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SUMMARY:EESS talk on "Emerging natural toxins from blue-green algae – Wh
 o is abundant\, persistent\, and toxic?"
DTSTART:20191008T121500
DTEND:20191008T130000
DTSTAMP:20260921T101719Z
UID:4f7774336543236f0d1a98c40ada428c5ccde6e3eda47a2979a77674
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Dr Elisabeth Janssen\, Senior Scientist & Group Leader\, Stabi
 lity and Fate of Bio- & Macromolecules\, Environmental Chemistry Dept\, EA
 WAG\, leads the Bio-&Macromolecule Group at EAWAG (The Swiss Federal Insti
 tute of Aquatic Science and Technology). Dr. Janssen‘s group focusses on
  the occurrence and fate of bioactive macromolecules in aquatic systems. T
 he group is specialized in extracellular enzymes\, peptide-based pharmaceu
 tical and natural toxins that play a key role for biogeochemical cycling o
 r water quality. The group investigates in particular photochemical transf
 ormation processes\, site-specific molecular modifications and changes of 
 the molecules‘ functioning.\nAbsract:\nOur ecosystems and drinking water
  resources are not only vulnerable towards anthropogenic pollutants but al
 so natural toxins. Among the natural toxins from organisms of various king
 doms\, those produced by aquatic organisms\, such as cyanobacteria (blue g
 reen “algae”)\, are of particular concern as the toxins are released d
 irectly into surface waters when the cells die. The WHO established water 
 quality guidelines for one class of cyanopeptides called microcystins that
  are known liver- and neurotoxins. However\, hundreds of other cyanopeptid
 es are known to date and the question arises\, whether these cyanopeptides
  are in fact of no human and ecological concern or whether these compounds
  merely received (too) little attention thus far. We developed analytical 
 methods to screen for all known cyanopeptides by mass spectrometry. Analys
 is of common cyanobacteria demonstrate that several cyanopeptides are co-p
 roduced with the well-known microcystins at comparable concentrations. Whi
 ch cyanopeptides are produced and when the production is most intense depe
 nds on the cyanobacterial strain and its culturing conditions. To investig
 ate the production dynamics in the field\, we collaborate with ecologists 
 to monitor cyanobacteria and their metabolites in Swiss surface waters. We
  currently evaluate how persistent cyanopeptides are and focus in particul
 ar on photochemical transformation in sunlit surface water. Ultimately\, w
 e want to understand\, which cyanopeptides are abundant\, persistent and t
 oxic to achieve a more comprehensive risk assessment of cyanobacterial blo
 oms.
LOCATION:GR C0 01 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==GR%20C0%2001
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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