RNAr 16S usando neighbor-joining (NJ) e máxima verossimilhança (MV) colocaram todas as linhagens isoladas em um agrupamento com alto suporte (reamostragens de 99% NJ e MV) contendo membros da ordem Nostocales. Além disso, as linhagens de Fischerella selecionadas para o estudo agruparam-se em um clado interno com alto valor de reamostragem (100% NJ e 86% MV), com exceção da Fischerella CENA19. A posição dessa estirpe na árvore filogenética indica que necessita de revisão taxonômica. As linhagens de solo Hapalosiphon CENA71 e CENA72 também formaram um clado interno separado (99% NJ e 98% MV), mas a linhagem de água doce CENA63 foi colocada em um clado diferente (com valores de reamostragens de 99% NJ e MV), juntamente com linhagens do gênero Hapalosiphon e Westielopsis prolífica SAG 16.93, oriundas de solo. A comparação das análises filogenéticas individuais de regiões dos genes RNAr 16S, rpoC1, rbcL, tufA, e cpcBA-IGS das três linhagens de Hapalosiphon e de duas linhagens de Fischerella, CENA19 e CENA161, mostrou resultados incongruentes devido as diferentes taxas evolutivas desses genes. No entanto, a análise filogenética concatenada desses genes, mostrou que a Fischerella CENA19 agrupou com as duas linhagens de Hapalosiphon CENA71 e CENA72, com alto valor de reamostragem (100%), enquanto que a Fischerella CENA 161 e a Hapalosiphon CENA63 posicionaram-se cada uma em clados separados. Os resultados indicam que a nomenclatura das linhagens de cianobactérias da família Hapalosiphonaceae necessita de revisão. Os extratos intra e extracelulares das linhagens Fischerella sp. CENA161 e CENA19 e Hapalosiphon sp. CENA71 e CENA72 mostraram efeitos inibitórios no crescimento de bactérias patogênicas. As análises em espectrômetro de massas Q-TOF MS/MS indicaram a putativa presença de aeruginopeptina, cianopeptolina, fischerelina, aeruginosina, oscilapeptilida, microcistinas e ácido tumonóico nos extratos. No extrato intracelular da Fischerella sp. CENA161 identificou-se três ou quatro variantes de microcistinas, LR, LL, FR e/ou M(O)R. Fragmentos dos genes mcyA, mcyB, mcyC, mcyD, mcyE, mcyG e mcyI dessa linhagem foram seqüenciados. Nas duas análises filogenéticas realizadas com sequências de aminoácidos de McyE e sequências concatenadas de McyD, McyE e McyG, as enzimas da microcistina sintetase ficaram agrupadas de acordo com os gêneros de cianobactérias indicando um padrão de evolução / The generic affiliation of Fischerella and Hapalosiphon is problematic due to instability of morphological characters. The Fischerella and Hapalosiphon genera are differentiated by the presence of trichome multisseriate and uni or bisseriate, respectively. However, genetically these characters were not diacritical to distinguish genera. Molecular studies of strains isolated from Brazilian ecosystems are scarce for Fischerella and absent for Hapalosiphon. In this study, eight cyanobacterial strains, belonging to Hapalosiphonaceae family, isolated from Brazilian freshwater and soil were morphologically and genetically characterized and analyzed for bioactive compound productions. The morphological analyses identified five Fischerella (CENA19, CENA161, CENA212, CENA213, CENA214) and three Hapalosiphon (CENA63, CENA71, CENA72) morphotypes. The neighbor-Joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA placed all isolated strains in high supported (99% NJ and ML of bootstrap) cluster containing members of the order Nostocales. Furthermore, the Fischerella strains studied were grouped in an internal clade with high bootstrap value (100% NJ and 86% ML), with exception of Fischerella CENA19. The position of this strain in the phylogenetic tree indicates that it needs taxonomical revision. The soil Hapalosiphon strains CENA71 and CENA72 also formed a separated tight internal clade (99% NJ and 98% ML), but the freshwater strain CENA63 was placed in a different clade (99% NJ and ML of bootstrap value) together with Hapalosiphon strains genera and Westielopsis prolifica SAG 16.93, originated from soil. The comparison of the phylogenetic analyses of individual regions of the genes 16S rRNA, rpoC1, rbcL, tufA, and cpcBA-IGS from the three Hapalosiphon strains and the two Fischerella strains CENA19 and CENA161 showed incongruent results due to different evolutionary rates of these genes. However, the concatenated phylogenetic analysis of these genes, showed that Fischerella CENA19 grouped with the two Hapalosiphon strains CENA71 and CENA72 with high bootstrap value (100%), while Fischerella CENA 161 and Hapalosiphon CENA63 were positionated each one in separate clades. The results indicate that the nomenclature of cyanobacterial strains from the family Hapalosiphonaceae needs revision. The intra and extracellular extracts of the Fischerella sp. strains CENA161 and CENA19 and Hapalosiphon sp. strains CENA71 and CENA72 showed inhibitory effects on the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The analysis in the mass spectrometer Q-TOF MS/MS indicated the presence of aeruginopeptin, cyanopeptolin, fischerellin, aeruginosin, oscillapeptilide, microcystins and tumonoic acid in the extracts. In the intracellular extracts of Fischerella sp. CENA161, three or four variants of microcystins, LR, LL, FR and/or M(O)R, were identified. Fragments of genes mcyA, mcyB, mcyC, mcyD, mcyE, mcyG and mcyI of this strain were sequenced. In both phylogenetic analyses performed with amino acid sequences of McyE and concatenated sequences of McyD, McyE and McyG, the microcystin synthetase enzymes were grouped according to the cyanobacterial genera, indicating a pattern of evolution