Abstract
Microcystin toxin-producing cyanobacteria are known to have harmful effects on humans and animals. We have developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based detection method by targeting the microcystin synthetase B gene (mcyB), the gene responsible for the production of microcystin. The sensitivity of the method was found to be 1 fg per reaction, and it was 1000-fold higher than the conventional PCR. The LAMP method was able to amplify the target gene with a minimum amount of dNTP (0.4 mM), which further reduces the cost of reaction. The improved LAMP assay could detect the presence of the toxin-producing cyanobacteria in water samples within 2 h of time, which demonstrates the rapidness of the method. Freshwater samples were screened using the developed LAMP, and seven water samples collected from lakes and a bird sanctuary tested positive for mcyB gene harboring cyanobacteria, and negative in all other drinking waters. Hence, the developed LAMP could be a possible alternative to the existing molecular methods for screening for microcystin in environmental samples with greater sensitivity.
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We would like to acknowledge the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, India, for their financial support and facilities to carry out this project.
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Ramya, M., Kayalvizhi, M., Haripriya, G. et al. Detection of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria in water samples using loop-mediated isothermal amplification targeting mcyB gene. 3 Biotech 8, 378 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-018-1402-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-018-1402-0