The response of aquatic heterotrophic bacteria to microcystins exposure

Abstract

Microcystins (MCs) are the class of hepatotoxins most commonly produced by cyanobacteria. These are found in aquatic ecosystems where they coexist with other microorganisms such as heterotrophic bacteria, which have a key role in biogeochemical processes, being essential to the management of the aquatic ecosystem, as they are the base of the trophic web. In this work we present and discuss the findings, obtained so far, about MCs effects on microbial cells that play an important role in the aquatic ecosystem.