Cyanobacteria, Microcystin & Harmful Algal Blooms: Research
29 papers · Curated by Lauren Lowenstein, The Biotoxin Lady
Not every biotoxin comes from a water-damaged building. Some come from the lake.
Cyanobacteria, often called blue-green algae, can form harmful algal blooms (HABs) in warm, nutrient-rich fresh water. Some blooms make cyanotoxins, including microcystin, cylindrospermopsin and others, which can affect the liver, nervous system and immune system. People can be exposed through water, recreation, spray and aerosols near blooms.
Why does this belong in a CIRS library? Because the biotoxin story started on the water. Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker's early work grew out of illness tied to toxic estuary organisms on Maryland's Eastern Shore, long before "mold illness" was a common phrase. And cyanobacteria still appear among the biotoxin sources linked to the multisusceptible HLA-DR haplotypes.
This hub currently holds 29 research papers on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin health effects. It's a smaller, growing collection covering bloom monitoring, toxin chemistry and human exposure.
There isn't a dedicated Biotoxin Lady page on algae yet. In the meantime, my Where do I start? guide is the best first step if you think you've had a biotoxin exposure.
Educational only, not medical advice.
— Lauren Lowenstein, The Biotoxin Lady · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Key facts
- Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can form harmful algal blooms in fresh and brackish water.
- Cyanotoxins include microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxins and saxitoxins.
- Cyanobacteria are among the biotoxin sources linked to multisusceptible HLA-DR haplotypes in the Shoemaker framework.
Key research papers
- Cyanobacterial Algal Bloom Monitoring: Molecular Methods and Technologies for Freshwater Ecosystems
Faizan Saleem et al. · Microorganisms · 2023
- Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Blooms: Causes, Impacts, and Risk Management
Aboi Igwaran et al. · Water Air & Soil Pollution · 2024
- A review on aquatic toxins - Do we really know it all regarding the environmental risk posed by phytoplankton neurotoxins?
Albano Pinto et al. · Journal of Environmental Management · 2023
- Integrated Histopathological and Urinary Metabonomic Investigation of the Pathogenesis of Microcystin-LR Toxicosis
Cantor G et al. · Veterinary Pathology · 2012
- “Algal-dromes”: a novel conceptual approach to illness in humans exposed to harmful algal bloom toxins
Brett M. Johnson et al. · Frontiers in Toxicology · 2026
- Review of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Causing Marine Fish Kills: Toxicity and Mitigation
Jae‐Wook Oh et al. · Plants · 2023
- A Model System for Studying the Bioavailability of Intestinally Administered Microcystin‐LR, A Hepatotoxic Peptide from the Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa
Dahlem AM et al. · Pharmacology & Toxicology · 1989
- Microtubule effects of welwistatin, a cyanobacterial indolinone that circumvents multiple drug resistance
Xinqun Zhang et al. · Molecular Pharmacology · 1996
- Characterization of chronic human illness associated with exposure to cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms predominated by Microcystis. 2009 Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms pg 653
Shoemaker R et al. · 2009
- Marine Neurotoxins’ Effects on Environmental and Human Health: An OMICS Overview
Sophie Guillotin et al. · Marine Drugs · 2021
- Freshwater Cyanobacterial Toxins, Cyanopeptides and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Galina Nugumanova et al. · Toxins · 2023
- Toxins and stress in fish: proteomic analyses and response network
Karim M et al. · Toxicon · 2011
- A proteomic analysis of MCLR-induced neurotoxicity: implications for Alzheimer’s disease
Li G et al. · Toxicological Sciences · 2012
- Surface binding of toxins and heavy metals by probiotics
Zoghi A et al. · Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry · 2014
- Cyanobacteria, Cyanotoxins, and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Dangerous Liaisons
Paola Sini et al. · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2021
- Stimulation of hepatocytic AMP-activated protein kinase by okadaic acid and other autophagy-suppressive toxins
Samari H et al. · Biochemical Journal · 2005
- Microcystin-LR and Kinetics of cytoskeletal reorganization in hepatocytes, kidney cells, and fibroblasts
Khan SA et al. · Nat Toxins · 1996
- Phytoplankton Toxins and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications: A Journey toward the Quest for Potent Pharmaceuticals
Biswajita Pradhan et al. · Marine Drugs · 2022
- Biomagnification of cyanobacterial neurotoxins and neurodegenerative disease among the Chamorro people of Guam
Cox P et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2003
- Biomagnification of cycad neurotoxins in flying foxes
Banack S et al. · Neurology · 2003
- A mechanism for slow release of biomagnified cyanobacterial neurotoxins and neurodegenerative disease in Guam
Murch S et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2004
- Neonatal exposure to the cyanobacterial toxin BMAA induces changes in protein expression and neurodegeneration in adult hippocampus
Karisson O et al. · Toxicological Sciences · 2012
- Algae in Recreational Waters: An Overview within a One Health Perspective
Federica Valeriani et al. · Water · 2024
- Review of the occurrence, treatment technologies, and detection methods for saxitoxins in freshwaters
Shardula Gawankar et al. · Journal of Water and Health · 2024
- Apparent relationships between toxins elaborated by the cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum and those present in the flesh of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commersoni
Endean R et al. · Toxicon · 1993
- Occurrence of copper resistant mutants in the toxic cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa: characterisation and future implications in the use of copper sulphate as algaecide
García-Villada L et al. · Water Research · 2004
- Animal models of BMAA neurotoxicity: a critical review
Karamyan VT et al. · Life Sciences · 2008
- Cyanobacteria (Nostoc commune) used as a dietary item in the Peruvian highlands produce the neurotoxic amino acid BMAA
Johnson HE et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology · 2008
- Analysis of Structural and Physiological Profiles To Assess the Effects of Cu on Biofilm Microbial Communities
Massieux B et al. · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · 2004