@article {170, title = {Isolation and preliminary characterization of cyanobacteria strains from freshwaters of Greece}, journal = {Open Life Sciences}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, chapter = {52-60}, abstract = {

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (or\ CyanoHABs) represent one of the most conspicuous\ waterborne microbial hazards. The characterization of\ the bloom communities remains problematic because\ the cyanobacterial taxonomy of certain genera has not\ yet been resolved. In this study, 29 planktic and benthic\ cyanobacterial strains were isolated from freshwaters\ located in Greece. The strains were assigned to the genera\ Chroococcus, Microcystis, Synechococcus, Jaaginema,\ Limnothrix, Pseudanabaena, Anabaena, and Calothrix\ and screened for the production of the cyanotoxins\ microcystins (MCs), cylindrospermopsins (CYNs), and\ saxitoxins (STXs) using molecular (PCR amplification of\ seven genes implicated in cyanotoxin biosynthesis) and\ immunological (ELISA) methods. This study presents,\ for the first time, a cyanobacteria culture collection\ from Greece, thus providing missing study material for\ the understanding of bloom formation and cyanotoxin\ production in the Mediterranean and for the polyphasic\ characterization of important components of the\ phytoplankton. The combined use of molecular and\ immunochemical methods allowed the identification of\ MC producing strains, but further data are needed for CYN and\ STX-producing cyanobacteria. The high percentage\ of MC-producing Microcystis strains in the urban Lakes\ Kastoria and Pamvotis, frequently used for agriculture\ irrigation, fishing and recreation, highlights the potential\ risk for human health.

}, keywords = {Anabaena, Calothrix, Limnothrix, Microcystis, cyanotoxins, ELISA, lakes, molecular detection}, author = {S. Gkelis and N. Zaoutsos and P.F. Tussy} } @article {56, title = {Limnothrix redekei (Van Goor) Meffert (Cyanobacteria) Strains from Lake Kastoria, Greece Form a Separate Phylogenetic Group}, journal = {Microbial Ecology}, volume = {49}, year = {2005}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-003-2030-7}, author = {S. Gkelis and P. Rajaniemi and E. Vardaka and M. Moustaka-Gouni and T. Lanaras and K. Sivonen} }