Toxicity of the cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine to three aquatic animal species

Abstract

β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxin and candidate contributory cause of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is produced by aquatic and terrestrial cyanobacteria. We have determined BMAA toxicity to three aquatic animal species: zebra fish (Danio rerio), brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and the protozoan Nassula sorex. Responses included: clonus convulsions and abnormal spinal axis formation (D. rerio), loss of phototaxis (A. salina) and mortalities (all species). These systems offer potential to further understand BMAA toxicity and the bioaccumulation and fates of BMAA in aquatic food chains leading to potential human exposure.

Key words::

• BMAA
• neurotoxin
• Danio
• Artemia
• Nassula

Acknowledgements

We thank Fiona Young and Peter Nunn for helpful discussions, Marianne Reilly for technical assistance, and the BBSRC (UK) for the provision of a PhD studentship to ELP.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest.