Hunting the eagle killer: A cyanobacterial neurotoxin causes vacuolar myelinopathy.

0552512 - BC 2022 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Breinlinger, S. - Phillips, T. J. - Haram, B. N. - Mareš, Jan - Yerena, Jose Alberto Martinez - Hrouzek, P. - Sobotka, R. - Henderson, W. M. - Schmieder, P. - Williams, S. M. - Lauderdale, J. D. - Wilde, H. D. - Gerrin, W. - Kust, Andreja - Washington, J. W. - Wagner, C. - Geier, B. - Liebeke, M. - Enke, H. - Niedermeyer, T. H. J. - Wilde, S. B.
Hunting the eagle killer: A cyanobacterial neurotoxin causes vacuolar myelinopathy.
Science. Roč. 371, č. 6536 (2021), s. 1335-+. ISSN 0036-8075. E-ISSN 1095-9203
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GC19-21649J
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : Neurological diesease * Cyanobacteria * Toxin
OECD category: Marine biology, freshwater biology, limnology
Impact factor: 63.832, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax9050

Vacuolar myelinopathy is a fatal neurological disease that was initially discovered during a mysterious mass mortality of bald eagles in Arkansas in the United States. The cause of this wildlife disease has eluded scientists for decades while its occurrence has continued to spread throughout freshwater reservoirs in the southeastern United States. Recent studies have demonstrated that vacuolar myelinopathy is induced by consumption of the epiphytic cyanobacterial species Aetokthonos hydrillicola growing on aquatic vegetation, primarily the invasive Hydrilla verticillata. Here, we describe the identification, biosynthetic gene cluster, and biological activity of aetokthonotoxin, a pentabrominated biindole alkaloid that is produced by the cyanobacterium A. hydrillicola. We identify this cyanobacterial neurotoxin as the causal agent of vacuolar myelinopathy and discuss environmental factors-especially bromide availability-that promote toxin production.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0327623