Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Microcystins in a Large Northern Oligotrophic Lake Onego, Russia.

Toxigenic cyanobacteria and microcystins in the oligotrophic pelagic zone and mesotrophic bay of Lake Onego-the second largest lake in Europe-were found for the first time. Microscopic analysis revealed that and dominated in bloom spots in the oligotrophic zone of the lake and and OKin the eutrophic bay. The abundance of cyanobacteria in bloom spots is potentially hazardous for humans and animals.

Algicidal Activity and Microcystin-LR Destruction by a Novel Strain sp. GF3 Isolated from the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea).

The present article focuses on a strain of ascomycete GF3 isolated from a water sample taken in the Gulf of Finland. Based on phylogenetic analysis data, the isolate was identified as sp. GF3.

Effects of Algicidal Macrophyte Metabolites on Cyanobacteria, Microcystins, Other Plankton, and Fish in Microcosms.

To control harmful algae blooms (HABs), methods based on natural mechanisms are now required. We investigated the effects of an algicide derived from macrophyte metabolites, namely mixtures of gallic, tetradecanoic, heptanoic, and octanoic acids (1:1:1:1 mass ratio, a total concentration of 14 mg/L), on the biomass of cyanobacteria and other plankton and the production of microcystins under experimental conditions. Two types of microcosms have been created: simple (microalgae, cyanobacteria, and zooplankton) and complex (microalgae, cyanobacteria, zooplankton, and planktivorous fish).

Year-Round Presence of Microcystins and Toxin-Producing in the Water Column and Ice Cover of a Eutrophic Lake Located in the Continuous Permafrost Zone (Yakutia, Russia).

This study aimed to test the hypothesis of the year-round presence of toxigenic and cyanotoxins in the water and ice of the shallow eutrophic Lake Ytyk-Kyuyol located in the continuous permafrost zone. Three independent approaches-mass-spectrometry, molecular methods and light microscopy-were applied in the study. The cyanobacterial biomass ranged from 1.

Oxidized Carbon-Based Spacers for Pressure-Resistant Graphene Oxide Membranes.

In this study, we report the influence of carbon-based spacer-oxidized derivatives of fullerenes (fullerenols) C60(OH)26−32 and graphene oxide nanoribbons on the performance and pressure stability of graphene-oxide-based composite membranes. The impact of the intercalant shape and composition on the permeance of the selective layers for water vapors has been studied under pressure gradients. It is shown that the insertion of ball-shaped fullerenols between graphene oxide nanoflakes allows a suppression in irreversible permeance loss to 2−4.

Genotoxicity of Natural Water during the Mass Development of Cyanobacteria Evaluated by the Allium Test Method: A Model Experiment with Microcosms.

Cyanobacteria, which develop abundantly in aquatic ecosystems, can be harmful to humans and animals not only by releasing toxins that cause poisoning but also by provoking cytogenetic effects. The influence of the mass development of cyanobacteria on the genotoxic properties of natural water has been studied in model ecosystems (microcosms) with different compositions of biotic components (zooplankton, amphipods and fish). The validated plant test system "Allium test" was used in this study.

The Regulation of Pea ( L.) Symbiotic Nodule Infection and Defense Responses by Glutathione, Homoglutathione, and Their Ratio.

In this study, the roles of glutathione (GSH), homoglutathione (hGSH), and their ratio in symbiotic nodule development and functioning, as well as in defense responses accompanying ineffective nodulation in pea () were investigated. The expression of genes involved in (h)GSH biosynthesis, thiol content, and localization of the reduced form of GSH were analyzed in nodules of wild-type pea plants and mutants (weak allele, "locked" infection threads, occasional bacterial release, and defense reactions) and (strong allele, "locked" infection threads, defense reactions), and (abnormal bacteroids, oxidative stress, early senescence, and defense reactions). The effects of (h)GSH depletion and GSH treatment on nodule number and development were also examined.

Effects of Diclofenac on the Reproductive Health, Respiratory Rate, Cardiac Activity, and Heat Tolerance of Aquatic Animals.

Diclofenac is an important pharmaceutical present in the water cycle of wastewater treatment and one of the most distributed drugs in aquatic ecosystems. Despite the great interest in the fate of diclofenac in freshwaters, the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations on invertebrates are still unclear. Two species of freshwater invertebrates, the amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus and the bivalve mollusk Unio pictorum, were exposed to diclofenac concentrations of 0.

Biochemical and respiratory parameters in a gastropod Radix balthica exposed to diclofenac.

Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, is often detected in natural waters in the ng/L to μg/L range, posing a threat to aquatic organisms. The study focused on the effects of diclofenac in a gastropod mollusk Radix balthica. A 72-h exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of diclofenac caused deviations from the baseline activities of the studied enzymes in the digestive gland of snails.

Comparative analysis of the variability of carotid intima-media thickness in primary prevention populations of Moscow and Paris.

It is well-known that the distribution of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) of atherosclerosis, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, and diabetes is considerably variable between different countries, however, with some important geographical trends. Thus, CVRFs contribute differently to atherosclerosis development in different countries. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT) is a validated biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis that is used in clinical and epidemiological studies to evaluate the impact of CVRFs on atherosclerosis development.

Phylogeographic, toxicological and ecological evidence for the global distribution of Raphidiopsis raciborskii and its northernmost presence in Lake Nero, Central Western Russia.

Raphidiopsis raciborskii is a freshwater, potentially toxigenic cyanobacterium, originally described as a tropical species that is spreading to northern regions over several decades. The ability of R. raciborskii to produce cyanotoxins - in particular the alkaloid cylindrospermopsin (CYN), which is toxic to humans and animals - is of serious concern.

Biomarkers in bivalve mollusks and amphipods for assessment of effects linked to cyanobacteria and elodea: Mesocosm study.

The effects of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (90%), Microcystis aeruginosa) and dense Elodea canadensis beds on the health endpoints of the amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus and bivalve mollusc Unio pictorum were examined in mesocosms with simulated summer conditions (July-August 2018) in the environment of the Rybinsk Reservoir (Volga River Basin, Russia). Four treatments were conducted, including one control and three treatments with influencing factors, cyanobacteria and dense elodea beds (separately and combined). After 20 days of exposure, we evaluated the frequency of malformed and dead embryos in amphipods, heart rate (HR) and its recovery (HRR) after stress tests in molluscs as well as heat tolerance (critical thermal maximum or CTMax) in both amphipods and molluscs.

Distribution of microcystin-producing genes in Microcystis colonies from some Russian freshwaters: Is there any correlation with morphospecies and colony size?

The first data on the distribution of microcystin genes among natural populations of different species of Microcystis from Russian reservoirs were obtained. It was statistically established that the occurrence of mcy gene-containing colonies of M. aeruginosa, M.

First observation of microcystin- and anatoxin-a-producing cyanobacteria in the easternmost part of the Gulf of Finland (the Baltic Sea).

The aim of this study was to obtain the first data on the occurrence and distribution of potentially toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the Russian Easternmost part of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. Studied samples were collected from 2012 to 2017 and three independent approaches - HPLC-HRMS, PCR and light microscopy were applied for cyanotoxins analysis and detection of toxigenic cyanobacteria. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Born.

Ni-functionalized submicron mesoporous silica particles as a sorbent for metal affinity chromatography.

In this research, a novel IMAC sorbent with high specificity for chlorine-containing compounds was developed. Ni-functionalized monodisperse spherical mesoporous silica particles of 500±25nm diameter were synthesized and their metal affinity properties were studied with the use of diclofenac as the model substance. The particles were aggregatively stable in the pH range of 3-12.

Dolichospermum and Aphanizomenon as neurotoxins producers in some Russian freshwaters.

Last decades, cyanobacterial blooms have been commonly reported in Russia. Among the boom-forming species, potential toxin producers have been identified. The aim of this paper was to study the presence of neurotoxic compounds - saxitoxins and anatoxin-a - in water bodies from different regions of Russia.

Enhanced gas separation factors of microporous polymer constrained in the channels of anodic alumina membranes.

New composite membranes based on porous anodic alumina films and polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) have been prepared using a spin-coating technique. According to scanning electron microscopy, partial penetration of polymer into the pores of alumina supports takes place giving rise to selective polymeric layers with fiber-like microstructure. Geometric confinement of rigid PIM-1 in the channels of anodic alumina causes reduction of small-scale mobility in polymeric chains.

A Collaborative Evaluation of LC-MS/MS Based Methods for BMAA Analysis: Soluble Bound BMAA Found to Be an Important Fraction.

Exposure to β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) might be linked to the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in determining human BMAA exposure and the associated health risk, but the performance of various analytical methods currently employed is rarely compared. A CYANOCOST initiated workshop was organized aimed at training scientists in BMAA analysis, creating mutual understanding and paving the way towards interlaboratory comparison exercises.