An International Network for Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Water - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CYANOCOST An International Network for Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in Water Resources - COST Action ES1105

CYANOCOST Symposium Amsterdam, 29 September 2016

COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through a European Commission contract The Council of the European Union provides the COST Secretariat

Scientific context & objectives

Cyanobacteria

• ancient microorganisms globally distributed in biosphere
• can form blooms and mats (scums) in surface waters.
• some species produce toxins, called cyanotoxins.

Toxic blooms

• human and animal injuries and deaths worldwide
• number of societal and economical impacts

The main objective of CYANOCOST (ES 1105 COST Action MoU) to increase, disseminate and harmonize capabilities across Europe for the risk management of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in water bodies, by establishing strong and synergistic links between academia, authorities, industry and citizens”

Dissemination of more than 25 years’ worth of relevant research. Strong societal and economic impact: Public health, drinking water utilities, aquaculture, recreational activities, tourism.

On Earth - worldwide occurrence of toxic cyano-blooms

Sulejow reservoir, Poland

• St. John’s river system, FL, USA

Balgavies Loch, Dundee, Scotland

• Increased occurrence of blooms could be associated to climate change.
• Invasive species and emerging cyanotoxins are further risks under consideration.

Cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Erie (satellite image, Sept. 27 2011) Satellite sensing of harmful algal blooms in Lake Taihu, China.

Space colonization, oxygen, fuel and biomass production, nutrient acquisition, and feedstock provisions.

Chamber used for simulating conditions on the martian surface.

Cyanos in space

Astronauts retrieve cyanobacteria samples from the outside of the ISS

Extremophiles Astrobiology

Impacts

Human and animal health

Acute poisoning, chronic effects

Aquaculture – Fisheries

Loss of production

Cyanotoxins, off-odours

Water treatment

Costs for treatment

Cyanotoxins, off-odours

Tourism

Closures of recreational sites

Ecosystems

Degradation, Loss of diversity

Relevance and impacts of toxic cyanobacterial blooms

Number of ANIMALS affected by cyanotoxin poisoning, 1900 to present

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412016300642 Wood, R. "Acute animal and human poisonings from cyanotoxin exposure - A review of the literature." Environment International 91: 276-282.

Number of HUMANS affected by cyanotoxin poisonings, 1920 to present

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412016300642 Wood, R. "Acute animal and human poisonings from cyanotoxin exposure - A review of the literature." Environment International 91: 276-282.

Research on cyanotoxins

Merel et.al (2013) Toxicon 76, 118-131

USA: The Toledo water crisis

• On August 2, 2014, the City of Toledo, Ohio
• “Do Not Drink – Do Not Boil” water notice - microcystins.
• The notice affected more than 400.000 people.
• Toledo water utilities abstract water from lake Erie, which suffers from

cyanobacterial blooms.

The water notice issued by the City of Toledo

USA: Response to Toledo water crisis

Toledo mayor, Dr. Michael Collins on August 4, when the water ban was lifted PAUL SANCYA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS thestar.com

Google “Hot Searches”, August 2, 2014

Open data for monitoring of lakes and drinking water supplies (US EPA)

• Short – term measures: Continuous monitoring
• f water supplies for toxins
• Long –term strategies: limit nutrient runoffs in

lake Erie (mainly phosphorus)

Water tank in Užice. Photo: Milos Cvetkovic

Serbia: The Uzice case

• In December 2013 there was a

widespread bloom of Planktothrix rubescens in lake Vruci which is an artificial water reservoir serving the city of Uzice (ppl. 70.000).

• The use of water for drinking and preparation
• f food was forbidden.
• The WTP switched to an alternative source of

water (groundwater).

• Data regarding the presence of cyanotoxins in

water during the episode were not publicized

Working groups, Steering Committee

Kaarina Sivonen FI Jussi Meriluoto FI Geoffrey Codd UK Zorica Svircev RS Anastasia Hiskia EL Petra Visser NL Luc Brient FR Antonio Quesada ES

• T. Kaloudis

EL Ludek Blaha CZ

Individual Participants: 94 - Female: 55%, Early Stage Researchers (ESRs): 18% Total number involved in activities: ~150

Participating (35) * including USA as International Partner + Russian Federation and Armenia as Near Neighbour Countries Not (yet) in the network

CYANOCOST Network

September 2016

Member and participating countries

Major outputs

Four major publications (Handbooks and special issues)

Jussi Meriluoto FI Geoffrey Codd UK Lisa Spoof FI

http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1119068681.html 32 Summary chapters 29 SOPs

Jussi Meriluoto FI Geoffrey Codd UK Lisa Spoof FI

Handbook

• f Cyanobacterial

Monitoring and Cyanotoxin Analysis

Major outputs

Four major publications (Handbooks and special issues)

Petra Visser NL Bastian Ibelings CH Myriam Bormans FR Jutta Fastner DE

http://link.springer.com/journal/10452/50/3

Major outputs

Four major publications (Handbooks and special issues)

Dionysios Dionysiou USA Anastasia Hiskia EL Maria Antoniou CY Tri Kaloudis EL

• Th. Triantis

EL

Under development

Major outputs

Four major publications (Handbooks and special issues)

Kaarina Sivonen FI Rainer Kurmayer AT Annick Wilmotte BE Nico Salmaso IT

“Handbook of Molecular tools and techniques” Finalized – to be released in early 2017 11 chapters (Introduction, Sampling, Isolation, Taxonomic identification, nucleic acid extraction, conventional PCR, qPCR, microarrays, DGGE, High throughput sequencing, Application) 44 SOPs 62 Flow diagrams

• ca. 200 pages

Kaarina Sivonen FI Rainer Kurmayer AT Annick Wilmotte BE Nico Salmaso IT

“Handbook of Molecular tools and techniques” Finalized – to be released in early 2017

Example Overview of protocols

• n DNA (RNA)

extraction from isolated strains, field samples, and food supplements (ch. 5)

Other CYANOCOST Outputs (list and overview only)

Collaborative research publications (85) Pan-European monitoring (B. Ibelings: NETLAKE – CYANOCOST initiative) Joint grant proposals (e.g. CYANOHAZARD for JPI Water) European Database (> 1800 records) & Directory of experts (> 200 records) Methods standardization (4 “handbooks”) Workshops, schools, special conference sessions (10) Researcher exchanges - STSMs (37)

An example of CYANOCOST STSM poster (During 2012-16 total 44 applications received / 37 supported)

Acknowledgements

COST office

• Dr. Deniz Karaca, Science Officer

Tania Gonzalez Ovin, Administrative Officer

CYANOCOST colleagues and whole network