Microbial community structure in a constructed wetland treating cyanotoxins in surface waters

TY - ABST

T1 - Microbial community structure in a constructed wetland treating cyanotoxins in surface waters

AU - Martinez I Quer, Alba

AU - Johansen, Anders

AU - Arias, Carlos Alberto

AU - Carvalho, Pedro N

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Eutrophication often leads to harmful cyanobacterial blooms that may release cyanotoxins. When water scarcity occurs, vulnerable communities are forced to irrigate their crops with cyanotoxin-polluted water. Consequently, indirect or direct human consumption of cyanotoxins may happen, leading to cytotoxic pathologies. We propose the application of constructed wetlands (CWs) to treat water for irrigation. The hypothesis is that a vertical flow CW can remove cyanotoxins while preserving the nutrients in the eutrophic water. Objective: The microbiota in the CWs is the key player for the removal of pollutants. To understand cyanotoxin degradation processes, we investigate the structure of the CW microbial community, a gene associated with cyanotoxin degradation and possible degradation metabolites.Methods: We set up thirty-two vertical-flow CWs mesocosms with different treatments fed with synthetic eutrophic water containing microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin. We perform end-point water measurements, 16S amplicon community sequencing and mlrA qPCR. Furthermore, we use liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectroscopy to screen for cyanotoxins and their metabolites.Results: The work is still ongoing. Removal rates are determined. Metabolites of cyanotoxins are being identified, as well as the metagenomics data is being treated. Several variable correlations were already found that explain the cyanotoxin removal dynamics in our systems. Initial data on the microbial community structure will be discussed at the conference. We strive to understand how the CW microbiome reacts and acts to ensure a safe design and operation of the CWs to treat cyanotoxins.

AB - Background: Eutrophication often leads to harmful cyanobacterial blooms that may release cyanotoxins. When water scarcity occurs, vulnerable communities are forced to irrigate their crops with cyanotoxin-polluted water. Consequently, indirect or direct human consumption of cyanotoxins may happen, leading to cytotoxic pathologies. We propose the application of constructed wetlands (CWs) to treat water for irrigation. The hypothesis is that a vertical flow CW can remove cyanotoxins while preserving the nutrients in the eutrophic water. Objective: The microbiota in the CWs is the key player for the removal of pollutants. To understand cyanotoxin degradation processes, we investigate the structure of the CW microbial community, a gene associated with cyanotoxin degradation and possible degradation metabolites.Methods: We set up thirty-two vertical-flow CWs mesocosms with different treatments fed with synthetic eutrophic water containing microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin. We perform end-point water measurements, 16S amplicon community sequencing and mlrA qPCR. Furthermore, we use liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectroscopy to screen for cyanotoxins and their metabolites.Results: The work is still ongoing. Removal rates are determined. Metabolites of cyanotoxins are being identified, as well as the metagenomics data is being treated. Several variable correlations were already found that explain the cyanotoxin removal dynamics in our systems. Initial data on the microbial community structure will be discussed at the conference. We strive to understand how the CW microbiome reacts and acts to ensure a safe design and operation of the CWs to treat cyanotoxins.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

T2 - FEMS

Y2 - 30 June 2022 through 2 July 2022

ER -