Moorea producens
Lyngbya majuscula, also known by the English name of fireweed ( German " Feuertang " ), is a species of marine cyanobacteria, which is counted to the systematic unspecified related seaweeds because of their thal solve construction. It is distributed over large parts of the tropical seas and mostly to be found in active -fading and coral reefs, as well as in protected coastal areas in large quantity.
Features
Lyngbya majuscula grow as a yellow- brown or green-black to purple- black threads, which can reach up to 50 centimeters in length, but usually stay shorter. The threads are not constricted at the cross walls. The individual cells are usually disc- shaped, with 35 to 45, sometimes 16 to 80 microns diameter and from 2 to 4 microns in length. They have small granules and are dull green, blue-green or gray. The terminal cells are slightly rounded. The sheath of the yarn is multi-layered, 4 to 11 microns thick and colorless. Lyngbya majuscula does not form heterocysts.
The species grows initially mostly epiphytic on seagrass and can in calm water large mats on the floor and otherwise free-floating mats form.
Algal blooms and health consequences for the people
Lyngbya majuscula is known for large-scale algal blooms, in which the cyanobacteria are present in large quantities. They produce a number of toxic substances that have health consequences for humans and many other animal species. The trivial summarized as Seetangdermatitis symptoms ranging from itchy skin on redness, inflammation and large bubbles formation to attacks of fever and difficulty breathing.
Biotechnology
For the kind Lyngbya majuscula more than 200 bioactive substances are detected, thereby offering great potential for biotechnological applications. These applications of organisms from the sea are summarized as blue biotechnology.
Among the ingredients, for example, antibiotics, anti-tumor, as well as anti-inflammatory and find antiviral agents that are potentially relevant for the production of medicaments. Intensive research carried out for the recovery of antifungal and cell- toxic ingredients, including Laxaphycin A and B and curacin A. As early as 1977 the Debromoaplysiatoxin from Lyngbya majuscula was effective and the closely related L. gracilis are won against leukemias.