Impacts of antibiotic contaminants on Microcystis aeruginosa during potassium permanganate treatment

This study assessed the treatment performance of KMnO4 in Microcystis aeruginosa with and without the existence of the antibiotic mixture composed of four simultaneously detected antibiotics in aquatic environments (sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin and tetracycline). KMnO4 downregulated two chlorophyll a synthetases (chlG and chlM), 14 photosynthesis-related proteins and two microcystin synthetases (mcyB and mcyD) in M. aeruginosa, and reduced chlorophyll a content, photosynthetic activity and microcystin concentration in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of photosynthesis and biosynthesis resulted in extended lag phase and decreased growth rate in KMnO4-treated Microcystis aeruginosa. In contrast, mixed antibiotics upregulated 6 oxidation-reduction proteins, a cell division regulatory protein (MAE_37210), 14 photosynthesis-related proteins, 14 biosynthesis-related proteins (including microcystin synthetases mcyA and mcyB) and a microcystin transport protein (mcyH), which consequently reduced oxidative stress, shortened lag phase as well as significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) cyanobacterial growth, photosynthetic activity, microcystin synthesis and microcystin release in KMnO4-treated M. aeruginosa. An optimal dose of 3 mg L−1 was suggested for KMnO4 treatment. Mixed antibiotics should be controlled below a no-impact threshold of 20 ng L−1 (5 ng L-1 for each antibiotic) for eliminating their adverse effects during KMnO4 treatment of cyanobacteria in anti...
Source: Harmful Algae - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research