Molecular and morphological characterization of a novel dihydroanatoxin-a producing Microcoleus species (cyanobacteria) from the Russian River, California, USA

Reports of anatoxins poisoning of wildlife and domestic animals by toxigenic cyanobacteria in streams and rivers are increasing globally. Little is known about the taxonomy, morphology and genomics of anatoxins producing species, limiting our knowledge about their environmental preferences. We isolated three benthic non-heterocystous filamentous cyanobacterial strains from the Russian River in Northern California (USA), which produce anatoxin-a and dihydroanatoxin-a. Both 16S rRNA and protein sequence phylogenetic analyses showed that the strains represent a distinct new member of the cyanobacterial genus Microcoleus (Oscillatoriales). A novel species, Microcoleus anatoxicus is described and accompanied with light microscope photomicrographs, toxin profiles and the complete anatoxin-a gene cassette with the first description of the anaK gene in Microcoleus.