Grantee Research Project Results
Molecular Tools to Predict Cyanobacteria Toxin Production
EPA Grant Number: SU839455Title: Molecular Tools to Predict Cyanobacteria Toxin Production
Investigators: Kapoor, Vikram , Mertins, Andrea , Estrada, Fabiola , Gupta, Indrani
Current Investigators: Kapoor, Vikram , Estrada, Fabiola , Mertins, Andrea , Gupta, Indrani
Institution: The University of Texas at San Antonio
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2018 through November 30, 2019
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Objective:
The main goal of the proposed research is to develop and demonstrate a robust molecular method for the prediction and monitoring of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in freshwater systems, based on gene expression of a model cyanobacterium (Microcystis aeruginosa) under different environmental factors such as changes in temperature and nutrient (N, P) loadings. To meet this overall goal, the following three objectives are proposed: 1) determine the effect of different environmental factors on the physiological and metabolic responses of M. aeruginosa, which leads to toxin production; 2) investigate the impact of different environmental factors on the functional gene expression of M. aeruginosa and evaluate how toxin production is regulated at the molecular level; and 3) integrate the results of molecular biology tools with biochemical and analytical methods to elucidate the mechanism of toxin production by M. aeruginosa.The principal hypothesis, which will be evaluated as part of this project is 'Can specific gene expression measurements be used as predictive and quantitative indicators of toxin production kinetics?' We hypothesize that any changes in toxin production pathways in M. aeruginosa can be inferred from the expression of genes coding for these pathways and that the transcriptional responses will differ with different environmental factors.
Approach:
The physiological and metabolic responses will be monitored during the course of the experimental run including growth rate, microcystin production, surface zeta potential, and cell morphology. We will employ reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays to measure the fold changes in transcript levels of microcystin synthesis genes in M. aeruginosa cultures exposed to different environmental conditions. Integrating the use of molecular biology tools with conventional biochemical methods will enable us to describe the mechanistic model of cyanobacterial toxin production under different environmental factors.
Expected Results:
This work will provide valuable insight into the mechanistic interaction of toxin production in cyanobacteria with different environmental factors, and provide fundamental physiological and transcriptional information to further explore and predict the behavior and impacts of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater systems. The results of this study will offer an opportunity to develop approaches for the prediction and monitoring of HABs as well as provide insight to the molecular level approaches for mitigation of HABs. Dissemination of the research will be conducted through publications in environmental microbiology journals, invited seminars, and conference papers in major environmental conferences.
Contribution to Pollution Prevention or Control: This project will identify early warning indicators for communities, municipalities and states to use for predicting and preventing freshwater HAB occurrence. Preventing HAB pollution is important for protecting ecosystems and human health. In order to prevent HABs, we will develop and verify predictive molecular tools to forecast cyanobacteria toxin production based on environmental and anthropogenic factors that initiate, propagate, and sustain HABs in inland freshwater lakes and rivers.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
drinking water, decision making, cyanotoxinProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.