Abstract
Monitoring cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems is essential for assessing the risk of blooms and cyanotoxin production, given their negative impacts on public health and the environment. The objective of this study was to optimize a DNA extraction protocol for molecular detection of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin genes in marine and freshwater environmental samples using PCR. Samples were collected from two bodies of water in Sonora (Tóbari Bay and Nainari Lagoon), Mexico, and a modified extraction protocol was used, followed by purification with a commercial kit. This led to the successful extraction of environmental DNA; subsequently, molecular detection of cyanobacteria of the genus Microcystis and the mcyA gene was carried out using PCR using specific oligonucleotides. The results showed the presence of cyanobacteria in both samples; however, neither Microcystis nor the mcyA gene was detected in marine water. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing nucleic acid extraction protocols to obtain quality DNA from complex environmental matrices, which is critical for strengthening molecular surveillance strategies for cyanobacteria and their toxins in aquatic ecosystems.
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