Isolation of Cyanobacteria Producing Saxitoxin from Kor River Located in Marvdasht, Fars Province, Iran

Cyanobacteria are present in diverse habitats. Some of them produce dangerous toxin substances such as saxitoxin which is classified in the neurotoxin groups and show the impact on the aquatics and humans in the form of the paralysis of the limbs and hypersecretion saliva and so on. The aim of this research was screening of cyanobacteria isolates through combining the traditional and molecular methods, from the Kor river and assessment of the isolated cyanobacteria in terms of saxitoxin producing. The samples were collected from six stations in the Kor river. After dilution each sample were cultured on BG11 medium and incubated at 28?C under fluorescent light with 1500 to 2000 lux. Purified colonies were analysied by PCR to determine cyanobacteria (PCβ F and PCαR) and their ability to produce Saxitoxin (sxtAF and sxtAR). Results were proved existence of cyanobacteria in Kor River but no evidence were found for Saxitoxin production by isolates. So based on this research, it is more efficient to combine the traditional methods (culture) and molecular methods (PCR). Also, in order to study the toxins, this method is more profitable economically than chemical methods like LC MS, GC MS and HPLC.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v9i5.12693