Visualizing Cyanotoxins Behavior Using Synchrotron Infrared Spectral Microscopy
Start Date
23-5-2022 3:30 PM
End Date
23-5-2022 3:45 PM
Abstract
Microcystis aeruginosa LE3 is one of the most common toxigenic cyanobacteria species present in freshwater globally when waters are high in nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. During bloom conditions, it can produce harmful cyanotoxins such as microcystins (MC) that have adverse effects on fish, pets, livestock and humans Characterizing critical components of cyanotoxin production and secretion -- for example how they are produced and released from cyanotoxin-producing cells into water -- requires label-free chemical imaging at microscale of the intact cells and their immediate surrounding with minimum disturbances. Current technologies and approaches cannot adequately address these requirements. Here, we employ the non-invasive multiplexed synchrotron infrared spectromicroscopy to examine changes in cellular composition at the whole-cell level induced by the MC production with high spatial resolution and throughput. By using the bright synchrotron infrared as a light source, we can scan a 100 mm x100 mm sample area in less than 30 minutes. We demonstrate the potential of synchrotron infrared spectromicroscopy imaging by visualizing the spatial distribution of the intact LE3 cells and microcystins. This multiplexed imaging approach allows us to rapidly quantify changes in the composition of MC-producing versus non-MC-producing Microcystis aeruginosa cells, and to visualize how microcystins are released into water.
Visualizing Cyanotoxins Behavior Using Synchrotron Infrared Spectral Microscopy
Microcystis aeruginosa LE3 is one of the most common toxigenic cyanobacteria species present in freshwater globally when waters are high in nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. During bloom conditions, it can produce harmful cyanotoxins such as microcystins (MC) that have adverse effects on fish, pets, livestock and humans Characterizing critical components of cyanotoxin production and secretion -- for example how they are produced and released from cyanotoxin-producing cells into water -- requires label-free chemical imaging at microscale of the intact cells and their immediate surrounding with minimum disturbances. Current technologies and approaches cannot adequately address these requirements. Here, we employ the non-invasive multiplexed synchrotron infrared spectromicroscopy to examine changes in cellular composition at the whole-cell level induced by the MC production with high spatial resolution and throughput. By using the bright synchrotron infrared as a light source, we can scan a 100 mm x100 mm sample area in less than 30 minutes. We demonstrate the potential of synchrotron infrared spectromicroscopy imaging by visualizing the spatial distribution of the intact LE3 cells and microcystins. This multiplexed imaging approach allows us to rapidly quantify changes in the composition of MC-producing versus non-MC-producing Microcystis aeruginosa cells, and to visualize how microcystins are released into water.