Cyanobacterial toxin Apratoxin A

[Christoph]

Dear R2R Forum,

Many marine organisms are known to produce bioactive toxins, and I’d like to report a recent observation from a tank. Several corals, particularly SPS species, were showing tissue loss with a "bubbling" appearance.

An untargeted metabolomics screen (Organo-MS) detected the presence of Apratoxin A, a potent cytotoxin originally described from marine cyanobacteria. Given its broad biological activity, it is likely that this compound contributed to the coral health issues observed.

As a precaution, I recommend using activated carbon and maintaining efficient protein skimming to help reduce the concentration of such compounds in reef systems, especially when corals show symptoms and inorganic/physical causes can be ruled out.

All the best, Christoph

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Hey someone should make “sick” test for reef tanks. A test or simple strip to check for these types of things. I remember reading once our tanks can also get things like influenza.
I recently added a frag tank and plumbed it to my main display. Had a Dino’s break out which k got under control quickly but I still had some loss. I never liked running carbon, but I learned that some Dino’s are very toxic and unfortunately some of my small frags died.

 

[PSXerholic]

Chris, little Palytoxin story. We recently had also a mystic tank where all new incoming SPS died over time for unexplainable reasons. The ORGANO-MS test revealed small amounts of Palytoxins were present and digging deeper the Rock was used in a previous soft coral tank, where the owner used to rip out Palys to maintain the aquascaping........

Apparently even residual low amounts of this Toxin are enough and are stored for long time in rocks and substrates.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for the info, Christoph. :)

 

[Dan_P]

Dear R2R Forum,

Many marine organisms are known to produce bioactive toxins, and I’d like to report a recent observation from a tank. Several corals, particularly SPS species, were showing tissue loss with a "bubbling" appearance.

An untargeted metabolomics screen (Organo-MS) detected the presence of Apratoxin A, a potent cytotoxin originally described from marine cyanobacteria. Given its broad biological activity, it is likely that this compound contributed to the coral health issues observed.

As a precaution, I recommend using activated carbon and maintaining efficient protein skimming to help reduce the concentration of such compounds in reef systems, especially when corals show symptoms and inorganic/physical causes can be ruled out.

All the best, Christoph

Interesting discovery. Thanks for sharing.

I just ran a tankDNA test by Aquabiomics and about 25% of the DNA read was dinoflagellate. Would an Organic MS possibly pick up anything dinoflagellate specific? Amphidinium carterae was the dominant organism

 

[Miami Reef]

A few people noticed this SPS bubbling when carbon dosing, specifically with vinegar from what I’ve read.

@Garf is one.


Here is another report

I can't find any Vinegar that is specified as "distilled" in the EU.
I only find clear, white vinegar called "alcohol white vinegar 8%", is it the same ?

I've dosed it in the past, but quickly found that my acropora tissue was bubbling, like bubble of water under the tissue that would pop and cause a necrosis.
Stopped immediately when I stopped dosing it.

Now just put back Vodka but I have to say that Vinegar is much cheaper if working the same way.

 

[Garf]

A few people noticed this SPS bubbling when carbon dosing, specifically with vinegar from what I’ve read.

@Garf is one.


Here is another report

Indeed. Now I'm getting it a little, on a massive garf bonsai. However, the only carbon dosing I'm coming is from feeding. If this **** was simple, it would be boring.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If it is, in fact, due to cyano, carbon dosing may promote it in many situations, but lots of folks have cyano without carbon dosing. :)

It might even be a situation where antibiotics will help, although a sudden kill might also release more toxin.

 

[Dan_P]

If it is, in fact, due to cyano, carbon dosing may promote it in many situations, but lots of folks have cyano without carbon dosing. :)

It might even be a situation where antibiotics will help, although a sudden kill might also release more toxin.

Is there more than one cause (cyanobacteria toxin) that produces this symptom on coral flesh?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there more than one cause (cyanobacteria toxin) that produces this symptom on coral flesh?

If you are asking me, I have no idea what causes it.

 

[Dan_P]

If you are asking me, I have no idea what causes it.

Yes, I was asking you. It seemed that the correlation between a coral health issue and a cytotoxin needed a bit more discussion and wondered if the symptoms might have been observed in a association with some other agent. Just wondering.

 

[Garf]

Yes, I was asking you. It seemed that the correlation between a coral health issue and a cytotoxin needed a bit more discussion and wondered if the symptoms might have been observed in a association with some other agent. Just wondering.

I never see cyano, if that helps.

 

[Dan_P]

I never see cyano, if that helps.

Possibly.

I wish a microbiome study had accompanied the observation of the bubbling (blebbing) coral tissue. The toxin is associated with two genera of cyanobacteria, Lyngbya being one.