• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2008

The seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton and water quality were evaluated bimonthly at 7 park ponds in the capital region from October 2004 to August 2005. With out the change of water temperature $(0.4\sim26.0^{\circ}C)$, cyanobacteria dominated in park ponds such as Gyungbokgung Gyunghyaeru and Seokchon reservoir. The standing crops of phytoplankton was significant related with cell densities of cyanobacteria (r=0.993), while they did not significant correlation with environmental factors. Almost of all park ponds in the capital region were classified as eutrophic state with high TP concentrations and TN/TP ratios less than 10. Major dominant cyanobacteria were as followed; Anabaena sp., Aphanocapsa elachista, Lyngbya contorta, Merismopedia elegans, Microcystis aeruginosa, M. wesenbergii, Microcystis sp., Oscillatoria sp., Phormidium tenue, and Plectonema sp. To date, although the concentration of chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ and cyanobacterial densities in the capital region was below the 'danger' level of WHO guidelines value, the monitoring of cyanobacterial densities and its toxin (microcystin) in recreational/bath water should be continued.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.601-609
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• 2018

Microcystis aeruginosa, a freshwater cyanobacteria species known to be one of the most predominant species responsible for cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs). It has been frequently associated with the contamination of neurotoxins and peptide hepatotoxins, such as microcystin and lipopolysaccharides-LPSs. CyanoHABs control technologies so far put in place do not provide a fundamental solution and cause secondary pollution linked with the control measures. For this study, algicidal peptides, which have been reported to be non-toxic and to have antimicrobial properties, were employed for the development of novel eco-friendly control against CyanoHABs. The four peptides (CMA1, CMA2, HPA3P, and HPA3NT3) selected in this study showed significant algicidal effects against M. aeruginosa cells inducing cell aggregation and flotation. Moreover, the newly generated peptides (K160242-5) with certain modifications also displayed high algicidal activity. The algicidal activity of the peptides was found to depend on the concentrations and structures of each of amino acid. The results of this study suggested a novel possibility of CyanoHABs control using the non-toxic algicidal peptides.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.491-498
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• 2011

We investigated the ranges of total cellular microcystins content of cyanobacterial blooms collected in Korean lakes and rivers from 2005 to 2009. The amount and composition of microcystins of Korean cyanobacteria varied depending on the sampling water bodies and dominant cyanobacterial genera. Toxic cyanobacterial cell numbers equivalent to $1{\mu}g$ MCYSTs/L using total cellular microcystin content of Korean cyanobacteria were in the range of 2,348 to 66,980,638 cells/mL. Only four samples among forty nine samples showed less cell numbers than current criterion of Harmful Algae Alert System, 5,000 cells/mL indicating current criterion do not reflect properly the microcystins content of Korean cyanobacteria. Anabaena and Aphanizomenon spp. showed three to six times higher cell numbers equivalent to $1{\mu}g$ MCYSTs/L than Microcystis spp. To propose criteria of Harmful Algae Alert System for Korean toxic cyanobacteria, we calculated about 50% selective geometrical means of cyanobacterial cell numbers equivalent to $1{\mu}g$ MCYSTs/L in order of toxic content. The proposed criteria for Microcystis, Oscillatoria, Anabaena, and Aphanizomenon spp., are 10,000, 20,000, 40,000, and 80,000 cells/mL, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2022

The occurrence of cyanobacterial blooming and the contaminant sources were analyzed in the downstream of Jecheon Stream, a tributary of Chungju Reservoir. The concentrations of chlorophyll a at the Myungseo Fishing Point (GPS; 37°03'25.5"N, 128°03'13.6"E) were 399.2 and 184.8 mg m^-3 on October 18, 2015 and September 25, 2016, respectively, and the concentrations of total microcystins, a cyanobacterial toxin mainly produced by Microcystis, were 124.09 and 79.71 ㎍ L^-1, respectively. The occurrence of cyanobacterial blooming at the downstream of Jecheon Stream was closely related to the water level of Chungju Reservoir. The cyanobacterial blooming occurred after the increase of water level in Chungju Reservoir, when the water body stagnated. As a result of analyzing National Water Quality Monitoring Data of the upper region of Jecheon Stream, the main source of pollutant was Jangpyeong Stream, the tributary of Jecheon Stream, and the discharge water from Jecheon Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Jangpyeong Stream was considered to be the most important source of contaminant.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.356-361
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• 2007

Cyanobacteria are a very old group of prokaryotic organisms that produce very diverse secondary metabolites, especially non-ribosomal peptide and polyketide structures. Although some cyanobacteria produce lethal toxins such as microcystins and anatoxins, some may be useful either for development into commercial drugs or as biochemical tools. Detection of unknown secondary metabolites was carried in the present study by a screening of 98 cyanobacterial strains from Cyanobiotech GmbH in order to establish a screening process, isolate pure substances and determine their bioactivities. A degenerated polymerase chain reaction technique as molecular approaches has been used for general screening of NRPS gene and PKS gene in cyanobacteria. A putative PKS gene was detected by DKF/DKR primer in 38 strains (38.8%) and PCR amplicons resulted from a presence of NRPS gene were showed by MTF2/MTR2 primer in 30 strains (30.6%), respectively. A screening of interesting strains was performed by comparing PCR screening results with HPLC analyses of extracts. HPLC analysis for a detection of natural products was performed in extracts from biomass. 5 strains were screened for further scale-up processing. 7 pure substances were isolated from the scale-up cultures and tested for bioactivities under consideration to purity, amount and molecular weight of substances. One substance isolated from CBT 635 showed cytotoxic activity. This substance may be regarded as Microcystin LR.