Cyanobacteria as generators of reactive oxygen species - A review of analysis methods and case studies

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are omnipresent in the environment and serve as important modulators of geochemical cycles. Phytoplankton is the major producer of ROS in water. Cyanobacteria, on one hand, are the most sensitive component of phytoplankton to ROS; on the other, they are producers of ROS with ecological roles that are still not fully understood. The correlation of blooms with increased ROS levels necessitates a deep understanding of the mechanisms responsible for ROS production by cyanobacteria. Reliable analytical methods are thus needed. This review begins with the presentation of ROS as a factor in water biochemistry and the interactions between ROS and cyanobacteria. It then presents reports on ROS analysis following cyanobacteria exposure to physical and chemical stressors using fluorescence probes. The possibilities for selective and qualitative analysis of ROS were critically discussed. In the conclusion section, the main drawbacks of the methods based on fluoresceine-based fluorescence probes, challenges to overcome and future needs are highlighted.