Toxic alkaloids in Lyngbya majuscula and related tropical marine cyanobacteria

• Lyngbya majuscula is a cyanobacterium that produces a wide variety of compounds, including some that are toxic to humans.
• Some of the toxins produced may contribute to human health outcomes, or have potential roles in medical treatments.
• Numerous blooms around the world have resulted in negative human health outcomes as evidenced in the epidemiological literature.
• Climate change may influence the frequency or geographical distribution of future blooms.

The cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula is found in the littoral zone and to a depth of 30 m in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions across the globe, as well as being an important contributor to coral reef ecosystems. This cyanobacterium produces a range of chemicals that may contribute to a variety of negative health outcomes including skin, eye and respiratory irritation. The toxic compounds, lyngbyatoxin A and debromoaplysiatoxin, have been implicated in acute dermatologic reactions in human swimmers, and experiments involving these two toxins show the formation of acute dermal lesions. We explore the reported distribution and health implications of L. majuscula, with reference to factors affecting bloom frequency. The likely implications of climate change upon the distribution of the organism, and frequency of blooms are also described.

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