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Microcystis aeruginosa: A freshwater threat

The prevalence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) is increasing globally due to a combination of factors including warming temperatures and chronic agricultural runoff. Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) is a freshwater cyanobacteria found in eutrophic water bodies. As it concludes its life cycle, the cells lyse, releasing a harmful toxin called microcystin. This potent hepatotoxin and carcinogen can accumulate in our crops, livestock, drinking water, and recreational sites, leading to significant health risks.

Our solution

Engineering non-model organisms, such as M. aeruginosa, is challenging due to the targeting of foreign DNA by restriction-modification (R-M) systems. TABI has developed a pipeline that identifies underrepresented motifs in M. aeruginosa. By removing these motifs from introduced plasmids,we can evade the R-M system, improving transformation efficiency and allowing us to target large-scale HABs.

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