Anahaena flos-aquae

Fig. 1.—Hydrolysis of Extracellular Polysaccharide Produced by Anahaena flos-aquae A-37. [Key 1, galactose 2, glucose 3, mannose 4, arabinose 5, rhamnose 6, ribose, fucose and 7, xylose.]...

Anatoxin-a(s) has been detected in toxic blooms in lakes in Canada [4], Denmark [123, 124], and Brazil [125, 126]. So far, only a few cyanobacterial strains producing anatoxin-a(s) have been characterized Anahaena flos-aquae [4], Anabaena crassa [126], and Anabaena lemmermannii [124]. The detection methods used to assay anatoxin-a(s) rely on the colorimetric assay for acetylcholine esterase [5], or on an electrochemical biosensor based on acetylcholine esterase activity [127,128], or more recently on the use of LC-MS [129]. 

Anatoxin-a(s) is produced in both Anabaena flos-aquae [56] and Anahaena lemmer-mannii [57]. The symptoms of anatoxin-a(s) intoxication are similar to those of anatoxin-a but cause increased salivation in vertebrates hence, the similarity in the names of these compounds with the (s) added to indicate salivation [18]. The structures, however, are quite different, as are the mechanisms of action. 

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