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Microbiome and Virome Dynamics in Lakes Impacted by Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms and the Fate of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin in Crops and Soil

Lee, Seungjun
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1513690700478319

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Increasing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater is one of the most serious contemporary environmental health concerns. Cyanobacterial HABs have become a global issue because toxins produced by some of the cyanobacteria negatively affect water sources used for drinking, recreation, aquafarming and agriculture. HABs also damage the surrounding ecosystem health. Several toxin-producing cyanobacteria release toxic metabolites (e.g. anatoxins, cylindrospermopsin, microcystins, and saxitoxin) that can cause mild to serious intoxication in animals and humans, affecting the hepatopancreatic, digestive, endocrine, dermal, and nervous systems. These toxins have also been linked to tumor promotion and death, including sudden death of pets. To protect from exposure to HABs and toxins, the dynamics and processes of cyanobacteria related to water and agricultural resources need to be clearly understood. There is relatively very little information of microbial communities and viruses with toxin dynamics in waterbodies that have chronic HAB problems during bloom seasons. In addition, research on the fate of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin in agricultural crops has received very little attention because cyanobacteria and released cyanotoxins coexist in freshwater environments. Therefore, this dissertation seeks to understand the overall effects of cyanobacterial blooms, including Microcystis and microcystins, in freshwater and agricultural environments. Chapter 1 reviewed general information about cyanobacterial blooms, cyanotoxins, and their potential health risks. Major environmental factors associated with bloom formation and the major impact of the blooms were described including environmental, organismal, and human health perspectives. In addition, previous studies on cyanotoxin accumulation in food were summarized. In Chapter 2, to understand microbial ecology in freshwater environments during bloom season, we identified and characterized bacterial and viral communities in two lakes, Lake Erie and Buckeye Lake. An abundance of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin producing genes were found. The concentrations of photopigments and microcystins (MCs) were also analyzed to evaluate potential health risks for human activities. This study improved understanding of cyanobacteria’s characteristics and clarified bacterial and viral interactions and structure in freshwater lakes. Chapters 3-5 focused on how cyanobacteria blooms affect agricultural environments. The major objectives of Chapter 3 were to examine the fate of microcystins (MCs) in different types of fresh produce (lettuce, carrots, and green beans), the effects of MCs on the quality and quantity of each plant, and their potential health risks. The persistence of MCs in irrigation water can lead to their transfer and accumulation in soil and agricultural plants. MC-LR accumulation levels varied by crop types and by parts of the plant (e.g., roots > shoots). The toxin persisted in the soil after harvest. MC-LR also negatively affected the quality and the crop productivity. The major objective of Chapter 4 was understanding the effects in agricultural soil after introducing cyanobacteria, especially Microcystis, via irrigation water. Introducing Microcystis in the soil affected bacterial and fungal communities (e.g. diversity, composition, and abundance), as well as crop productivity. MCs accumulated in the harvested lettuce and absorbed in the soil. Our results demonstrate that cyanobacteria colonization in agricultural soil may persistently threaten food safety and security. Lastly, Chapter 5 examined the possibility of Microcystis colonization and internalization into crops. Our results demonstrated that Microcystis can internalize via the stomata, and then adapt to the interior environments of plants. In addition, internalized Microcystis produced toxins.
Jiyoung Lee (Advisor)
Jay Martin (Committee Member)
Nicholas Basta (Committee Member)
Richard Dick (Committee Member)
183 p.
Environmental Science; Microbiology
Cyanobacteria, Cyanotoxin, Microbiome, Virome, Food safety

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lee, S. (2018). Microbiome and Virome Dynamics in Lakes Impacted by Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms and the Fate of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin in Crops and Soil [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1513690700478319

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lee, Seungjun. Microbiome and Virome Dynamics in Lakes Impacted by Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms and the Fate of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin in Crops and Soil. 2018. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1513690700478319.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lee, Seungjun. "Microbiome and Virome Dynamics in Lakes Impacted by Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms and the Fate of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin in Crops and Soil." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1513690700478319

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2018, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Microbiome and Virome Dynamics in Lakes Impacted by Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms and the Fate of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxin in Crops and Soil by Seungjun Lee is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.