Literature and Laboratory Skills - Thesis Example

This paper looks at the process of developing a bioreactor and subsequently using it to grow cyanobacterial species that release cylindrospermopsins. It then investigates the isolation and detection of the innate compounds present in cylindrospermopsin in significant quantities through chromatographic (HPLC) and immunologic assays (ELISA). This research hopes to mitigate the negative effect of cylindrospermopsin through a thorough understanding of its growth. The study will test the first hypothesis by analyzing fresh water samples from various water bodies around various countries and making a comparison.

This will either support or refute this hypothesis. The second hypothesis is tested by investigating the biological activity of cylindrospermopsins in living organisms, paying keen interest to the toxicity levels and the impact of cylindrospermopsins on metabolic pathways. Significant biological activity or impact on metabolic pathways will support this hypothesis. The therapeutic activity of modified CYL is investigated in the third hypothesis. Cylindrospermopsin alkaloids are three water-soluble toxins consisting of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) (1), 7-deoxy-cylindrospermopsin (7-deoxy-CYN) (2), and 7-epi-cylindrospermopsin (7-epi-CYN) (3).

They are metabolic products of a range of cyanobacterial species. The unique structural feature of these alkaloids consists of a uracil ring covalently linked to a sulfonated tricyclic guanidine. These natural metabolites are reported to contain toxicological properties. Therefore, there is the need to detect their presence in water and subsequently remove them. Cylindrospermopsin was first extracted in 1992 from the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and characterised using a combination of NMR and mass spectroscopy.

7-deoxy-cylindrospermopsin was later discovered and characterised in 1999 by HPLC