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Our group is interested in the microbial ecology of aquatic ecosystems. Our main focus is the synthesis of marine toxins and freshwater, especially the production of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins by marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria.
Our working models in freshwater systems are Raphidiopsis brookiiand Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, a PSP toxin and cylindrospermopsin (CYN) producing species, respectively. And, in marine systems is the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella.
Our goal is to understand the genetics of the toxin synthesis and the physiological and/or ecological role of the toxins. In addition, we are interested in understanding the evolutionary development of multicellular structures including the differentiation processes, for instance the heterocysts, akinetes and hormogonium development.
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