Importance of bacterial biodegradation and detoxification processes of microcystins for environmental health

ABSTRACT

Microcystins (MC) the most frequently reported cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom toxins primarily found in some species of freshwater genera pose a serious threat to human and animal health. To reduce health risks associated with MC exposure it is important to remove these toxins found in drinking and recreational waterbodies. Since the physical and chemical water treatment methods are inefficient in completely degrading MC, alternative approaches to effectively detoxify MC have become the focus of global research. The aim of this review was to provide the current approach to cost-effective biological treatment methods which utilize bacteria to degrade MC without generation of harmful by-products. In addition, the catabolic pathways involved in MC-degradation involving proteins encoded mlr gene cluster, intermediate products and efficiencies of bacteria strain/bacteria community are presented and compared.

KEYWORDS:

• Biodegradation
• Microcystins (MC)
• Degrading bacteria
• Degrading Mechanisms; Cyanobacteria

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Professor Sam Kacew from Canada for revising and editing this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (81773393, 81502787); Central South University Innovation Driven Project (20170027010004); Hunan Province Natural Science Foundation (2016JJ3166); National Public Welfare Industrial Foundation (201503108), Key Research and Development Projects in Hunan Province (2018WK2013), and Open Funding from Southeast University (2014EME001).